Denbies Wine Estate in Dorking

Found in the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, near the market town of Dorking and the natural wonder of Box Hill, Denbies Wine Estate is currently the largest single estate vineyard in Britain.

Family owned and run since 1984, the estate first began planting its vineyard in 1986. These days, some 265 acres of vines sprawl out from around the flint-clad Chateau-style visitor centre, which has helped Denbies become one of Surrey’s most popular food and drink tourism destinations.

Visitors to Denbies Wine Estate can enjoy coffee and cake in the Conservatory Restaurant, which is found in a light-filled courtyard atrium; fine dining in The Gallery Restaurant, which is located on the third floor of the winery with spectacular panoramic views; and also book onto one of the popular indoor and outdoor tours and wine tastings. A tasting in the atmospheric Denbies Cellars is hard to beat as an English wine experience.

A founding member of the Vineyards of the Surrey Hills group, alongside fellow Local Food Britain members Greyfriars Vineyard and Albury Organic Vineyard, Denbies’ wines have regularly won international awards.

The famous chalky soil (akin to the Champagne region) and protected valley of south facing slopes help to ensure Denbies produces some of the finest sparkling and still wines in Britain.

In 2019, they were awarded the McNie Trophy for ‘Best Blended White Wine’ and a gold medal for their Ranmore Hill 2017 at the WineGB Awards 2019. They also received a gold for Cubitt Blanc de Noirs 2013 and silver for Cubitt Blanc de Blancs 2013.

They received 23 medals in total across five different competitions in 2019, including an impressive two golds and one silver for both Greenfields NV sparkling and their Brokes Botrytis Noble Harvest 2016 dessert wine.

They show no signs of resting on their laurels and 2020 looks to be a hugely exciting year for this Surrey vineyard as it hosts a number of high profile events. Their state-of-the-art winery also enables Denbies’ team to help other local vineyards produce their own award-winning wines.

Easy to reach by road, rail or on foot along the North Downs, Denbies Wine Estate is not just for day trips these days, having launched the first wine hotel in the UK in the summer of 2019.

The boutique Denbies Vineyard Hotel features 17 ensuite rooms with the Vineyard Restaurant and a bar area. It offers beautiful views across the vineyard and a range of Denbies wine vintages are available for guests to taste by the glass via an Enomatic wine dispenser. Guests can even enjoy dining in two cabana-style summerhouses when the weather suits.

Whether you’re looking for a walk in an English vineyard followed by a bite to eat or you fancy a short break in the beautiful Surrey Hills, Denbies Wine Estate is a must visit for lovers of great food and drink.

Brunch and Bubbles

A relaxing brunch in the tranquil surroundings of Denbies Wine Library

Date(s): Every weekend until end August £59.00 per person (18 yrs. & above)

Local Food Surrey says

As well as the beautiful vineyard, three restaurants and the wine hotel, Denbies Wine Estate is also home to Village Greens Farm Shop and Surrey Hills Brewery, ensuring its place as one of the foremost foodie hubs in the South East of England. As part of Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, they are helping to put Surrey on the map as a wine region destination.

A visit to Denbies Wine Estate in the Surrey Hills feels like a holiday abroad. You almost forget you're just outside the market town of Dorking and only minutes away from the M25 and direct train connections to London. The scale of the vineyard truly takes your breath away, and the international awards that their wines garner speak for themselves.