Organic Vineyards in England and Wales

Organic wine is still a relatively small part of the UK vineyard scene, but it’s growing quickly. Organic farming avoids synthetic herbicides, pesticides and fertilisers, focusing instead on healthier soils, biodiversity and long-term sustainability. In a cool, wet climate like Britain’s, doing that well takes real commitment, and the vineyards that manage it tend to have a clear philosophy behind what they produce. Some producers will describe organic wine as a “return to traditional farming”, while others see it as the future of English and Welsh viticulture. Either way, these estates are helping prove that organic wine in the UK is possible - and exceptional.

See the vineyards

Organic vineyards in the UK face challenges that producers in warmer regions rarely have to deal with. High rainfall, humidity and unpredictable growing seasons make fungal disease pressure a constant concern, and organic growers have fewer treatment options available. That’s why fully organic vineyards remain relatively rare, and why the estates that succeed tend to be especially thoughtful about site choice, canopy management and working with nature rather than against it.

Visiting organic vineyards in the UK

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Organic vineyards can be found across England and Wales, but they’re particularly concentrated in the South East, where conditions are slightly drier and more favourable for organic farming. Many of the best-known estates are based in Kent and East Sussex, including Davenport Vineyards, Oxney Organic Estate, Westwell, and Sedlescombe.

There are also organic producers further inland and west, including Quoins Vineyard in Wiltshire, Sunnyhill near Oxford, Albury Organic Vineyard in the Surrey Hills, and Black Mountain Vineyard close to the Welsh border.

If you’re looking for an organic vineyard that’s easy to reach from London, the strongest cluster is in Kent and Sussex, with several estates accessible as day trips. Albury Organic is also easily accessible from London Waterloo.

What to expect at an organic vineyard

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In most ways, visiting an organic vineyard feels much the same as visiting any other. You’ll still find guided tours, tastings, cellar doors, vineyard walks and at some estates restaurants or places to stay. The main difference is that organic producers often take more time to explain what’s happening in the vineyard: how they manage weeds without herbicides, how they protect vines naturally, and why biodiversity matters in a working landscape.

And of course, the wines you taste will reflect that approach. Whether it’s a classic traditional-method English sparkling wine or a small-batch still release, organic vineyards tend to attract winemakers who care deeply about expressing place, balance and purity in the glass.

Choosing the right organic vineyard to visit

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Some organic vineyards operate at a large, polished estate scale, while others are small, hands-on projects where tastings feel personal and informal. Before booking, it’s worth checking whether the experience is tour-led, tasting-room based, seasonal, or more focused on wine sales.

Below you’ll find a curated selection of organic vineyards across England and Wales, from pioneers of organic farming to newer estates pushing English organic wine forward.

Featured vineyards

Davenport Vineyards

East Sussex

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Davenport Vineyards is an organic, family-run vineyard and winery based at Horsmonden, Kent, England. Founder Will Davenport planted his first vines in 1991 and in 2000 converted the entire estate to certified organic viticulture with the Soil Association, making it one of the UK’s earliest organic wine producers. Today the estate covers around 24 acres across multiple parcels, growing nine grape varieties and making still and sparkling wines with minimal intervention.

Albury Organic Vineyard

Surrey

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Albury Organic Vineyard is a family-run certified organic and biodynamic vineyard on the southern slopes of the North Downs in the Surrey Hills near Guildford, England. Owner Nick Wenman planted the first vines from 2009, and the estate released its first wines in 2015, focusing on sparkling and still wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and other classic varieties. The vineyard emphasises chemical-free viticulture and biodynamic techniques, and its wines have won international awards while offering tours, tastings and educational experiences on sustainable wine growing.

Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard

East Sussex

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Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard is an independent, certified organic vineyard and winery established in 1979 at Hawkhurst Road near Robertsbridge, East Sussex, England, making it one of the UK’s oldest organic wine estates. All grapes are grown organically on about 22 acres, and some wines are also certified biodynamic under the Biodynamic Association UK, reflecting a long history of sustainable farming. The estate produces a wide range of certified organic whites, rosés, reds and sparkling wines and hosts tours, tastings and events from its vineyard and cellar door.

Winklestone Vineyard

East Sussex

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Winklestone Vineyard is a small, family-run organic vineyard based in Kent, England, producing certified organic English still and sparkling wines with a strong focus on sustainable, low-intervention farming. The vineyard grows classic cool-climate varieties including Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, and places particular emphasis on biodiversity and working with nature in the vineyard. Alongside wine production, Winklestone offers tastings and direct sales, presenting a personal, small-scale alternative within the English organic wine scene.

Woodfine wine

Buckinghamshire

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Woodfine Wine is a small English wine producer based in Kent, England, focused on crafting low-intervention wines from locally grown grapes. The project is closely associated with sustainable and organic-minded vineyard practices, with an emphasis on minimal handling in the winery to let the fruit speak clearly. Woodfine produces small-batch wines rather than large commercial volumes, reflecting the newer, experimental side of the English wine scene.

