Whether you are commiserating or celebrating, having something delicious to knock back as you say ‘Cheers’ or ‘Bottoms Up’ is one of the things that make life, … well fun. We know that we should limit our average consumption of alcohol to no more than 14 units per week, in which case the tipple of choice needs to be even more quaffable. However, to find that elusive nectar of the gods that justifies ruining your detox, you need to do some taste testing. Here in the Forest of Dean, it may surprise you to learn that we have some exceptional vineyards on our doorstep. Read on to find out why you don’t need to head to California or the South of France to go wine tasting this summer.
1. Parva Farm, Chepstow
Did you know that Wales made wine? Well, they do and they are gorgeous! Parva Farm Vineyard run tours around their privately owned and operated vineyard in the village of Tintern, South Wales. They produce exceptional, award-winning wines, meads and sparkling wines. They are open all year round and have a fabulous farm shop selling their wines and meads, as well as local cider and perry, honey, preserves, cheeses, etc. Move over France, Wales is the next big contender on the winemaking front. From Coleford, they are just 15 minutes away by car.
2. Three Choirs in Newent
Three Choirs Vineyard in Newent is the home of the UK’s oldest and largest vineyard. Their English wines are praised by the BBC, Country Living, The Telegraph and Sawday’s, to name a few. You can go for a tour and tasting session of the vineyard and even round off the experience by having dinner in their fabulous and intimate brasserie. Their famous range of English wines includes several sparkling wines, numerous white wines, a couple of red wines, a rose and even a dessert wine. Why not try them all? They are just over half an hour away from Coleford.
3. Woodchester Valley, Stroud
Woodchester Valley Vineyard and Winery in Gloucestershire is a vineyard unlike any other. From their vineyard, you can enjoy incomparable views of the Cotswold hills whilst savouring a multi-award-winning English wine. Tours of their vineyard are available all year round. You can enjoy a tour of their classic wines or their sparkling wine tour. Then after discovering their vineyard and learning all about viticulture and winemaking in England’s cooler climate, head back to their sampling room to try five different wines from their range. They are just over 1 hour away from us in Coleford.
If you are a wine lover, then enjoying a long weekend away sampling English wines is the ideal way to develop your palate and wine tasting skills. With three incredible vineyards within an hour’s drive from us in Coleford, we are the perfect base for your wine tasting weekend away. If you needed any more convincing to get you to give English wine a go, then @bibendumwine says “With the world rapidly changing and UK consumers opting to ‘shop local’ more and more, English wine seems poised on the brink of a boom like never before.”
Get ahead of the trend and book your wine tasting weekend now. Call The Wyndham on 01594 833666.
