Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery: A Family-Run English Vineyard, Brewery and Liqueur Producer in the Chiltern Hills
Tucked into a fold of the Chiltern Hills, just outside the picture-postcard village of Hambleden and within easy reach of Henley-on-Thames, Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery is one of England's most rewarding small producers. It is a true family enterprise, owned and run by the Ealand family, and it brings together three crafts under one roof: a working vineyard and winery, the traditional Old Luxters Brewery, and a liqueur-making facility that has made the Chiltern Valley name a byword for fruit-led British spirits. Visitors can tour all three, stay overnight in the on-site farmhouse B&B, eat at the courtyard food truck, and stock up in the cellar shop, all in the same afternoon.
History and Heritage of Old Luxters
Old Luxters is an 18th-century farm estate set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, surrounded by beech woodland and looking out across the Hambleden Valley. The first vines were planted on the chalk-and-flint slopes in 1982, and the first grape harvest followed in 1984. From that modest beginning, Chiltern Valley has built an increasingly broad range of still and sparkling English wines, picking up scores of awards and commendations in blind-tasted national and international competitions along the way.
The same family revived the old farm brewery too. Where once there would have been a wooden-clad mash tun, copper, liquor and fermentation vessels, the Ealand family rebuilt a working brewery using those same traditional materials but combined them with the latest technology in sterility and temperature control. The result is the Old Luxters Brewery, an independent, farm-brewed real ale producer blending only the finest English malted barley - pale, crystal and chocolate malts - seasoned with choice English hops for aroma and bitterness. Ales are bottle-conditioned, with secondary fermentation taking place inside each individual bottle in the same way Champagne is made, giving the range a natural, evolving character.
The liqueur-making tradition is the third strand of the business. With access to high-quality fruit sourced from around the world, Old Luxters Liqueurs have grown into a celebrated range that now includes blood orange, damson vodka, ginger wine, Irish cream, raspberry, sloe gin and wild peach, sold in both 50cl and 20cl formats.
The Vineyard and Winemaking
Modern production, bottling and labelling facilities, the cellar shop and the stainless-steel wine vats are all housed in traditional farm buildings on the estate. The winemaking philosophy is straightforward: respect for traditional processes, combined with the very latest winemaking techniques and equipment, and minimum interference with what nature is doing in the vineyard. The result is a range of still and sparkling wines that the winery describes as being designed "to delight the eye and excite the palate".
Current Still and Sparkling Wines
- Bacchus Blend 2023 - £18.50 (75cl). A white wine blended from the Bacchus grape, the signature aromatic English variety.
- Blush 2024 - £19.00 (75cl). The latest pink in the range.
- Chilli Cat Cuvee 2023 - £18.00 (75cl). A medium wine with a blend of three charismatic grapes (70% Madeline Angevine, 20% Bacchus, 10% Reichensteiner), named after the winery's resident black cat, Chilli, who arrived in June 2021. Recommended with pasta, pizzas and burgers.
- English Sparkling Wine - £32.00 (75cl). The classic traditional-method fizz.
- English Sparkling Rosé - £35.00 (75cl). A crisp, dry sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with secondary fermentation in bottle and 18 months on the lees. Recommended with canapés and appetisers.
- Oaked Solaris 2023 - £19.00 (75cl). A barrel-fermented white.
- Pinot Gris - £19.00 (75cl).
- Pinot Noir 23 - £17.00 (75cl). A still red from the 2023 vintage.
- Rosé de Noir Pink Sparkling - £35.00 (75cl).
- Vintage '18 - £45.00 (75cl). A late-release 2018 classic cuvée blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, secondary-fermented in bottle and aged for five years on the lees for a deep, bold, earthy, buttery sparkling wine.
Multi-buy discounts apply: 3+ bottles save 5%, 6+ save 10% and 12+ save 12%. A bespoke sparkling rosé wine label service is also available as an add-on for £5.00, allowing you to create a personalised bottle as a gift.
