British Travel Journal | Autumn 2019

DENBIES
DORKING, SURREY
This eighteenth-century estate was
established as a farm by Thomas
Denby but today contains the largest
vineyard in Britain, a visitor centre and
– surprisingly – the Surrey Performing
Arts Library. Many wines, still and
sparkling, are produced at Denbies
and there is also an on-site brewery.
A range of tours is offered starting at
£11.50 pp.
denbies.co.uk
Where to stay
Denbies Vineyard Hotel
Actually on the Denbies Wine Estate
itself. Our surprise entry, the recently
upgraded farmhouse B&B, following
a £4m transformation, has opened
as the UK's first-ever vineyard hotel.
Stay in one of the 17-bedrooms in
the new Denbies Vineyard Hotel and
enjoy outdoor dining in the orangery
garden restaurant, in the heart of the
wine-making experience.
denbies.co.uk
CUBITT BLANC DE
NOIRS 2013
Denbies produces a wide range of
still white wines as well as eight sparkling
wines, some named Cubitt after the
master builder, Thomas Cubitt who
redesigned the estate in the nineteenth
century. The Cubitt Blanc de Blancs 2013
won silver in Decanter’s 2019 World Wine
Awards. There are notes of apple and
citrus with hints of vanilla and minerality.
5
CAMEL VALLEY
BODMIN, CORNWALL
The Camel Valley Vineyard overlooks sun-drenched
valley slopes west of Bodmin. This Cornish winery
produces 11 wines, seven of them sparkling, and
has recently been granted Royal Warrant status as
a regular supplier to HRH Prince Charles, Duke of
Cornwall. A guided tour for two people costs £19.
camelvalley.com
WE LOVE
Where to stay
Camel Valley Estate There are two
barn conversion cottages on the estate and a
complimentary bottle is supplied for each new arrival.
During fishing season, guests can, by arrangement,
use the vineyard’s own private stretch of the Camel
River. Salmon and sea trout have been caught here by
experienced anglers.
camelvalley.com 6
BritishTravelJournal.com 31