Albury Organic Vineyard

Albury Organic Vineyard: A Family-Run Biodynamic Estate in the Surrey Hills

An English Wine Pioneer in the Surrey Hills

Tucked away on the southern slopes of the North Downs, a stone's throw from the famously still waters of the Silent Pool and within easy reach of Guildford, Albury Organic Vineyard is one of England's most quietly impressive family-run estates. Founded in 2009 by Nick Wenman, a former IT executive who retired in 2006 to follow a lifelong dream of owning a vineyard, Albury has grown from a handful of planted rows into a multi-award-winning producer of premium English sparkling and still wines, a hub for sustainability in the Surrey Hills, and a destination for visitors who want to taste, learn and explore in equal measure.

What sets Albury apart is its uncompromising commitment to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The vineyard is one of only a handful in the UK to follow biodynamic principles, using compost teas, natural preparations and the traditional practice of burying cow horns filled with manure over winter to nurture soil fertility. The result is a living, breathing vineyard that is home to half a million honey bees, pollinator-friendly wildflower meadows, bat boxes, hedgerows and a flourishing wildlife walk. The wines themselves are made from the classic Champagne grape varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - but with a distinctly English sense of place.

The Story Behind Albury Vineyard

Nick Wenman planted the first vines at Albury in 2009 after spotting a gap in the market for high-quality English sparkling wine produced with respect for the environment. Sixteen years on, the vineyard is still privately owned by Nick and his daughter Lucy, who looks after tours, tastings, events, the wine clubs and marketing. Lucy has recently completed her WSET Level 2 training, and her enthusiasm for welcoming visitors is matched by the experience of the wider team.

Estate Manager Alex Valsecchi is one of only a handful of female vineyard managers in England. Alex holds a doctorate in Horticulture from Milan University, has worked on vineyards in Italy and New Zealand, and previously looked after the gardens at RHS Wisley before joining Albury. She is supported by vineyard technician Declan D'Arcy Bean, who joined as an apprentice and trained at Plumpton College, qualifying in 2023. The team is completed by Sarah Brown, who combines vineyard work with running tours and tastings; Becky Kerby, the events manager; and tour hosts George Biswas and Shaun Parry-Jones, both of whom hold wine diplomas. Albury's wines are crafted by winemaker Matthieu Elzinga of Litmus Wines in Surrey, a former Loire Valley vigneron who is passionate about the challenges of English winemaking. The vineyard also calls on the expertise of Stephen Skelton MW and agronomist John Buchan.

And of course, no visit to Albury would be complete without a nod to the vineyard dogs: Attila, Ulisse and Mildred, who patrol the rows chasing pheasants and other unwanted visitors. Attila is so beloved that he has a fragrant eau-de-vie named after him.

The Vineyards and the Land

Albury sits on the southern slopes of the North Downs, just outside Guildford on the A25 towards Dorking, signposted from the Silent Pool car park. The site is on the same chalky limestone geology that underpins the Champagne region, which is why the team has chosen to focus on the classic trio of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier for its sparkling wines. The North Downs Way, the long-distance footpath that runs from Farnham to Canterbury and the White Cliffs of Dover, passes right through the vineyard, and walkers are encouraged to drop in for a glass of bubbly when they pass.

The vineyard is managed in harmony with nature. No herbicides or pesticides are used, and the team works with Butterfly Conservation to protect endangered species. Bird boxes, bat boxes, bug hotels, wildflower meadows, compost pits and a pond all create habitats for pollinators and wildlife. In 2023, the vineyard's commitment to environmental restoration was recognised with the CREST23 Business Award for Restoring Nature.

The Albury Wine Range

Albury produces a tightly focused portfolio of wines, all made from organic and (in most cases) biodynamically grown grapes harvested by hand from the estate. The wines are produced using the Great British Classic Method - the term championed by WineGB to describe traditional-method sparkling wines that have achieved PDO status - and the result is a range that has won multiple silver and gold medals in international competitions.

Silent Pool Still Wines

The flagship still wines carry the Silent Pool name, after the legendary lake that lies adjacent to the vineyard.

