Rail journeys that leave you on cloud wine! Day trips by train to these five English vineyards have soared in popularity – which one is YOUR pick of the bunch?
- There has been a 41% rise in travel to Denbies’ nearest station – Dorking
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An increasing number of Britons are turning to rail travel to transport themselves to ‘cloud wine’, Trainline has revealed.
Data gathered by the rail and coach platform shows that stations serving five UK vineyards have all seen a marked increase in footfall this July compared to last year, with Trainline’s Chief Product Officer Dave Price pointing out that ‘Trainline’s digital railcards are a brilliant way to make a saving’ for group trips to the vines – with no designated driver needed, of course.
Here we reveal the five vineyards trending for train trips.
Which one is your pick of the bunch?
DENBIES WINE ESTATE, SURREY: 41% RISE IN TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST STATION – DORKING
Denbies Wine Estate, pictured here, is just a 10-minute walk from Dorking station in Surrey
Along with several other English vineyards, Denbies shares the Champagne region’s chalky ground, enabling its sparkling wine to give French fizz a run for its euros in the taste department. The estate produces one million bottles a year
The vineyard is proving popular, with Dorking station seeing a 41 per cent rise in travel compared to last year
There are trains from London that reach Dorking station in under an hour – and from there it’s a speedy ten-minute walk to the 265-acre Denbies Wine Estate, so you’ll be sipping premium wine before you know it.
Along with several other English vineyards, Denbies – which produces a million bottles a year – shares the Champagne region’s chalky ground, enabling its sparkling wine to give French fizz a run for its euros in the taste department.
What’s more, it has a hotel in the old farmhouse with 17 rooms.
RATHFINNY WINE ESTATE, EAST SUSSEX: 41% RISE IN TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST STATION – SEAFORD
At Rathfinny there are vineyard tours to enjoy, ‘dine in the vine’ experiences to savour and scenic vine walks to embark upon. Fancy staying the night? B&B doubles cost from £100 or £238, including dinner for two and harvest tour
It’s a 90-minute walk from the station at Seaford to the Rathfinny Wine Estate, which lies just three miles from the English Channel, but Trainline points out that the scenery along the way is ‘beautiful’ and the quality of wine awaiting you impressive.
Plus, there are vineyard tours to enjoy, ‘dine in the vine’ experiences to savour and scenic vine walks to embark upon.
Fancy staying the night? B&B doubles cost from £100 or £238, including dinner for two and a harvest tour.
RIDGEVIEW WINE ESTATE, EAST SUSSEX: 35% RISE IN TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST STATION – BURGESS HILL
The vineyard offers a winery shop, open every day from 11am to 4pm with complimentary tastings, and a restaurant – The Rows & Vine – that’s open Thursday to Monday
After alighting the train at Burgess Hill station it’s a ‘lovely’ 35-minute walk to the Ridgeview Wine Estate, notes Trainline.
The vineyard, which sits on the edge of the South Downs National Park, has cemented itself as one of England’s most prestigious producers.
Queen Elizabeth II served bottles of Ridgeview’s Grosvenor sparkling wine to guests at her 80th birthday party and a glass of its sparkling rose, Fitzrovia, to Barack Obama during a state visit.
The vineyard offers a winery shop, open every day from 11am to 4pm with complimentary tastings, and a restaurant – The Rows & Vine – that’s open Thursday to Monday.
TINWOOD ESTATE, WEST SUSSEX: 35% RISE IN TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST STATION – CHICHESTER
At the Tinwood Estate visitors can stay overnight and wake up with a view of the vines
Hop off the train at Chichester station, then hop on the number 55 bus and it’ll take you to within a 15-minute walk of the Tinwood Estate.
This vineyard offers the chance to learn the journey of its award-winning sparkling wines ‘from grape to glass’ on a one-and-a-half hour tour before relaxing in its tasting room with three samples to try, paired with food from the vineyard kitchen.
Visitors can also stay overnight and wake up with a view of the vines.
ARTELIUM WINE ESTATE, WEST SUSSEX: 30% RISE IN TRAVEL TO THE NEAREST STATION – PLUMPTON
Data gathered by the rail and coach platform shows that stations serving five UK vineyards have all seen a marked increase in footfall this July compared to last year
Tours and tastings are on offer at Artelium, which boasts of being a ‘vineyard with hospitality at its heart, a space to enjoy wine and art against the breath-taking backdrop of the Sussex countryside’.
The vineyard also offers a ‘Collective’ membership, which includes 18 bottles of fine English wines annually, exclusive cuvee discounts, culinary experiences, and estate gatherings.
It’s a 20-minute walk through fields to the estate from the nearest station, Plumpton.
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE: RAIL TRIPS TO 5 UK VINEYARDS ARE ON THE UP
1. Denbies Wine Estate in Surrey has seen a 41 per cent increase in travel to its nearest station, Dorking.
2. Rathfinny Wine Estate in East Sussex has seen a 41 per cent rise in travel to its nearest station, Seaford.
3. Ridgeview Wine Estate in East Sussex has seen a 35 per cent rise in travel to its nearest station, Burgess Hill.
4. Tinwood Estate in West Sussex has seen a 35 per cent rise in travel to its nearest station, Chichester.
5. Artelium Wine Estate in West Sussex has seen a 30 per cent rise in travel to its nearest station, Plumpton.
Source: Trainline
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