Suffolk Vineyards and Wine
Suffolk is home to a number of excellent and often picturesque vineyards, and also produces a vast range of exquisite wines. A trip to a Suffolk Vineyard is more than just a way to make some high-quality purchases – although, if this is your main aim then you will not be disappointed!
A visit to a Suffolk Vineyard makes for a great day out for couples, friends and families – as well as being appropriate and enjoyable to both the connoisseur and the novice alike. Many vineyards are open to the public and are based in areas of natural beauty. Some offer activities such as guided tours and wine tastings. This article aims to provide you an overview of each vineyard and its facilities, to help you choose which one to visit.
Just 9 miles North-East of Bury St Edmunds is the wonderful Wyken Vineyards. This 7 acre vineyard is found just beyond the beautiful Wyken Woods, and produces 4 delicious white wines in addition to a new rosé, Wyken Pink, and a light & tasty beer, Good Dog Ale. Their white wine, Wyken Bacchus, has won the English Vineyard Association’s ‘Wine of the Year’ award. All of these wines and more can be sampled and purchased in the Leaping Hare restaurant and shop, which is nearby and located within a 400 year-old barn. The vineyard is open to visitors, free of charge.
In addition to the vineyards, restaurant and shop, visitors will be delighted to discover Wyken Hall, a charming Elizabethan manor house that is surrounded by four acres of stunning gardens, and is open to the public during the summer. The gardens are a truly spectacular sight and make for a fun day out in their own right – children in particular will love wandering around (and getting lost in!) the maze. Finally, a farmers’ market is held at Wyken Vineyards every Sunday, where visitors may purchase high quality local produce to take home with them. With such an abundance of things to see and do, Wyken Vineyards makes the perfect day out for the whole family.
Address: Wyken Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2DW
Telephone: Restaurant: 01359 250287 Shop: 01359 250262 Estate Office: 01359 252372
Shawsgate is one of East Anglia’s oldest commercial vineyards, and produces an exceptional range of all varieties of wines each are prepared on the on-site winery. Shawsgate offer ‘Experience Days’, which can be booked via vouchers and run on most Saturdays and some Fridays between May and August. Experience Days are the best way to learn more about wine and wine-making whilst enjoying a fun day out.
The days begin with a friendly welcome over tea & coffee, followed by a guided tour of the vineyards and the winery. Visitors will be able to taste a selection of wines, and then enjoy a delicious, home-made buffet lunch prepared from locally sourced ingredients, and – of course – wash it all down with a glass of one of Shawsgate’s delectable wines. At the end of the day, visitors will get to take a complimentary bottle of wine home with them. This is the ideal way to learn more about wine and gain first-hand experience of the wide range of flavors each has to offer – and all in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Address: Shawsgate Vineyard, Badingham Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 9HZ
Telephone: 01728 724060
Food Safari, Woodbridge offer an activity day in association with Shawsgate – ‘Grape to glass - a hands-on vineyard day’. This event also includes a guided tour around the vineyard & winery with wine-tastings followed by a yummy lunch, but in this case visitors will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the vineyard – whether it be pruning, canopy management, shoot rubbing, trellising repairs or grape picking. Please click on the link above for more information, such as contact details and availability.
Address: Peacocks Road Nether Hall, Cavendish, Sudbury, CO10 8BX
Telephone: 01787 280221
Address: Stone Street, Ipswich, IP6 9SY
Telephone: 01449 760612
Telephone: 01284 830 799
Address: Church Road, Bruisyard, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2EF
Telephone: 01728 638281
Address: Rewsalls Lane, Colchester, CO5 8SX
Telephone:01206 385900
Address: Green Lane, Boxted, Colchester, Essex CO4 5TS
Telephone: 01206 271136
If you enjoyed this article you may also be interested in reading Suffolk Breweries and Beer.
