5 ways to plan your visit with the interactive UK Wine Mapp
There are over 1,000 vineyards in Great Britain of various shapes and sizes with more than 300 open to the public, and that number is growing. If you’re looking to explore the newest, most exciting sector of hospitality and tourism, the UK Wine Map – the fourth most visit page on this website – is a great place to start.
The map enables you to postcode search WineGB members against key criteria to tailor winery or vineyard visits to suit your needs. Whether you’re a wine-enthusiast planning a UK wine tour; a trade buyer scouting new producers; or simply curious about the (very British) terroir and story behind each glass, here’s a guide to making the most of this very useful tool.
1. Decide what you want from your visit
Is it a weekend vineyard visit with friends or family, in which case you might favour producers open to the public, with a café/restaurant and good access?
Perhaps you’re on a trade or business exploration, therefore you might be looking for producers making a particular style of wine or who offer drop-in cellar door tastings.
You could be keen to discover which of the UK’s vineyards are organic or leading the green shift through regenerative farming and other sustainable practices.
Or, you might be looking for a way to make the most of your visit with an overnight stay so you can enjoy the wines without having to worry about your journey home.
2. Use the location + filter combo to narrow your search
On the find a vineyard page, you’ll find a searchable, filterable directory of UK wine producers, which are also plotted on an interactive map of the UK
It’s probably easiest to start by filtering by location, or use “Use my current location” to find producers near you – you can choose a radius of 15, 30 or 60 miles).
You can then filter down that search based on aspects such as sustainability credentials, facilities, styles of wine, grapes and activities or events, helping you turn a broad list into a manageable handful of prospects.
For example, say you live in Haywards Heath and want to visit a certified sustainable vineyard that offers tours and tasting and makes sparkling wine then four options come up: Albourne, Leonardslee Family Vineyards, Ridgeview and Plumpton.
3. Home-in and discover more about different regions & producers
Once you’ve narrowed down a few names, (you can choose how these are displayed, either on the map or as a grid list), click on the map pin or ‘Learn More’ button to read more about each producer.
For example, the page for Albourne Estate shows that they have Disabled Access, are Open to the Public, have a Shop, sell Sparkling and Still Wines, offer tours and are a Sustainable Producer. It also shows how far the vineyard is from your or your chosen location.
You’ll find producer contact information and website details here too so you can find out more about:
- Opening hours or visiting times
- Whether tours and tastings are by appointment
- Any special experiences (meal, picnic, accommodation)
- Accessibility and travel details
4. Build a themed route
Here’s where the map really begins to pay off. Because you can search geographically and by type, you can craft interesting vineyard-visiting itineraries, whether you’re a consumer, organising a trade visit or work in tourism and want to plan the best routes for your customers. Some examples of itineraries you could create include:
- A Family Day Out route filter for Open to the Public, Café/Restaurant, easy access, child and dog friendly.
- A Sparkling Trail across Kent, Sussex and Surrey by filtering for Sparkling Wine Producers in these regions and map them out.
- A Sustainable Choice route looking for Certified Sustainable and/or Organic producers across one or more areas.
5. Practical Tips to make the most of the time when you’re there
Book ahead: Many vineyards require bookings for tours/tastings, especially weekends. The individual producer pages give postal and website address details for each of our members so you can contact them directly.
Combine with lunch or local attractions: An increasing number of UK vineyards have cafés or restaurants but if they don’t, it’s worth looking at what’s nearby. You can zoom in on the map to see what towns and villages are nearby to make planning a full day out in the area even easier.
Go prepared for the Great British weather: Vineyards are outdoors so make sure you pack the right attire. A waterproof coat and sturdy shoes are usually a must if you plan to walk among vines.
Bring something back: Most vineyards have a cellar door shop where can buy their wine so make sure you support the producers direct-to-consumer channel by purchasing a bottle or two to share with friends and family and share the message of English and Welsh wine.
Make sure you return to the UK Wine Map to plan your next vineyard discovery trip and don’t forget to share your visits with us by tagging @WineGB and using the #CreateNewTraditions on social media.