Berkshire

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-stanlake-park-wine-estate-twyford"><a href="https://www.stanlakepark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Stanlake Park Wine Estate (opens in a new tab)">Stanlake Park Wine Estate</a>, Twyford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard.jpg" alt="Stanlake Park Estate Berkshire vineyard vineyards in berkshire" class="wp-image-28167" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/stanlakepark_vineyard-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What?&nbsp;Stanlake Park is without question the most famous vineyard in Berkshire. Planted in 1979 by Jon Leighton following a stint living in Australia, the initial 500 vines of 30 different varieties have ballooned to 10,000 vines occupying 25 acres of the estate.



Where?&nbsp;It’s based in Twyford – a location that&#8217;s relatively flat land with clay, loam and sandy soils – which means happy grapes!



How do I try?&nbsp;You can buy direct from the Stanlake&#8217;s <a href="https://stanlakepark.com/shop/">cellar shop</a>. The wine tours are fab, so book up and be sure to have a taxi on standby.



Stand-out sip:&nbsp;The award-winning <a href="https://stanlakepark.com/product/bacchus/">Bacchus</a> is fruity English white wine, and is a lip-smacking local alternative to your Sauvignon blanc or Picpoul do Pinet. We&#8217;re also big fans of the Pinot Noir Rosé.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-all-angels-vineyard-enborne"><a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="All Angels Vineyard (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.allangels.com/" target="_blank">All Angels Vineyard</a>, Enborne</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="563" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/All-Angels-New-Images-Guided-Tours-first-Image_1024x1024-copy.jpg" alt="vineyards in berkshire" class="wp-image-63324" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/All-Angels-New-Images-Guided-Tours-first-Image_1024x1024-copy.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/All-Angels-New-Images-Guided-Tours-first-Image_1024x1024-copy-800x450.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/All-Angels-New-Images-Guided-Tours-first-Image_1024x1024-copy-400x225.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/03/All-Angels-New-Images-Guided-Tours-first-Image_1024x1024-copy-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What?&nbsp;All Angels is a small family-run vineyard in West Berkshire. The vines were planted in 2010 over three hectares, and the hand-harvested grapes are transformed into an excellent English sparkling by Emma Rice, Director and Head Winemaker of the established Hattingley Valley. A new sparkling red was launched in 2020 – Angels 340 – using Rondo grapes harvested in 2015.



Where? It&#8217;s right next door to the 12th century St Michael and All Angels church in Enbourne, just south of Newbury. Its location is south facing, and the soil is fully loaded with sandy loam and a good deposit of flint. Cracking conditions for those fizz grapes to grow



How do I try? Easy peasy, just hop over to the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="vineyard's online shop (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.allangels.com/shop" target="_blank">vineyard&#8217;s online shop</a>. Alternatively, pop into Muddy award-winning Inn At Home or SJ Wines – both in Newbury or The Naked Grape in Hungerford.



Stand-out sip? The award-winning <a href="https://www.allangels.com/products/classic-cuvee-2014-long-aged-on-lees-1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">All Angels Classic Cuvée 2014</a> – a great sparkling with a luxurious feel.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-winding-wood-vineyard-hungerford"><a href="https://www.windingwoodvineyard.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Winding Wood Vineyard (opens in a new tab)">Winding Wood Vineyard</a>, Hungerford</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/winding-wood-vineyard.jpeg" alt="Winding Wood Vineyard, Hungerford vineyards in berkshire" class="wp-image-66744" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/winding-wood-vineyard.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/winding-wood-vineyard-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/winding-wood-vineyard-400x300.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/winding-wood-vineyard-768x576.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What?&nbsp;Winding Wood is a small boutique vineyard with just 3,000 vines of pinot noir and chardonnay. It has been a decade of blood, sweat and tears to transform this small holding into a successful vineyard. Once the sheep were evicted, co-owners Christopher Cooke and Robert Louth put in the back breaking work to creating their sparkling wines.