The Old Luxters Brewery and Real Ales
Old Luxters ales are bottle-conditioned and brewed traditionally: English malted barleys, Fuggles and Goldings hops, hot liquor and yeast, and nothing else. Like Champagne, secondary fermentation happens inside each individual bottle, so the ale continues to evolve from the day it is bottled until the day you open it.
The Current Ale Range
All single bottles are £3.95 (500ml). The full list is:
- Barn Ale - ABV 5.4%. A strong, bitter, hoppy ale, billed as "the champagne of real ales".
- Dark Roast - A darker, fuller-flavoured ale.
- Easy Ale - The sessionable option.
- Gold Ale - A golden, lighter-bodied ale.
- I.P.A. - The hop-forward India Pale Ale in the range.
Ale Bundles and Accessories
- Mix & Match Case of 12 - £47.40. Build your own selection across the range.
- Old Luxters Ales - The Range (4 bottles) - £15.80. A tasting set of one of each ale.
- Mixed Ale Gift Box - £13.80. A pre-selected four-pack.
- Luxters Ale Glass (Pint) - £6.95. Branded glassware for the range.
Ales attract a 10% discount on cases of 12+ and 12% on cases of 24+. Chiltern Valley beers can also be found on draught in selected local stockists and at the courtyard food truck on site.
Old Luxters Liqueurs
The art of liqueur-making, the winery says, "lies in the quality of the fruit", and Old Luxters sources only the highest-quality fruit from suppliers across the world. The range is sold in both 50cl and 20cl formats, so you can buy a full bottle for the kitchen or a 20cl "mini" for a smaller gift. Multi-buy discounts apply: 3+ save 5%, 6+ save 10% and 9+ save 15%.
Blood Orange Range
- Blood Orange 50cl - £25.95 (ABV 25%). Smooth and fruity; best served chilled over desserts.
- Blood Orange 20cl - £13.95.
- Blood Orange "Reserve" - £32.95. The premium expression.
The Wider Liqueur Range
50cl bottles are £23.95; 20cl minis are £12.95.
- Damson Vodka - 50cl / 20cl.
- Raspberry - 50cl / 20cl.
- Sloe Gin - 50cl / 20cl.
- Wild Peach - 50cl / 20cl.
- Irish Cream - 50cl £23.95 (ABV 17%); 20cl £12.95. Creamy and smooth, contains milk and is not suitable for vegans. Reviews repeatedly compare it favourably to mass-market Irish cream liqueurs.
- Ginger Wine 50cl - £19.95.
Tours and Tastings at Chiltern Valley
The "behind the scenes" Tour & Tasting is the headline experience at Chiltern Valley. It takes visitors around the winery, brewery and liqueur production facilities, including the vineyard (weather permitting), the grape press, the bottling hall and the labelling plant, and finishes with a tutored tasting of a wide selection of wines, ales and liqueurs. The tour lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and is priced at £25.00 per person. The tasting is generous: guests try around 3 - 4 of each of the wines, ales and liqueurs, served with water as a palate cleanser, plus tasting notes and some nibbles.
Tours run all year round. Dates are released on a rolling monthly basis - on the last Friday of each month, the next month's tours and overnight stays become available. March 2027 dates will be released on Friday 28 August 2026 at 10am. Minimum group size is six people; if numbers drop below that the team will offer to move you to a different date.
Important Tour Rules
- No under-18s, including babies, are allowed on the tours.
- No dogs are allowed on tours or in the production areas or shop, although well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the wider site.
- Tour vouchers are valid for two people and have their own expiry date. After expiry, a £15 extension fee applies.
- Same-day re-bookings carry a £10 fee; with at least three days' notice, moves are free.
- If you do not turn up without contacting the winery, the voucher is lost. You can re-book a no-show tasting at £20 per voucher for two.
- The tours are wheelchair accessible: ramps can be placed over steps, an accessible toilet is on site, and a manual wheelchair is available on request. Mobility scooters and large powered wheelchairs may not be suitable for the cobbled courtyard and lawn walk to the vineyard.