• Silent Pool Rosé 2025 - £21.95 (75cl, 11% vol). A blend of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, this elegant dry rosé has notes of strawberry, red apple skin and rosehips, with a moreish saline finish. It was famously served on the Royal Barge to celebrate the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and has been featured as part of Oz Clarke and Tom Surgey's English Wine Heroes 2026.
• Silent Pool White 2025 - £19.95 (75cl, 11% vol). A pale, elegant blend of organic Seyval Blanc and Pinot grapes with peach and rhubarb aromas, balanced by clean minerality and crisp acidity. Ideal as a summer aperitif.
• Linda's Pinot - £24.95 (75cl, 12% vol). A limited release of just 440 bottles made from Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris and Pinot Noir, harvested by Nick's wife Linda from the three rows of Pinot Gris she planted alongside the original vineyard. Currently sold out.

Albury Estate Classic Method Sparkling Wines

The Albury Estate sparkling range is the heart of the business. All wines are suitable for vegetarians, and the Blanc de Noirs is also suitable for vegans.

• Albury Estate Blanc de Blancs - £34.95 (75cl, 11.5% vol). A Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc blend with aromas of freshly picked pears, apples, garden herbs and a touch of gooseberry, finishing with a floral lift. Pair with smoked fish or a goat's cheese salad.
• Albury Estate Classic Cuvée - £37.95 (75cl, 11% vol). A traditional Champagne blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, with red berries on the nose, citrus and peach from the Chardonnay, and a long, mouth-filling palate.
• Albury Estate Sparkling Rosé - £38.95 (75cl, 12% vol). Made from 100% Pinot Noir including some Pinot Précoce, this dry sparkling rosé is rose pink in colour with strawberry and dark fruit notes and a crisp, long finish. Silver medal winner at the IEWA.
• Albury Estate Blanc de Noirs - £42.95 (75cl, 12% vol). Made from 100% Pinot Noir and only the finest first pressings, with over 30 months of lees ageing giving a complex, bright wine with red berries on the nose and a chalky freshness on the palate.
• Albury Estate Biodynamic Wild Ferment 2019 - £59.95 (75cl, 11.5% vol). A 100% Pinot Meunier sparkling wine fermented using wild yeasts and aged in a concrete egg, with 54 months on lees. Only 500 bottles were made of this limited release, which shows stone fruit, apricot, pear, almond, peach and citrus.

Use the code CASE10 at checkout for 10% off a case of the wines marked with the offer.

Spirits, Vermouth and Cocktails

Albury has built a small but striking range of bottled cocktails and spirits, made in collaboration with local partners and drawing on the estate's wines as a base.

• Albury Rosso Vermouth - £24.95 (50cl, 15% vol). A sweet vermouth hand-crafted from distilled Sauvignon wine.
• Albury Bianco Vermouth - £24.95 (50cl, 15% vol). An off-dry vermouth, also made from distilled Sauvignon wine.
• Barrel-Aged Negroni - £32.95 (50cl, 24% vol). A British take on the classic cocktail, made with Albury vermouth and barrel-aged.
• The Duke's Reserve Brandy - £36.50. As seen on ITV's Love Your Weekend, this brandy is made for Albury.
• Attila's Bite - from £30.00 (35cl, 40% vol). A fragrant eau-de-vie de vin named after the vineyard dog, with pear and floral notes.
• Albury Spritz Cocktail Case - from £82.85. A cocktail mini case containing a bottle of Albury Estate Blanc de Blancs, Rosso vermouth and more.

Mixed Cases and Gift Boxes

Albury offers a curated selection of mixed cases and gift boxes that make excellent presents, both for yourself and for the wine lovers in your life. The English Wine Week Mixed Case (£196.70) brings together six bottles spanning the Silent Pool and Albury Estate ranges, including the Blanc de Noirs and the IEWA Silver-winning Sparkling Rosé. The Sparkling Mixed Case starts from £111.85 for a 3-bottle mini case, with a full 6-bottle case also available. The Summer of Rosé Case (£179.70) is a celebration of the Silent Pool Rosé vintage.

For gifting, the Albury Wine Gift Box (from £28.95), Vermouth Lovers Gift Box (£59.40), Taste of Surrey Gift Box (from £51.95), Wine Lover's Gift Box (from £82.40), The Cocktail Gift Box (from £69.40) and the ultimate Albury Sparkling Wine Box (from £123.85) all pair Albury wines with artisan chocolates, glassware or local produce. Free delivery applies to wine orders over £135. The Albury Sparkling Wine Stopper (£7.00) is a useful stocking filler for fizz lovers.

Visiting the Tasting Room

The Albury tasting room and shop sit at the heart of the vineyard, with a covered patio overlooking the vines. Cheese, charcuterie and antipasti boards are served alongside the wines, and children and dogs on leads are welcome. The full summer menu is available on request from the team.