Where? It&#8217;s a stones throw from Hungerford in West Berkshire with gentle southeast facing slopes. The chalky soil and early morning sun create the perfect conditions for their Chardonnay&nbsp;and&nbsp;Pinot Noir grapes.



How do I try? Pay the guys a visit. They offer guided tours and wine tastings at the vineyard. The wine is made by <a href="https://hattingleyvalley.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hattingley Valley</a> just over the border in Hants (well worth a visit too), but you can waft around the vines, see how the grapes are processed and, more importantly, taste the end result. Bottles can be purchased via the <a aria-label=" online shop (opens in a new tab)" href="https://www.windingwoodvineyard.co.uk/shop" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">online shop</a> or in local farm shops.



Stand-out sip? We&#8217;re obsessed with the <a href="https://www.windingwoodvineyard.co.uk/shop-demo/2018-brut-ros" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">2020 Brut Rosé</a> &#8211; their second release of sparkling rosé which released in June 2023.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-windsor-great-park-vineyard-windsor"><a href="https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/2359415" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Windsor Great Park Vineyard</a>, Windsor</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard.jpg" alt="Windsor Great Park vineyard on slope towards lake vineyards in berkshire" class="wp-image-28169" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard-300x200.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard-720x480.jpg 720w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard-150x100.jpg 150w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/06/Windsor_Great_Park_Vineyard-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What?&nbsp;With the amount of entertaining the royals do, a vineyard is a must. Dignitaries are a thirsty lot. A vineyard was first planted in Windsor during Henry II&#8217;s reign. Fast forward to today, and a three-hectare vineyard has been created on Windsor Great Park, under the stewardship of Tony Laithwaite and his team at Laithwaite&#8217;s Wine. 



Where? A modest three hectares of Windsor Great Park&#8217;s 2,000 is set aside for classic Champagne grapes – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – on a gentle south-facing slope that overlooks a small lake and has ancient oak trees providing a natural windbreak. As locations go, it&#8217;s pretty darn perfect. 



How do I try? Short of being invited to a state dinner, you can order from <a href="https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Windsor-Great-Park-Vineyard-2016/2359416">Laithwaite&#8217;s website</a>. 



Stand-out sip? There&#8217;s only one to choose from the <a href="https://www.laithwaites.co.uk/product/Windsor-Great-Park-Vineyard-2016/2359416" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Windsor Great Park English Sparkling Wine 2016</a> with its biscuity aromas and creamy apricot taste.



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-ones-to-watch">ONES TO WATCH</h2>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-rowles-farm-vineyard-west-ilsley"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/rowles_farm/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Rowles Farm Vineyard</a>, West Ilsley </h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="749" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/rowles-farm-vineyard.png" alt="Rowles Farm Vineyard, West Ilsley " class="wp-image-66745" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/rowles-farm-vineyard.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/rowles-farm-vineyard-800x599.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/rowles-farm-vineyard-400x300.png 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/berkshire/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2024/06/rowles-farm-vineyard-768x575.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



What? This family-run farm that is diversifying into the wine business. Siblings Tom, William and Georgie Carlisle had the bright idea of creating a 6.5 acre vineyard on their 1,000 hectare farm. An impressive 30,000 vines of three varieties have been planted – a mix of seyval blanc, pinot noir and bacchus – and this year it will hopefully produce its first harvest.



Where? Rowles Farm can be found in Berkshire&#8217;s rolling hills of West Ilsley. Thanks to Britain’s warmer climate and the moisture-retaining light loamy soil usually found in France&#8217;s Champagne region, they&#8217;ve hit the jackpot with loand that is a match made in wine making heaven.



How do I try? You don&#8217;t… YET! The vineyard in Berkshire was planted in 2021 and if all goes to plan they could be producing their first bottles next year.

Glug! Best English wine and beautiful vineyards in Berkshire

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