Set amongst the rolling chalk hills of the North Downs, Denbies is one of the largest privately owned vineyards in Europe. The estate is independently owned and comprises 380 acres of which 265 acres are covered in vines.
Getting there:
Denbies Wine Estate is located in Dorking, Surrey and is easily accessible from Junction 9 of the M25 motorway with ample free on-site parking. For visitors arriving by public transport there is a frequent rail service from London Victoria to Dorking Deepdene which is just a 15 minute walk from the vineyard.
Tours and Experiences:
Indoor wine tasting experience
We arrived shortly before 11.00 a.m. and had pre-booked places on the one hour Indoor Wine Tasting Experience. Ticket holders are requested to assemble at the visitor desk in the main entrance hall shortly before tours are due to start. We were then met by our guide and taken through to the production area where we were handed glasses of sparkling wine before being shown a short film which provided us with a fascinating insight into the workings of the vineyard from vine to bottle.
Our guide explained the geology and history of the estate and showed us photographs of the changes in seasons at the vineyard.
The tour continued through the production area past the stainless steel tanks and oak barrels. Next, we passed alongside the bottling line where we were able to view the labels of all the other English vineyards that Denbies bottle for at the estate.
In the cellar, we admired a collection of exquisitely carved, oak barrels. Following the devastating storm that hit southern England in 1987, these barrels were carved from some of the large oak trees which were uprooted at that time. Our guide pointed out that although the barrels have never been used they were carved to depict each step in the wine making process from vine to wine.
While in the wine cellar we sampled a selection of Denbies English wines. We were offered a generous tasting of four wines whilst viewing a large map of the estate, indicating where the different varieties of grapes have been planted.
The first wine we tasted was the Whitedowns Rose Brut which had a lovely pink shade, tasting crisp and fresh and feeling perfect for a barbecue in the garden on a summer’s afternoon. Moving on, to our second wine tasting, this was of an English Sparkling Bacchus. Another excellent, crisp white wine with a taste of elderflower and citrus. Bacchus originates from Germany but is predominantly grown in England as it is ideal for the British climate.
Third on our list was the Denbies Rose Hill, a full flavoured rose, rich in colour and bursting with strawberry and raspberry soft fruits. We learnt that individual red grapes are gently pressed to help achieve the salmon pink colour of the wine.
Our final wine tasting was Redlands which is one of only two reds from the Denbies Wine Estate. This is a Rondo and Pinot Noir blend. I’d not come across Rondo before but learnt that it is a dark skinned, hybrid grape that has a high resistance to frost and mildew making it suitable for the climate and growing conditions of southern England. Redlands had hints of blackcurrant and cranberry and tasted light and refreshing, lending itself to be served lightly chilled. All of the wines tasted were of a high quality and comparable to well known European brands.
Outdoor tours
Indoor and outdoor tours can be booked separately or combined to follow on from each other. Our 12.00 noon Sparkling Outdoor Vineyard Train Tour started from outside the main entrance allowing us ample time to complete the indoor tour without rushing between the two.
Meeting once again at the estate’s reception, those of us who had upgraded for the option of a glass of sparkling wine were each given a flute to take on board the land train. The train is actually a Land Rover towing a few trailers and with its open sides is a relaxing way to view the sprawling estate.
The 50 minute journey took us at a leisurely pace around the vineyard to some of the most beautiful viewing points. We stopped at the top of the hill to take in the stunning views across to Box Hill and whilst our guide told us about the vineyard, planting cycles and harvesting techniques we sipped glasses of the estate’s award winning sparkling cuvee.
The vines had just been pruned prior to our mid April visit and although still lovely to see in springtime they obviously look much more beautiful as the growing season continues into the summer and then autumn, when the branches are loaded with juicy grapes.
Our guide pointed out that although most of the vines on the estate are now harvested mechanically, due to its steepness, the section where we had stopped to enjoy our wine still needed to be hand picked.
Dining
The estate has several dining options that cater to all tastes.
From the casual, family dining Conservatory and Gallery restaurants to the more formal Vineyard restaurant, Denbies caters for all occasions and budgets. There’s also a takeaway known as The Hatch on the Lawn where you can grab a light bite or coffee before or after one of the tours.
Denbies Wine and Gift Shop
Naturally, we couldn’t leave without purchasing a few bottles of English wine to take home and with offers on the Surrey Gold we stocked up whilst we had the opportunity. The shop also offers a selection of gifts, homeware, jewellery, stationery and greetings cards.
Denbies Vineyard Hotel
The estate has its own Vineyard Hotel which overlooks the vineyards and rolling hills beyond. The boutique hotel offers 17 rooms, a restaurant and bar with outside terrace.
Denbies Estate Farm Shop
After our outdoor tour we enjoyed a wander around the estate and popped into the Village Green Farm Shop which was filled with locally produced products. From Surrey distilled gins, Dorking grown asparagus, flowers, herbs to freshly picked fruit and vegetables, it was all very tempting.
There was also a wide selection of English cheese which were labelled by region. Several varieties were available to sample and being a cheese lover it was impossible to resist.
Walking Trails
With 265 acres covered in vines and 7 miles of footpaths around the vineyard there are plenty of enticing routes to explore. If we had more time then we would have enjoyed following the three mile walk up to the Box Hill viewpoint which returns via Burford Bridge and the North Downs Way. Hopefully we’ll get an opportunity to return on another sunny day to enjoy this walk and to stock up on more bottles of Denbies wines.
Overall:
Whether you’re exploring the vineyard on foot, enjoying a meal at one of the restaurants, or taking part in a wine experience, I’m certain that a visit to Denbies Wine Estate would be a fun day out for all the family.
Details: Denbies Wine Estate London Road, Dorking, Surrey, RH5 6AA.
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We were guests of Denbies Wine Estate and as always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.
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