The UK’s wine scene is officially popping, with the number of vineyards doubling in the past eight years to more than 500, nearly half of which welcome visitors.*
Set in a tranquil green oasis in the heart of Gloucestershire, Three Choirs is one of England’s oldest and largest, with more than 75 acres of lush grape-growing land.
5
5
As well as award-winning wines and beautiful scenery, there are luxury lodges tucked away among the vines to make a weekend of it.
With roll-top baths, sumptuous beds and private south-facing patios to enjoy the scenery, they offer the perfect intimate escape. Double rooms cost from £185 per night (Three-choirs-vineyards.co.uk).
THE GRAPE ESCAPE
Want to sound as though you really know your stuff? Book on to Three Choirs’ wine-tasting experience, where you’ll get a walking tour of the manicured vines and see how grapes are transformed into wine on site.
Don’t forget to stop to take a selfie by the huge frames to remember the day.
Your guide will talk you through every process, before you head back to the pretty brasserie to sample five of the vinos. There is a wine tour every day at 4pm, £15 per person.
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY
Three Choirs’ location, midway between the Cotswolds and the Forest of Dean, is an area of stunning natural beauty.
Pack a picnic blanket and hamper — including a bottle of wine, natch — and spend an afternoon next to the lake at nature reserve Golden Valley in Malvern, 15 minutes by car.
Roam among sheep and cows on Castlemorton Common, and head straight up to the ridge of the Malvern Hills to take in the epic views.
RISE ‘N’ WINE
Breakfast is served in the cosy brasserie, seconds from your lodge — choose between a full English and avo with scrambled egg on toasted artisan bread, plus fresh juice and tea or coffee, £14 per person.
In the evening, Three Choirs serves a great tapas selection to complement its large range of wine.
Kick off with a glass of sparkling cuvée, £6.99, which is perfect with the smoked Wye salmon with rocket and crème fraiche on sourdough, £8.50. Next up, pair the Ravens Hill red, £5, with lamb kofta, £8.50.
Prefer a picnic on your patio? Stop by nearby Taynton Farm Shop, which has been serving the community for more than 20 years, to stock up on cheese, home-made bread, cakes and its signature quiche.
FYI: More than 1.4m vines were planted in the UK in 2020. There’s been a 70% increase in land for wine production in the past five years.**
Sources: *Countryside Online **Wines of Great Britain
5
5
5