Private Group Tours
For celebrations, corporate days out and other groups, Chiltern Valley offers a Private Group Tour & Tasting. Priced at £25 (ex VAT) per person, with a minimum of 10 people, the format is the same as the public tour - a full walk-around of winery, brewery, liqueur facilities, grape pressing, bottling and labelling, followed by a tutored tasting with water, tasting notes and nibbles. Vouchers cannot be used in conjunction with a private tour. A non-refundable deposit secures the booking and is deducted from the final balance on the day.
Old Luxters Farmhouse B&B
Adding a B&B room to a tour booking is encouraged, with the option to add a room at the same time as booking a tour. Old Luxters Farmhouse is a traditional brick-and-flint country house in the Chiltern Hills, with breath-taking views over the garden, the vineyard and the Hambleden Valley beyond. Check-in is from 2.30pm on the day of arrival and check-out is at 10.15am. All rates include a farmhouse cooked breakfast, with cereals and hot options available.
The farmhouse offers five bedrooms in total: four en-suites in the main farmhouse and the Pool House suite in the gardens.
The Bedrooms
- Pool House - A quirky wooden "shed" tucked at the bottom of the garden overlooking the vineyard, with a king bed, en-suite, smart TV with FreeSat, fridge with fresh milk, Nespresso machine and complimentary Wi-Fi. Exclusive use of a private 32ft outdoor heated swimming pool (open May - September, weather dependent), a hot tub (open all year) and a sauna (open all year). Dogs are allowed in this room for a £15 per dog, per night supplement.
- Vineyard View - A large king-bedded room with en-suite bathroom (bath and shower), walk-in wardrobe, dressing table, FreeSat TV, fridge with fresh milk and tea & coffee facilities. Beautiful views across the vineyard and Hambleden Valley. No dogs.
- Orchard View - A large king-bedded room with extra basin, en-suite bathroom with bath, shower and large heated towel rail, looking out over the cobbled courtyard, the apple orchard and the 18th-century barn. No TV. No dogs.
- Barn View - A double-bedded room with a huge en-suite bathroom featuring a brick-and-flint feature wall, bath tub and shower, plus hanging space and a large chest of drawers (no wardrobe). Views across the 18th-century barn and cobbled courtyard. No dogs.
- Garden View - A king-or-twin room with shower en-suite and heated towel rail, looking across the gardens, vineyard and Hambleden Valley. FreeSat TV, fridge, fresh milk, tea & coffee facilities. No dogs.
The main farmhouse bedrooms are on the first floor, accessed by a standard flight of 13 stairs. The Pool House is at ground level with one step up into the room, accessed across a lawn.
Room Pricing
Room rates vary by date and by room. Standard rates include £130.00 for an Orchard View, £140.00 for a Garden View, £150.00 for Vineyard View or Barn View, £205.00 for the Pool House midweek in October, and weekend peak rates of £240.00 - £250.00 for Pool House dates in mid-September. A complete farmhouse let (sleeping 10 across four double en-suites plus a downstairs sofa bed) is also available for events, including weddings at Old Luxters Barn.
The Food Truck and Cellar Shop
Old Luxters Food Truck
Open every day from 10am to 4pm (excluding occasional private event days), the on-site food truck serves barista-made coffees, hot chocolates, teas and iced coffees, alongside hot food, sharing boards and stone-baked sourdough pizzas. Picnics are not permitted on site. The current spring/summer 2026 menu includes brekkie baps (bacon, sausage), smaller bites (spring rolls, chilli-jam Scotch egg with mustard mayo), sharing boards (charcuterie, cheese, cornichons, olives, houmous, picos, sun-dried tomatoes, Borettane onions), crispy fish tacos (soft-shell tacos, crispy cod, slaw, lime crema, coriander, fresh chillies) and pizzas such as the Charcuterie Supreme (prosciutto, salami, caramelised onion) and the vegetarian Old Dudley (peppers, mushrooms). A full sample menu can be viewed as a PDF.