A visit to a Suffolk Vineyard makes for a great day out for couples, friends and families – as well as being appropriate and enjoyable to both the connoisseur and the novice alike. Many vineyards are open to the public and are based in areas of natural beauty. Some offer activities such as guided tours and wine tastings. This article aims to provide you an overview of each vineyard and its facilities, to help you choose which one to visit.
Wyken Vineyards, Stanton
Just 9 miles North-East of Bury St Edmunds is the wonderful Wyken Vineyards. This 7 acre vineyard is found just beyond the beautiful Wyken Woods, and produces 4 delicious white wines in addition to a new rosé, Wyken Pink, and a light & tasty beer, Good Dog Ale. Their white wine, Wyken Bacchus, has won the English Vineyard Association’s ‘Wine of the Year’ award. All of these wines and more can be sampled and purchased in the Leaping Hare restaurant and shop, which is nearby and located within a 400 year-old barn. The vineyard is open to visitors, free of charge.
In addition to the vineyards, restaurant and shop, visitors will be delighted to discover Wyken Hall, a charming Elizabethan manor house that is surrounded by four acres of stunning gardens, and is open to the public during the summer. The gardens are a truly spectacular sight and make for a fun day out in their own right – children in particular will love wandering around (and getting lost in!) the maze. Finally, a farmers’ market is held at Wyken Vineyards every Sunday, where visitors may purchase high quality local produce to take home with them. With such an abundance of things to see and do, Wyken Vineyards makes the perfect day out for the whole family.
Address: Wyken Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2DW
Telephone: Restaurant: 01359 250287 Shop: 01359 250262 Estate Office: 01359 252372
Shawsgate, Framlingham
Shawsgate is one of East Anglia’s oldest commercial vineyards, and produces an exceptional range of all varieties of wines each are prepared on the on-site winery. Shawsgate offer ‘Experience Days’, which can be booked via vouchers and run on most Saturdays and some Fridays between May and August. Experience Days are the best way to learn more about wine and wine-making whilst enjoying a fun day out.
The days begin with a friendly welcome over tea & coffee, followed by a guided tour of the vineyards and the winery. Visitors will be able to taste a selection of wines, and then enjoy a delicious, home-made buffet lunch prepared from locally sourced ingredients, and – of course – wash it all down with a glass of one of Shawsgate’s delectable wines. At the end of the day, visitors will get to take a complimentary bottle of wine home with them. This is the ideal way to learn more about wine and gain first-hand experience of the wide range of flavors each has to offer – and all in a relaxed and informal atmosphere.
Address: Shawsgate Vineyard, Badingham Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk, IP13 9HZ
Telephone: 01728 724060
Food Safari, Woodbridge offer an activity day in association with Shawsgate – ‘Grape to glass - a hands-on vineyard day’. This event also includes a guided tour around the vineyard & winery with wine-tastings followed by a yummy lunch, but in this case visitors will also have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience of the vineyard – whether it be pruning, canopy management, shoot rubbing, trellising repairs or grape picking. Please click on the link above for more information, such as contact details and availability.
Cavendish Manor Vineyards
Address: Peacocks Road Nether Hall, Cavendish, Sudbury, CO10 8BX
Telephone: 01787 280221
Willowgrange Vineyard, Ipswich
Address: Stone Street, Ipswich, IP6 9SY
Telephone: 01449 760612
Giffords Hall, Hartest near Bury St Edmunds
Telephone: 01284 830 799
Bruisyard Vineyard and Herb Centre, Saxmundham
Address: Church Road, Bruisyard, Saxmundham, Suffolk, IP17 2EF
Telephone: 01728 638281
Mersea Vineyard Ltd
Address: Rewsalls Lane, Colchester, CO5 8SX
Telephone:01206 385900
Carter's Vineyards, Colchester
Address: Green Lane, Boxted, Colchester, Essex CO4 5TS
Telephone: 01206 271136
If you enjoyed this article you may also be interested in reading Suffolk Breweries and Beer.
