Discover a Day for Everyone at Denbies Wine Estate Dorking
When we were invited down to Denbies to see what their October Dine & Vine event included, we discovered a lot more than 'just a vineyard' in the heart of the Surrey countryside. With events and attractions for all the family, Denbies makes an ideal day out for everyone.
Of course, the main thing you will discover at Denbies is grapes and wine, but what else would you expect from a wine estate. The moment you leave the main road and enter the grounds, at this time of year, you will be met by row on row of heavily laden vines, all containing huge bunches of dark red grapes, almost ready for picking.
Winding up to the main building, the sheer scale of the vineyard, and the stunning views of the surrounding land and woodlands, is enough to open your eyes to the possibilities on offer.
Walk with your dogs amongst the vast expanse of vines, on a late summer's day - or lazily meandering along planned routes around the estate before popping into the Conservatory restaurant for the perfect al-fresco dining experience all year round.
Take it up a notch and reserve a table in the Gallery restaurant, overlooking the 265 acre vineyard with panoramic views - or join one of the many tours that Denbies have to offer.
For a memento of your visit, step into the Denbies Gift Shop, to discover a fantastic range of gifts, stationary, interior room fragrances and additional collections of home interior accessories - as well as local beer and, of course, a few bottles of Denbies wine.
And if you are looking for art, Denbies has its own art gallery, offering free entry to unique and inspiring works from artists from around the area.
We spent our morning amongst the vines, in the company of Victor Maguire who explained just what making wine involves, from the planting of the vine through to the bottling of the wine.
We experienced a unique dining experience with lunch in the Gallery. Honest, clean dishes bursting full of flavour and beautifully presented. And each course paired with a glass or two of Denbies own wine.
Sampling of the wine was a highlight for many, but not the singular focal point of our day.
Simply seeing the workings of the vineyard, watching the delightful response to the gifts on offer, from the steady stream of visitors and drinking in the beautiful views the area presented were all pockets of a perfect day that will certainly have us finding our way back for a return visit.
This Sunday will see Denbies host an Vintage & Collectors Fair from 10am - 4pm, so if you are looking for a way to spend your day take a trip down to Dorking, Denbies way.
For more information visit www.denbies.co.uk