The A to Z of English Wine Week 2026
26 ways to Create New Traditions and Drink English & Welsh Wine
Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or simply curious about what’s happening in vineyards across the UK, English Wine Week is the perfect excuse to raise a glass to one of the country’s most exciting success stories – here’s 26 ways to celebrate.
1. Attend a vineyard tour
Go behind the scenes and discover how English wine is made, from vine to bottle. Many vineyards not usually open to the public throw open their doors during English Wine Week so it’s a great opportunity to go behind the scenes and find some hidden gems. Some, like Henners in East Sussex, are even hosting a free tours and tasting on Friday 26th June.
2. Blend your own wine
Ever fancied having a go at winemaking yourself? On Saturday 27th June, Bolney Wine Estate will host a special Blending Experience (£60/person) giving visitors the chance to get hands on and create their own Chardonnay and Pinot Gris blend with the Bolney winemaking team.
3. Check out the 2026 WineGB medal winners
There’s no better place to start when seeking out high quality English wine to enjoy this English Wine Week than this year’s WineGB medal winners list. Look out on our awards page for the results.
4. Discover a new grape variety
There’s more to English wine than the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier that go into our sensational sparklings. From Bacchus to Reichensteiner,there are a whole host of Germanic varieties to try, as well as disease resistant PIWIs, such as Seyval Blanc and Divico, and an increasing number of internationally renowned varieties like Albarino, Riesling and Sauvignon Blanc.
5. Enjoy an English vineyard picnic
Could there be anything more quintessential that enjoying a picnic, in a vineyard, during English Wine Week? A whole host of UK vineyards from Birchden in Kent to Burnt House in Suffolk host picnics throughout the summer so if you can’t make one during English Wine Week, book one for a later date.
6. Feel the festival fever
From the Vineyard of Hampshire’s Fizz Fest, which is this year being held at Hambledon Wine Estate on 27th July, to The Great Yorkshire Wine & Fizz Festival at Yorkshire Heart Vineyard on the same fay, vineyards up and down the country are getting coming together to host festivals of wine, food and music, giving visitors the chance to try a selection of wines from across their region.
7. Go for a run
If you’ve ever fancied signing up to the famous Medoc Marathon, here’s your chance for some training! On 20th June, Leonardslee Wine Estate is hosting its Sparkling Run, where participants can run – or walk – a 10k route thought the vineyard and woodland paths tasting sparkling wine along the way.
8. Host an English wine tasting at home
Invite friends to bring a bottle and vote for your favourites. Why not try a Sparkling wine Tasting comparing Charmat, Blanc de Blancs, Classic Cuvée and Blanc de Noirs styles or compare Compare flights of a particularly grape variety grown in England, like Chardonnay, alongside examples from Burgundy, Australia or California and see how they differ.
9. Introduce someone to a vineyard at sunset session
Share a bottle with a friend who has never tried it before as the sunsets over the vineyard. This golden hour is one of the best times to visit a vineyard for photographs and lots of estate, such as Wiston in West Sussex, The Grange in Hampshire and Sandridge Barton in Devon host tours and tastings at these times.
10. Join a winery membership club
Many producers offer exclusive benefits for members that enable you to get first dibs on limited release wines, enjoy member only events and specialist tastings. For example, Squerryes host a Members’ Garden Party on 17th June giving access to jazz on the lawn at Squerryes Court, which is not usually open to the public.
11. Keep a tasting notebook
Keeping an English wine diary is such a great way to record your impressions of vineyards and wines, to discover which experiences and styles you enjoy most.
12. Learn about the history of English wine
From Roman vineyards to today’s award-winning producers, there’s plenty to discover. Check out books such as A Celebration of English Wine by Liz Sagues, English Wine by Oz Clarke and, if you can get hold of a copy, Wine Growing in England by George Ordish.
