High Clandon

What's the vibe?

High Clandon offers a beautiful and peaceful escape in the Surrey Hills, renowned for its stunning panoramic views stretching towards the London skyline. Visitors are welcomed warmly by the owners into their exquisite Glass Barn and gardens, often enhanced by art and sculpture exhibitions.

High Clandon Estate Vineyard is primarily open for pre-booked tours, talks, and tastings, which are led by the owners.

They also host special Open Days, usually on a Saturday, and major events like the annual "Art & Sculptures in the Vineyard" summer exhibition (e.g., June 28 – July 12, 2026), where general admission is free with a suggested charity donation.

Also on an early June Saturday, they host Jazz in the Vineyard. And in summer, celebrating Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, they host a ticketed event, the Battle of the Bubbles – the Battle of Waterloo (Surrey's finest sparkling Cuvées against Champagne).

Tour, Talk, Tasting: The guided Tour, Talk, Tasting experience lasts approximately ninety minutes and is led by the owners. It covers the vineyard, the winemaking story, and includes tastings of their vintage sparkling cuvée, liqueur, gin, and honey. Prices start from £20 per person for standard bookings, rising to from £30 per person on Open Days (plus a booking fee). Pre-booking online is required for all tours.

Food on site: There is no permanent restaurant or café. At Jazz in the Vineyard, luxury pizzas are available to purchase alongside a complimentary glass of cuvée. During the summer art exhibition, cream teas and cakes are provided by Cherry Trees, a local children's charity. Picnics are explicitly encouraged at outdoor events.

Accommodation: The vineyard does not offer on-site accommodation.

Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on short fixed leads are welcome during open days and events, including in the gardens, wildflower meadow, and vineyard grounds.

Children: Children are welcome and are not charged for admission. The grounds - including the wildflower meadow, wildlife pond, and truffle orchard - offer plenty for younger visitors to explore alongside the vineyard itself.

Accessibility: Garden paths run across firm, chalky ground and are suitable for wheelchair users and aided walkers. The Glass Barn, wildflower meadow, and sculpture gardens are all accessible. Woodland parking is available on site.

Picnics: Visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic to enjoy in the grounds during open days and events.

Private Hire: The Glass Barn is available for private hire and suits intimate gatherings of up to seventy people standing or thirty to forty seated - including weddings, birthday celebrations, and corporate events.

Special Events: In addition to their art exhibitions, they host Truffle & Cuvée Experience Days and festive "Fizz & Firelight" events and in the summer art exhibition, they open the gardens for the National Garden Scheme and Cream Teas & Cuvée is provided by the charity, Cherry Trees.

High Clandon specializes in producing singular, aged-vintage-only English sparkling wines, crafted from the classic Champagne grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier - with a particular lean towards Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in the blend. These cuvées are made using the traditional method (Méthode Champenoise) and undergo extensive bottle maturation, typically for at least five years on their yeast lees.

The winemaking is carried out by Matthieu Elzinga and John Worontschak at Litmus Wines, working from fruit grown and hand-tended on the estate. Notable releases include the Cerulean Cuvée 2020 Prestige Vintage Brut and the Shakespearean Cuvée 2019 Prestige Vintage Brut.

The wines have earned consistent recognition. High Clandon has won the IWC Cellar Door of the Year trophy twice over and received Gold Medals for Visitor Experience from Visit England. Between 2015 and 2025, the wines accumulated 14 Gold and 16 Silver medals across international competitions, including golds at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships. In 2025, the estate was named in The Real Review's Top Twenty Wineries of Great Britain.

High Clandon is a Founder Member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, and holds the Surrey Hills Enterprises Trademark of Excellence. Sustainable practice runs through the whole estate: the 12-acre site encompasses wildflower meadows, a wildlife pond, a truffle orchard, and gardens managed with care for the surrounding landscape. The vineyard lies on chalky limestone soil, sharing the same underlying geology as the Champagne region - a characteristic the owners regard as central to the style of their wines.

High Clandon is also a Founder Member of the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills with the four other founders, Denbies, Albury, Chilworth Manor, Greyfriars. In 2025, they were joined by Tanhurst Vineyard and Soloms Court.

By Car: High Clandon is approximately 10 minutes from Junction 10 of the M25 (A3 Wisley interchange). Ample parking is available in the vineyard's woodland area.

By Public Transport: The nearest mainline train station is Guildford, which has direct links to London Waterloo, Woking, and Reading. A taxi from Guildford station to the vineyard takes approximately 15 minutes.

Book train tickets in advance via Trainline.

Other Vineyards:

• Albury Organic Vineyard (Albury, Surrey)
• Denbies Wine Estate (Dorking, Surrey)

Notable Restaurants:

• The King William IV (West Horsley) – An award-winning local pub, approximately a 5-minute drive from the vineyard.
• The Queen's Head (East Clandon) – Located in the vineyard's village, about a 7-minute walk or 5-minute drive.

Notable Hotels:

• Denbies Vineyard Hotel (Dorking) – A unique hotel located within a prominent vineyard estate, offering vineyard views.
• Guildford Harbour Hotel (Guildford) – A stylish town centre hotel with spa facilities.

Notable Attractions:

• RHS Garden Wisley (Woking) – A world-renowned garden managed by the Royal Horticultural Society.
• Hatchlands Park (East Clandon) – A National Trust property featuring a Repton-designed park and a Georgian mansion.