Tasting room opening hours vary through the year. The vineyard is closed in January and February, reopens on selected weekends from 7 March, and runs Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from April through September (11am - 5pm). New for 2026, the vineyard is also open for three Friday evenings - 24 July, 7 August and 21 August - from 6pm to 8.30pm, in addition to the Summer Sundays opening. From October to December, the tasting room is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11am to 4pm. Note that on Sunday 2 August 2026 entry to the vineyard is reserved for A Musical Adventure ticket holders only.

Email info@alburyvineyard.com to reserve a table for groups of six or more. The self-guided vineyard tour and wildlife walk are free to enjoy. Maps can be picked up at the shop or downloaded in advance by visitors planning their day.

Tours and Tasting Experiences

Albury's visitor experiences are led by the in-house team and are designed to suit everyone from complete wine novices to seasoned enthusiasts. Vouchers are available for most experiences, valid for 12 months, and make thoughtful gifts.

• Vineyard Tour & Tasting - £27.50 per person. An introduction to English wine, a guided walk through the vineyard overlooking the Surrey Hills, and a tasting of award-winning wines in the tasting gazebo. The experience lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and the walk involves uneven, hilly ground. Tours run on Saturdays between May and September. £5 of every ticket is redeemable against sparkling wine purchases to take home.
• English Wine & Cheese Tasting - £34.95 per person. A talk and tasting of Albury Estate sparkling wines with a member of the team, followed by a glass of your choice paired with a selection of English cheese. Allow 1.5 hours plus an extra 30 minutes if you would like to take the self-guided vineyard tour.
• Friday Fizz - £15.00 per person. A relaxed evening among the vines with a glass of Albury sparkling on arrival, live acoustic music from local singer-songwriter Emily Jones, and the option to buy more wine, cocktails, beer, soft drinks and cheese and charcuterie boards from the bar. Friday evenings 24 July, 7 August and 21 August, 6pm - 8.30pm.
• Bee-Keeping Experience - £49.95 per person (children 8+ £39.95). A 2-hour session starting at 10.30am with vineyard bee-farmer Sergio, including a suited-up visit to one of the Albury hives, a Q&A on the patio with a glass of sparkling wine, and the chance to buy Albury honey. Runs May to September. Currently sold out for 2026.
• Sip & Paint - £55.00 per person. A 1.5 to 2-hour creative afternoon hosted with local artist Charlotte Godfrey, kicking off with a welcome glass of Albury Estate sparkling wine. All materials are provided and no experience is needed. Dates include 16 August and 13 September 2026.
• Meet the Vineyard Manager - Winter Pruning - from £25.00 per person. A hands-on pruning demonstration out on the vineyard with Alex and the team.
• Wildlife Walk & Wine - £25.00 per person. A guided walk around the new wildlife trail followed by a glass of wine on the patio.

For private events, Albury offers private tastings from £20.00 per person (minimum £200 fee during usual opening hours) and private tour & tastings at £27.50 per person (minimum £385). Hen parties receive a complimentary spritz cocktail for the bride-to-be.

Wine Clubs and Membership

Albury runs two wine clubs, both offering 12-month memberships with priority access to new releases and exclusive events.

• Albury Events Club - from £145 single / £180 joint. Limited to 100 places. Includes two bottles of Albury wine, advance access to newly released wines, complimentary tickets to exclusive member-only events, a wine club open day with tours, tastings and lunch, a quiz night, the harvest party, a Silent Pool Rosé pre-release dosage tasting, priority opportunities to join the grape harvest in October, 15% off Albury wine purchases, 10% off public event tickets, and a complimentary wine flight tasting voucher for two.
• Premier Cru Club - from £550 single / £630 joint. Limited to just 25 places per year. Includes the lease of 20 vines for 12 months with opportunities to help care for them, 12 bottles of Albury wine, advance access to all newly released wines, complimentary tickets to exclusive member-only events including a visit to the winery, priority access to the grape harvest including the chance to pick grapes from your own vines, and 20% off Albury wine purchases online and in the vineyard shop for the year of membership.

Seasonal Events and What's On

The vineyard runs a packed calendar of events throughout the year. Bookings can be made by calling 01483 229159 or by emailing info@alburyvineyard.com.