The Cellar Shop
The on-site cellar shop is open seven days a week, 9am to 5pm (Bank Holidays may vary), and offers the full range of wines, ales, liqueurs, jams, marmalades, chutneys, jellies, chocolates, snacks and gift items, plus free tastings for visitors. Click-and-collect is available on any order. UK mainland shipping costs are tiered: up to £60 = £10.50 shipping (free local deliveries within a 3-mile radius, plus Henley-on-Thames, Peppard, Sonning Common, Kidmore End, Gallowstree Common, Stoke Row and Checkendon); £60 - £100 = £9.50 shipping; £100+ = free shipping.
Local Food and Specialist Produce
As well as its own wines, ales and liqueurs, the cellar shop stocks a range of locally sourced produce:
- Jams & Marmalades (£5.95 each, except local honey): Apricot Jam, Blood Orange Liqueur Marmalade, Blueberry & Sloe Gin Jam, Cherry & Damson Vodka Jam, Lemon Marmalade, Lime Marmalade, Orange Marmalade, Raspberry Jam, Strawberry Jam. Local runny honey is £10.95.
- Chutneys & Jellies: Apple & Sultana Chutney, Apricot & Ginger Chutney, Chutney - Barn Ale, Chutney - Mango, Old Luxters Chilli Jam, Pinot Noir & Red Onion Chutney (£5.95 each); Bacchus & Rosemary Jelly and Red Wine, Thyme & Juniper Jelly (£4.95 each).
- Chocolates & Sweets: Mackies Milk Chocolate 120g (£3.50) and English Toffees 150g (£2.50).
- Snacks: Cornichons 550g, Pickled Onions 550g (£5.95 each), Olives - Lemon & Oregano (£2.95), Simply Sea Salt Nuts (£3.95), Oat Flips biscuits (£2.85), Ale Crackers 100g (£3.95), Dry Roasted Nuts 100g (£3.95), Melting Moments biscuits (£2.85).
- Kitchen Cupboard: Black Garlic, Chipotle Burger Style, Smoked BBQ and Sriracha Hot Chilli sauces (235ml, £4.50 each); Aubergine Meze dip 220g, Roasted Red Pepper & Feta dip, and Sun-dried Tomato Meze dip 230g (£4.50 each).
- Accessories: Waiters Friend / Corkscrew / Bottle Opener (£4.99), Vacuvin Black Pump & 1 Stopper (£15.95), Champagne Stopper (£8.50).
Gift Hampers and Gift Sets
The gifts and hampers section is split between "off-the-shelf" gift sets and larger hampers. Bespoke hampers can also be made to order - just ask in the cellar shop.
Gift Sets
- Blood Orange Gift Set - £33.40.
- Irish Cream Gift Set - £28.95.
- Sloe Gin Gift Set - £31.40.
- Mug - £12.00.
- Old Luxters Ale Glass (Pint) - £6.95; Half Pint Glass - £4.50.
- Wine Charms (Silver or Cocktail) - £14.95 each.
- Z-Cards - £2.65 each: "Happy Birthday - Counting the Beers", "Thank Ewes", "Congratulations".
Hamper Range
- Hamper - Ale & Glass - £29.70. Two Luxters Ales, a pint glass and an Old Luxters Barman Bottle Opener.
- Hamper - Bacchus Wine Hamper - £40.85. Bacchus white wine, Blood Orange Liqueur Marmalade, Blood Orange fudge, Orange chocolate.
- Hamper - Blood Orange Liqueur - £52.30.
- Hamper - Liqueur - £83.75. Two 50cl liqueurs and two 20cl liqueurs.
- Hamper - Mini Liqueur Range - £75.70.
- Hamper - Sloe Gin - £48.75.
- Hamper - Sparkling Wine - £54.85. A bottle of English Sparkling Rosé, Old Luxters strawberry jam and a bar of milk chocolate.
Vouchers
- Tour & Tasting E-voucher For Two - Was £50.00, now £30.00.
