Wines etc in Suffolk

Sample a best-selling Rosé and award winning wines whilst soaking up the stunning Suffolk scenery.

Suffolk is famous for its Green King and Adnams brewery and for its many independent beer producers. You can even make a day trip to England's only Whisky distillery in neighbouring Norfolk just 1 hours drive  from Suffolk.

Vineyards 

Suffolk is home to a number of award winning and picturesque vineyards producing a vast range of exquisite wines. This makes a great day out for everyone: families and couples alike, connoisseurs and novices.  Many of the vineyards are set in areas of outstanding natural beauty and have activities and walks for all to enjoy.

Here are three of the best vineyards in Suffolk -

Shawgate

Badingham Road, Framlingham, Woodbridge, Suffolk. IP13 9HZ.

Tel: 01728 724060  Email: wines@shawsgate.co.uk

45 min drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

Shawgate is one of East Anglia’s oldest commercial vineyards producing a range of white, red and rosé wines. Visitors are welcome to do a ‘DIY’ tour of the vineyard at their own leisure. There is no charge to do this and staff will provide you with an information sheet and vineyard map. Walking around the vineyard you will be surrounded by an abundance of wildlife and bird life, a lovely walk any time of year

For a more organised tour Experience Days operate most Fridays & Saturdays, May until the end of August. While Evening tours operate on certain Wednesday evenings during the summer. Booking for this is advisable.

Wyken Vineyards

Wyken Road, Stanton, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 2DW.

40 min drive from Suffolk Character Cottages.

Open from Easter until the end of September (Closed Saturdays). A Wyken Farmers's Market is held every Saturday from 9a.m. to 1 p.m.

The gardens at Wyken Hall surround the Elizabethan manor house and incorporates Wyken Farm a 1200-acre site which includes a flock of Shetland sheep, a small herd of Red Poll cattle and a 7-acre vineyard producing award-winning wines, including an English Wine of the Year. More recently in 2009 our 'Wyken Bacchus' won the East Anglian Wine of the Year.

Planted in 1988 on a south facing slope reckoned to have been the site of a Roman vineyard, the vines thrive on the sandy loam over chalk.

Wines include:
Wyken Bacchus, winner of the 'English Wine of the Year', and in 2009 East Anglian Wine of the Year.

Wyken Moonshine - a very drinkable sparkling wine.

Wyken Pink - a best-selling rose.

The Leaping Hare restaurant is located in a 400-year-old barn, winner of a Bib Gourmand in the Michelin it serves both game and seafood. A Wyken shop stocks many delights and stunning extensive gardens are on hand for pass the time wondering in.

Carters Vineyard

Green Lane, Boxted, Colchester, Essex CO4 5TS

T: 01206 271136 F: 01206 273625 E: enquiries@cartersvineyards.co.uk

20 min drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

Carter's Vineyard can not help but impress, and it's not just its award winning wines that draws the public. Set in 40 acres of enchanting Suffolk countryside surrounded by wildflower meadows, lakes and woodland, the whole family can enjoy a day out at Carter's.

Take a stroll around the vineyard and nature trail before touring the winery and having that all important tasting session. From deep, rich reds to light and fruity whites the east of England provides the ideal climate for wine production with its sunshine levels and low rainfall. See how science can help in the wine industry and how science and nature helps keep the vineyard production going.

Beer and breweries

Although Suffolk was not historically a prolific brewing county, it has, since the takeover of Scottish & Newcastle by the Danes, become the county with two of the UK's largest remaining brewers, Greene King and Adnams. Suffolk is also home to lots of smaller breweries whose styles range from the solidly traditional Bitters and Milds, through to the more exotic beers made with wheat, fruit and spices.

Adnams brewery

Sole Bay Brewery, East Green, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6JW, Tel:01502 727 225
(Mon to Fri, 9am - 5pm, excluding bank holidays)

1 hours drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

Visit the Adnams cellar and kitchen store on Hadleigh High Street - just 5 mins drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

Adnams is a highly successful traditional brewing company set in the lovely seaside town of Southwold. Still run by one of the Adnams family, the Company was established in 1890 and last year moved into a new multi-million pound, state-of-the-art brewery in Southwold.

Adnams brew a distinctive range of authentic beers with the finest of ingredients. Each has its own fresh, unique and vibrant character that will appeal to even the most discerning drinkers.

A tour of the Adnams brewery will explain the beer making process from choice of malted barley and hop varieties through to tasting the delicious finished product. You will see every square inch of the brewery and watch the brewing process from start to finish.

The tour takes approximately 1 hour and is followed by a tutored beer tasting, 30 minutes. You will then be accompanied to the Adnams Cellar & Kitchen store where there may be an opportunity for you to meet our wine team to taste a selection of our wines on offer and to collect your bottle of Adnams Beer.

The cost is £10 per person, which includes the tour, tastings, and a bottle of beer to take home.

Note: The tours are only available to over 18s and booking is essential as spaces are limited.

The Old Cannon Brewery

86 Cannon Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP33 1JR, Phone: 01284 768769

35 min drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

The Old Cannon is not like your regular brewery as unlike most it doesn't keep its brewery hidden away at the back--rather the micro-brewery makes a stunning central feature in the pub bar. This makes it unique in Suffolk and well worth a visit. People often assume the magnificent stainless steel mash tun and boiler are for show but they are, in fact, in use every Monday for brewing a line of regular beers including Old Cannon Best Bitter (3.8% abv); Blonde Bombshell (4.2%) and Gunner’s Daughter (5.5%). In addition, Old Cannon produces various seasonal ales.

Tours can be arranged for groups of 15-20 people for a meal/tour of the brewery combination. Prices range from £7 – 12 a head, and can be pre-booked Tues – Thurs lunchtimes (12 – 3 pm).

Greene King Brewery

Westgate Street, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP33 1QT, Tel:  0844 556 9266

35 min drive from Suffolk Character Cottages

Visit the home of Abbot Ale, Greene King IPA, Old Speckled Hen and Ruddles County at the King Visitor Centre, situated next to the Brewery in the heart of the bustling market town of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Wonder around the museum that traces the history of brewing in and around Bury St Edmunds from the earliest times, and the story of the Greene and King families who came together in 1887 to form Greene King and Sons Ltd. See how real beer is produced using natural ingredients and traditional brewing methods.

A tour round the historic working brewhouse includes one of the best views of Bury St Edmunds on the roof (weather permitting). Finally taste the different beers in our Brewery Tap Room.

Tours are open to both individuals and groups, however it is advisable to book in advance to ensure places. 

Note: Children under 12 are not permitted on the tour. 12-18 year olds must be accompanied by an adult.

Whisky

The English Whisky Co.

 

St. George's Distillery, Harling Road, Roudham, Norfolk, NR16 2QW, Phone 01953 717939

1 hours drive from Suffolk

The English Whisky Co. is the first and only registered whisky distilling company based in England for 160 years! Producing excellent quality whisky it competes with some of the finest whisky currently on the market. By using the very best local ingredients and age old techniques they produce a selection of unique and truly excellent whisky.

The tour takes approximately 1 hour and will include a talk about the local area and its compatibility to whisky production, the history of whisky and the unique qualities the Breckland area lends to this production. There will be a guided tour of the distillery, followed by the ever important tasting of the products.

Suffolk for foodies

Try our recommended Days out for Foodies in Suffolk

 

 Enquire here or

call 0044 (0)1473 822620