Summer 2026 Highlights

• A Musical Adventure (Sunday 2 August 2026) - a family-friendly self-led musical trail through the vines with musicians hidden along the route playing short pieces for visitors. Adults receive a complimentary glass of Albury wine; children are invited to dress as their favourite musician. The Pizza Oven and Moooh Ice Cream will be on site. Tickets can be booked by phone or email.
• Friday Fizz - 24 July (sold out), 7 August, and 21 August (sold out), 6pm - 8.30pm. Live acoustic music with Emily Jones. £15 per person.
• Sip & Paint in the Vineyard - 16 August and 13 September 2026. Art, wine and scenery in the vines with Charlotte Godfrey. £55 per person.
• Summer Nights Supper Club - Friday 14 August 2026, sold out. A three-course dinner by private chef Renu Ballantine, paired with Albury wines, set among the vines.
• Wine & Cheese Tasting - 16, 23 and 30 August 2026. Sparkling wines paired with English cheese in the tasting room.
• A Wildlife Adventure - Saturdays and Sundays throughout July and August. A free family trail around the wildlife walk with bat and barn owl boxes, bug hotels, bee hives, wildflower meadows and a pond. Donations to Surrey Wildlife Trust welcomed.
• Bee-Keeping Demonstration - Sunday 13 September 2026. An introduction to bees and bee-keeping with Albury's bee-farmer Sergio.
• Harvest 2026 - September 2026 (expected to start mid-September). Register your interest to volunteer and help pick grapes alongside the team.

Other seasonal events include the annual Surrey Hills Wine Week (30 May - 7 June 2026), a celebration of English wine across the Surrey Hills, and the broader English Wine Week (20 - 28 June 2026), during which Albury hosts a supper club, vineyard tours, wine and cheese tastings and a collaborative dinner at The Ivy Castle View in Guildford.

Sustainability at the Heart of Everything

Sustainability is the thread that runs through every decision at Albury. The vineyard is a founding member of the WineGB Sustainability scheme with gold certification, and since 2022 100% of its packaging is recyclable, all boxes are made from recycled materials, and none of its waste goes to landfill. The team work with schools and the Surrey Wildlife Trust to inspire the next generation, and the bug hotel on the vineyard was built with the help of local schoolchildren to teach the importance of biodiversity. Vineyards of the Surrey Hills, of which Albury is a founding member, brings together seven award-winning vineyards - Denbies, Greyfriars, High Clandon, Chilworth Manor, Tanhurst Estate and Soloms Court - to put Surrey on the map as a premium English wine region.

The Local Area

Albury is perfectly placed for a day out in the Surrey Hills, less than an hour from London. The picture-postcard village of Shere, with its 12th-century church, chocolate-box cottages and two characterful pubs, is just one mile away and has featured in films including The Holiday, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones. The Silent Pool itself is the legendary home of a woodcutter's daughter said to have drowned escaping King John, and the surrounding area is also home to the Silent Pool Distillery and Mandira's Kitchen. Local pubs and restaurants recommended by the vineyard include The Drummond Arms in Albury, The Dabbling Duck and Kingham's in Shere, The William Bray in Shere, The Gomshall Mill, and The Percy Arms in Chilworth. A list of recommended local accommodation is available on request.

Corporate Gifting and Private Events

Albury makes corporate gifting easy, with hassle-free delivery to multiple addresses and a personalised gift message with each bottle. Whether rewarding staff, thanking customers or sending a thoughtful gift to a client, the team can put together a bespoke quote - simply email lucy@alburyvineyard.com to discuss options. A corporate gifting brochure is available on request.

Bespoke private and corporate events are also available at the vineyard, including private tours and tastings, drinks parties, venue hire, hen celebrations, willow-weaving and guided wildlife walks. Evening venue hire is available for 24+ people, and the team works with a number of local Surrey caterers to offer canapés, buffet menus, bowl food, grazing tables and three-course private dining experiences. Brochures for private experiences, hen parties and venue hire are available on request.

Plan Your Visit

Albury Vineyard is located at Silent Pool, Shere Road, Albury, Surrey GU5 9BW. By car, head from Guildford along the A25 to Dorking, over Newlands Corner, and turn off the A25 signposted 'Silent Pool'; follow the track up the right-hand side of the Silent Pool car park to the vineyard. By train, Guildford is around 40 minutes from London and a 10-minute taxi ride from the vineyard; taxi ranks are available at the station and Uber operates in the area. The vineyard is also walkable from the North Downs Way.

Contact the team on 01483 229159 or info@alburyvineyard.com for bookings, group reservations and private events. Albury Vineyard is active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and visitor reviews can be found on TripAdvisor.