13. Match English wine with cultue
On Friday 19th June Yotes Court Vineyard and Music@Malling will present a special tasting of six wines and pieces of music, composed by outstanding young composer, Alice Beckwith, to specifically capture the essence of each wine. Meanwhile, Wildwood Vineyard is running a Midsummer Theatre event on Saturday 20th June.
14. Nominate your favourite English wine
Share your recommendations on social media and spread the word using the hashtag #createnewtraditions and don’t forget to tag @WineGB so we can share too!
15. Order a pre-flight glass of English wine
It’s often tradition to enjoy for a pre-flight drink at the airport before jetting off on holiday, so why not choose a glass of English to toast the start of the vacation? WineGB officially launched 2026 English Wine Week from London Heathrow Terminal 2, where the world comes and goes. We also celebrated with a new podcast episode in collaboration with The English Wine Diaries, and London Heathrow’s Head of Food & Beverage, Steph Pears, giving listeners an insider look at the producers and personalities shaping the future of English wine. Listen here.
16. Party your way through English Wine Week
Some of our members take our Celebrate English and Welsh wine motto very seriously and host parties to celebrate English Wine Week. Oastbrook in East Sussex has been doing it for a number of years, serving up sparkling wine with a side of samba dancing, while Vagabond Urban Winery in Canada Water will host its inaugural English Wine Week party with DJ Yoda. Both events take place on Saturday 27th June.
17. Quiz your friends
Test their knowledge of English wine regions, grape varieties and producers. Keen to learn more? Why not sign up to a wine course. WineGB members such as Hambledon Wine Estate in Hampshire host WSET courses at the vineyard and if you’re more serious about getting into wine then Plumpton in East Sussex is the centre of excellence for wine education in the UK.
18. Raise a glass of English wine on a London terrace
If you live or work in the city and find it difficult to get out to the countryside to visit a vineyard, then check out which bars in town serve English wine by the glass. Bolney is taking over the Rooftop Wine Terrace by Searcys, while Nyetimber has taken over the terrace at Rosewood.
19. Spend the night in a vineyard
What’s better than a vineyard day out? A vineyard stay. Whether you want to glamp next to the vines in bell tents or shepherd huts, or fancy a more luxurious stay in a lodge, an increasing number of vineyards offer accommodation – check out our UK Wine Map to find them.
20. Try some English wine and food pairings
Try Bacchus with asparagus or seafood, sparkling wine with fish and chips (on 24th and 25th June, Rathfinny is hosting a special fish and chip tasting lunch) or Pinot Noir with roast lamb.
21. Understand how wine is made
From traditional method sparkling to Charmat, Pet Nat to skin contact, understanding how a wine is made helps you appreciate the hard work put into winemaking and exactly why the UK wine scene is so special. Listen to winemakers explain their roles at various events across the UK, such as An Evening with the Winemaker at Hencote on Sartuday 20th June.
22. Visit a vineyard restaurant
Combine great wine with local, seasonal food right by the wines. A lot of the cellar doors across the UK have their own restaurants offering more than just cheese and charcuterie boards so check out our UK Wine Map to find them and book a table.
23. Wander through the vines
Many estates offer beautiful walking routes through vines and the countryside with maps that you can pick up (often for free) at the cellar door. Hattingley Valley is hosting guided Vineyard Walk & Tastings on 20th, 21st & 27th June.
24. eXplore a new wine region
Venture beyond the well-known areas of South East England and cast your net a little further to discover emerging producers places like Cornwall, Herefordshire, the Midlands, Yorkshire and Wales. Check out our regions page for inspiration.
25. Yoga in a vineyard
Increasing numbers of vineyards are diversifying their cellar door offering with experiences such as wellness retreats. Check out estates likeBalfour and Tinwood who host regular sessions.
26. Zoom in on sustainability
Learn how English vineyards are working to protect biodiversity, reduce emissions and farm responsibly. You can find out more about what our Sustainable Wines of Great Britain accredited members are doing here.
For more events from our members, check out our events page.