- Tour & Tasting Postal Voucher For Two - £53.50.
- B&B E-voucher - £130.00.
- B&B Postal Voucher For Two - £133.50.
- Cellar Shop eVoucher - From £20.00.
- Online Shop eVoucher - From £20.00.
Both printed (posted) and e-vouchers are available. Vouchers cannot be exchanged for cash or products; if your intended purchase is for a lower amount, no change is given; lost, stolen or damaged vouchers cannot be replaced.
Weddings and Private Events at Old Luxters Barn
Old Luxters Barn is the events hub of the estate. It hosts weddings, corporate events and other private celebrations, typically on Saturdays and Sundays. On event days the wider estate - including the farmhouse B&B - is given over to the event, so the public tour offering is often reduced to a morning-only tour and the farmhouse rooms are unavailable to B&B guests. Anyone interested in hiring the barn is required to book the farmhouse as well, providing ten guests with four double en-suites and a sofa bed in the downstairs living room. Wedding guests can take photographs in the vineyard as part of the day.
Evening Dining for B&B Guests
There is no restaurant on site, but the winery has an arrangement with The Stag & Huntsman pub in Hambleden, offering B&B guests a "Dinner Package" with return transport and a two- or three-course set-menu meal. Monday - Saturday collection is 6.30pm with a 9pm return; Sundays and Bank Holidays collection is 5.45pm with an 8.30pm return. Pricing is £45 per person for a two-course meal or £52 per person for a three-course meal, with return transport included. The package can be added at the time of booking a room or by emailing the winery afterwards. A sample dinner menu can be viewed as a PDF.
Local Area: What to Do During Your Stay
Old Luxters is in the heart of the Chiltern Hills AONB, within easy driving distance of some of the most celebrated country estates in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. Recommended local attractions include:
- Ashridge Estate (National Trust)
- Basildon Park (National Trust)
- Cliveden (National Trust)
- Greys Court (National Trust)
- Hughenden (National Trust)
- Nuffield Place (National Trust)
Local food and produce highlights include P E Mead & Sons Farm Shop, Peterley Manor Farm Shop, Savages Farm Shop (Blewbury), Stoke Row Stores, Swiss Farm Touring & Camping, The Little Green Boat Company, and Hambleden Village Stores. For those who want to extend their winery visit, the Henley Wine Tours Excursion offers a guided tour of some of the other fantastic vineyards in the area.
Plan Your Visit
- Address: Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery, Old Luxters Vineyard, Hambleden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 6JW.
- Phone: 01491 638 330.
- Email: [email protected].
- Cellar Shop hours: 7 days a week, 9am - 5pm (Bank Holidays may vary).
- Food Truck hours: Daily, 10am - 4pm (excluding occasional event days).
- Tours: 1.5 - 2 hours, £25.00 per person, by pre-booking online.
- Group tours: Private tours from £25 (ex VAT) per person, minimum 10 guests - see Private Group Tours.
- B&B: Old Luxters Farmhouse, five en-suite rooms - see rooms and the availability calendar.
Chiltern Valley is on Instagram as @chilternvalleywinerybrewery and on X (Twitter) as @chilternvalley. Visitor reviews are aggregated on the Chiltern Valley TripAdvisor page.
Why Chiltern Valley is Worth the Trip
Chiltern Valley is one of the few English producers where you can see - in a single visit - vines being grown and wine being made, traditional bottle-conditioned real ale being brewed, and fruit liqueurs being blended, bottled and labelled, all on the same small farm estate. Combine that with the farmhouse B&B, the courtyard food truck, the cellar shop and the Chiltern Hills on your doorstep, and you have a complete day - or weekend - out rather than a simple winery stop.
It is, in short, a quintessential English wine, ale and liqueur experience: family-run, rooted in its landscape, and very proud of what it makes. A Tour & Tasting brings together every part of the estate in a single sitting, and a night in the farmhouse turns the visit into a proper Chiltern Hills break.