Chet Valley Vineyard

Journey to Chet Valley Vineyard, where the Hemmant family’s decade-long dedication to SWGB-accredited sustainable winemaking yields award-winning English wines.

https://www.chetvalleyvineyard.co.uk/

Loddon Road, Bergh Apton, Norfolk, NR15 1BT, England. Get directions

Nearest station: Buckenham (13.3 miles).

Public tours

Private tours

Self-guided tours

Tasting room

Dog friendly

Child friendly

Online shop

Winery on site

Walking trail

Disabled access

Award-winning

Hosts weddings

Organic or sustainable

While we update listings frequently, we suggest confirming important details with the vineyard to avoid any surprises.

What's the vibe

Chet Valley Vineyard offers a tranquil escape into the heart of rural Norfolk, combining a family-owned, sustainable approach to viticulture with a welcoming, natural setting. Visitors can expect a relaxed atmosphere amidst abundant wildlife, where the passion for winemaking is palpable.

Visiting information

Opening Hours: The cellar door is open year-round for sales. Tours run seasonally, typically from April to October. The vineyard is closed on Sundays.Tours & Tastings: Booking is required for guided vineyard tours and tastings, which are offered on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 11 am and 3 pm. Private group tours for ten or more people can be arranged Monday to Friday. Self-guided vineyard trails are also available.
Food Options: While there isn't a dedicated restaurant, you can pre-book a light lunch to accompany your tour for an additional cost. Luxury vineyard picnics are also available to enjoy among the vines. Drop-in wine tastings are offered in the tasting room.
Special Events: Chet Valley hosts various events throughout the year, including their popular annual grape harvest (typically mid-September to mid-October), themed suppers, and virtual tastings. The Wine Hall is also available for private hire for events.
Accommodation: The Vine House, a self-catering cottage located on-site, sleeps up to six guests and offers thoughtfully designed disabled access on a single level.
Accessibility: The vineyard provides disabled access, including a designated parking space near the cellar door. While the main tasting room is upstairs without lift access, alternative tasting experiences can be arranged downstairs among the barrels for those unable to use stairs.

Family & Pet Friendly: Children are welcome, and those under 18 can join tours free of charge. Well-behaved dogs on leads are also welcome on the premises.

The Wine

Chet Valley Vineyard produces a diverse range of award-winning still and sparkling English wines, crafted from cool-climate grape varieties grown on their 10-hectare estate. Their sparkling selection includes the flagship Méthode Champenoise 'Horatio' and Charmat-style 'Skylark' wines, alongside the 'House of Hemmant' range and 'Red Kite' sparkling red. Still wines feature aromatic whites like 'Swift' and 'Siskin', and the fruit-forward 'Redwing' rosé. All wines are named after the variety of birds that frequent the vineyard.

The vineyard has garnered significant acclaim, winning numerous national and international awards. Notable achievements include the 'Horatio' receiving an award at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2018 for its 2015 vintage, and the 'Skylark' being recognized at the International Wine Competition (IWC) and Sommelier Wine Awards. More recently, their 'House of Hemmant Blanc de Blancs 2021' earned a Bronze Medal at the WineGB awards in 2023.

Sustainability is central to Chet Valley's ethos. The vineyard is WineGB accredited, making it the only one in Norfolk to hold the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB) certification. They employ regenerative viticulture practices, focusing on soil health, biodiversity, and minimizing chemical inputs through permaculture and cover cropping. Their commitment extends to producing vegan wines by using on-site clay as a fining agent instead of animal products, and they aim to be carbon neutral by 2030. All wines are produced on-site in their own winery, with grapes grown, hand-picked, pressed, fermented, bottled, and labelled within the estate.

Getting here

By Car: Chet Valley Vineyard is located in Bergh Apton, South Norfolk, postcode NR15 1BT. From the A146 (south of Norwich), turn off at the George and Dragon pub in Thurton and follow the brown tourist signs for approximately 1.5 miles until you reach the vineyard on Loddon Road. Ample private parking is available on-site.

By Public Transport: There is no direct public transport to the vineyard itself. The nearest bus stop is in Thurton or Bergh Apton. You can take the X2 bus from Norwich Surrey Street Station to Thurton (approximately 15 minutes by bus). From Thurton, the vineyard is about a 1-mile walk along country roads. Alternatively, the 86 bus serves Bergh Apton (about 24 minutes by bus), with the stop roughly 0.5 miles from the winery. The nearest train stations are Norwich (approx. 20 minutes by car) and Beccles (approx. 17 minutes by car), from which local taxis can be booked.

What's nearby

Other Vineyards:
- Winbirri Vineyard
- Flint Vineyard
Notable Restaurants:
- The Gardeners Kitchen at Green Pastures Garden Centre (Bergh Apton) – an award-winning restaurant located very close to the vineyard. Visit Website
- Brix and Bones (Norwich) – recognized by the Good Food Guide for its unique, fire-based cooking. Visit Website
Notable Hotels:
- The Gunton Arms (Thorpe Market) – a highly acclaimed gastropub with boutique rooms set within a deer park. Visit Website
- Chedgrave House B&B (Chedgrave) – a well-regarded local bed and breakfast offering nearby accommodation. Visit Website (Note: link inferred from typical B&B website structure)
Notable Attractions:
- Norwich Cathedral and Castle – explore the historic city of Norwich, just a short drive away, with its impressive Norman cathedral and castle museum. Visit Norwich Cathedral / Visit Norwich Castle
- Norfolk Broads National Park – enjoy the scenic waterways, walking, and cycling opportunities in this unique wetland landscape, part of which is near the vineyard. Visit Website