Silverhand Estate

Kent

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Silverhand Estate is a large organic vineyard and winery based at Luddesdown in the Kent countryside, England, and claims to be the largest single organic vineyard in the UK, covering many hundreds of acres under vine. The estate focuses on sustainably farmed Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, producing still wines as well as certified organic sparkling wines such as Silver Reign and Silver Reign Rosé alongside traditional-method bottlings like Blanc de Blancs. Silverhand also emphasises environmental stewardship, incorporating livestock into its organic farming to enhance soil health and biodiversity, and offers tours, tastings and vineyard experiences in the heart of its Kent estate.

Oxney Organic Estate

East Sussex

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Oxney Organic Estate is a certified organic vineyard and winery on a 35-acre estate near Beckley, Rye in East Sussex, England. Originally planted in 2012, it’s now the largest single-estate organic vineyard in the UK, producing still and predominantly sparkling wines from estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Seyval Blanc using a low-intervention, natural approach. The converted oast-house winery and cellar door host tastings, tours and even accommodation.

Sunnyhill Vineyard

Oxfordshire

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Sunnyhill Vineyard is a family-run organic vineyard and winery on a south-facing site in Horspath, South Oxfordshire, about 3½ miles east of Oxford, England. Planted by Ilir and Louise Kebej around the mid-2010s, it grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and other varieties to make organic still and traditional-method sparkling wines, alongside organic cider, without chemicals or additives. The vineyard also offers tours, tastings and experiences like alpaca walks, reflecting a strong commitment to sustainable, natural viticulture.

Quoins Organic Vineyard

Wiltshire

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Quoins Organic Vineyard is a small, family-run certified organic vineyard tucked into the Cotswold limestone near Bradford-on-Avon, Wiltshire, England, just a few miles from Bath. The estate covers around one hectare and has been certified organic with the Soil Association, farming without synthetic fertilisers, pesticides or herbicides, and producing roughly 3,000 bottles of award-winning wine a year from varieties like Madeleine Angevine, Orion and Rondo. Organic tours and tastings run in summer, often with a walk through the vines and orchard followed by a tasting of current and past vintages in a relaxed setting.

Forty Hall Vineyard

Greater London

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Forty Hall Vineyard is a certified organic, community-focused vineyard on Forty Hall Farm in Enfield, North London, England, and is the only commercial-scale vineyard within the capital. First planted in 2009 with a small acre of vines and expanding over the following decade, it celebrated its first harvest around 2013. The project is run as a social enterprise involving volunteers and education, with all grapes grown organically and turned into still and traditional-method sparkling wines. The vineyard also supports wellbeing and learning programmes while producing award-worthy London Brut, Ortega and Bacchus wines.

Black Mountain Vineyard

Herefordshire

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Black Mountain Vineyard is a small, certified organic and low-intervention vineyard and winery based at Turnastone near the Brecon Beacons, but over the English border in Herefordshire. Planted by Mark & Laura Smith beginning in 2009, the site was formally converted to organic viticulture and certified through the Soil Association in 2018, and Korean Natural Farming methods support living soil and biodiversity. They hand-craft very limited still and sparkling wines from estate-grown Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Solaris and other varieties, with minimal cellar additions and a focus on natural expression.

FAQ

What is an organic vineyard?

An organic vineyard is one that grows grapes without synthetic herbicides, pesticides or chemical fertilisers. Instead, organic producers rely on approved natural treatments, soil health, biodiversity and careful vineyard management. In the UK, organic viticulture is particularly challenging because of the wetter climate and disease pressure, which makes certified organic vineyards relatively rare.

Are organic wines vegan?

Not always. Organic refers to how the grapes are grown, not how the wine is finished. Some wines, whether organic or not, may still use animal-based fining agents such as egg white or milk proteins during production. Many organic producers do make vegan wines, but it’s something you need to check separately on the label or with the vineyard.

Do organic wines contain sulphites?

Yes, most do. Organic wine does not mean sulphite-free. Sulphites occur naturally during fermentation, and many winemakers also add small amounts to help preserve freshness and stability. Organic standards may restrict how much can be added, but if you’re sensitive to sulphites, it’s best to check the label or ask the producer directly.

What's the difference between organic, sustainable and biodynamic vineyards?

Organic vineyards follow strict rules about avoiding synthetic chemicals and must meet certification standards. Sustainable vineyards may still use some conventional treatments but aim to reduce environmental impact overall. Biodynamic vineyards go further, treating the vineyard as a self-contained ecosystem and following additional farming principles, often alongside organic certification.

What does organic wine taste like?

Organic wine doesn’t have a single flavour profile. In most cases, it tastes like any other well-made wine — sparkling, fresh, fruity or complex depending on the style. Some people associate organic wines with a slightly more natural or expressive character, but quality and winemaking choices matter far more than the farming label alone.

Is visiting an organic vineyard more expensive?

Usually not. Tour and tasting prices are typically similar to non-organic vineyards, and the visitor experience is much the same. Organic farming can be more labour-intensive, so bottle prices may sometimes be slightly higher, but most visitors won’t see a major difference in cost just because a vineyard is organic.