Welcome to Chet Valley Vineyard

To define these terms simply, a vineyard is generally defined as a plantation or plot of land designated to producing grapes for wine, whilst a winery is the building housing the wine production process. One may exist without the other, with many wineries known to purchase grapes from ‘outside’ or unassociated vineyards.

Chet Valley Vineyard houses both a vineyard and winery on site, working to produce award-winning wines from vine to bottle in a carefully constructed and refined internal process. Our guests may have the pleasure of discovering both our vineyard and winery during our regular tours and tastings. Discover more about our facilities and spaces on the winery page.

Though England (and the United Kingdom in its entirety) is a large consumer of wine, it has previously been known as a minor producer, primarily due to its overarching cooler climate. Despite this previous perception, English wine is a growing sector, with many well-established vineyards across the country, including Chet Valley, Chapel Down, and Three Choirs producing a wide variety of award-winning wines year on year, available for purchase online, on-site, and even in national supermarkets.

Chet Valley, in particular, is placed in an ideal location for grape-growing and wine production, benefitting from some of the warmest and driest summers in the country, alongside a complex and perfectly suited terroir, featuring significant organic content. Combining traditional European techniques with bold infusions, Chet’s winemakers work to mould existing methodologies to the vineyard’s unique climate - resulting in fine, English wine.

Though vineyards were once a rarity in England and the United Kingdom, according to WineGB, there are now over 500 working vineyards in the UK, with over half of this selection welcoming visitors in one form or another. Wherever you’re based, from Cumbria to Devon, you’re likely to be near a vineyard producing English wine.

Nestled in the sun-soaked hills of Bergh Apton, South Norfolk, Chet Valley Vineyard delivers both award-winning wines, and an exceptional visitor experience. With a keen focus on quality and sustainability, this well-established location delivers a range of on and off-site visitor activities, including tours, regular events, and virtual tastings.

Though vineyards and wineries are not the same, the two facilities often exist on the same site, under the same name, or in connection with each other. To put it simply, a vineyard produces grapes, whilst a winery produces wine.

A vineyard is generally defined as a plantation or plot of land designated to producing grapes for wine, whilst a winery is the building housing the wine production process.

Chet Valley Vineyard houses both a vineyard and winery on site, working to produce award-winning wines from vine to bottle in a carefully constructed and refined internal process. Our guests may have the pleasure of discovering both our vineyard and winery during our regular tours and tastings.

Which is the ‘best English vineyard’ generally comes down to a matter of personal preference. With over 500 vineyards in operation across the UK, there’s an offering available for almost everyone, from polished commercial options, to small family businesses. Here at Chet Valley, we like to think that our vineyard offers an option for anyone.

Nestled in the sheltered, sun-soaked fields of Bergh Apton, South Norfolk, Chet Valley’s single estate Vineyard spans over 10 hectares of family-owned land, producing an award-winning range of sparkling and still fine English wine. Our vineyard and winery are family-friendly, and offer a range of popular activities throughout the year, including tours, tastings, harvests, talks, and suppers, alongside the opportunity to rent vines and produce your own wine.

For those unable to attend our activities in South Norfolk, we’ve created a range of safe, virtual offerings, including our virtual wine tasting kits and sessions.

Though vineyard tourism and events, especially in England,are fast growing sectors, proving popular with visitors of all ages, visitor allowances for vineyards in the UK generally come down to decisions made by individual locations. According to WineGB, of the more than 500 operational vineyards in the UK, over half allow visitors in some form.

Vineyards with facilities and activities for visitors, such as Chet Valley Vineyard in Norfolk, often offer on-site tours, tastings, and a variety of open events, such as harvests, talks, and dinners.

Located across the mid-east coast of England, the county of Norfolk enjoys a number of natural and man-made attractions. Featuring wide expanses of countryside, a beautiful coastline, and a national park, alongside historic villages, market towns, and of course the city of Norwich, there’s much to see and do. In addition to more traditional attractions such as Norwich Castle and Cathedral, alongside the city’s numerous theatres, restaurants, and shopping spots, Norfolk offers a range of more naturally inspired and interactive activities and sites, such as Chet Valley Vineyard.

This beautiful, family-friendly site produces many of the nation’s favourite English wines and offers a variety of vineyard tours, tastings, and events (such as the ever-popular annual harvest), alongside accommodation in the form of a converted cottage, placed amongst the vines themselves!

Whether you’re located at the boundaries of the English border, the country’s southernmost sands, there’s bound to be a wine tasting event within reach, though, as a result of the ideal soils and climate, many of the UK’s most well-established and popular vineyards and tasting events are concentrated on or near the South East, including East Anglia.

Popular wine tasting locations within England generally include Kent, East Sussex, Cambridgeshire, Shropshire, Oxfordshire, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Norfolk, Perthshire, and Yorkshire.

Chet Valley Vineyard, located in the picturesque South Norfolk, are proud to offer both on-site and virtual wine tasting events, allowing wine lovers from across the country to get involved, and experience a guided tasting, led by the site’s head winemaker.

With over 500 vineyards currently in operation across the UK, there’s bound to be a vineyard within your reach, though, as a result of the ideal soils and climate, many of the UK’s most well-established and popular vineyards and tasting events are concentrated on or near the South East, including East Anglia. When looking for a vineyard to visit, it’s important to do some preliminary research and establish the site’s opening times (they may be seasonal), the activities offered, and, of course, whether or not visitors are accepted.

Chet Valley Vineyard, located in the picturesque South Norfolk, are proud to welcome visitors throughout the year - with most events taking place throughout the main season of April to October. Offering a complete set of activities including tours, tastings, and events (such as the ever-popular annual harvest), alongside a selection of virtual offering for those looking to experience our wine but unable to travel.

Located across the mid-east coast of England, the county of Norfolk enjoys a number of outdoor attractions. Featuring wide expanses of countryside, a beautiful coastline, and a national park, there’s much to see and do. In addition to more traditional attractions such as the Norfolk coastal path, and Norfolk botanical gardens, the county offers a range of unique and interactive activities and sites, such as Chet Valley Vineyard.

This sun-soaked, family-friendly site produces many of the nation’s favourite English wines and offers a variety of outdoor vineyard tours, tastings, and events (such as the ever-popular annual harvest), alongside picnic options! A unique outdoor experience, Chet Valley is the perfect place to spend a warm summer day.