Knightor Winery: Award-Winning English Wines and an Exclusive Cornish Wedding Venue
Tucked into a four-acre courtyard of granite barns above St Austell Bay, Knightor Winery is one of Cornwall’s most distinctive boutique producers. It is a working winery, a popular cellar door, an award-winning English wine label, and an exclusive-use wedding venue that has been named Simply Weddings’ Best Wedding Venue in Cornwall in both 2023 and 2025. With two south-coast vineyards, an ever-growing portfolio of still and sparkling wines, a celebrated vermouth collection, and a sister tasting room on the Roseland peninsula, Knightor manages the rare trick of feeling both deeply rooted in place and broadly ambitious in reach.
The estate’s story stretches back far beyond the modern wine industry. The land above St Austell Bay has a long agricultural history, and a sixteenth-century reference to the ‘Husband of Elizabeth Trevannion, owner of Knightor’ is part of the winery’s own storytelling - a romantic touch that places the current vineyards firmly within centuries of Cornish farming. The modern winery began with the planting of its two vineyards on the south Cornish coast and has grown into a small but internationally recognised operation, exporting wines to Denmark and Norway, exhibiting at the British Embassy in Copenhagen and the Ambassador’s Residence in Stockholm, and showing at Wine Vision in Belgrade alongside the British Serbian Chamber of Commerce.
Location and Vineyards
Knightor’s grapes come from two coastal sites, both enjoying the milder maritime influence of south Cornwall. The first, Seaton Vineyard near Looe, was planted in 2006 and now has around 7,000 vines. Varieties there include Seyval Blanc, Rondo, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The second, the larger Portscatho Vineyard in the Roseland - the vineyard that gives the winery its full trading name of Knightor Winery - Portscatho Vineyard - was planted in 2007 and carries roughly 10,000 vines. Pinot Noir Précoce, Bacchus, Seyval Blanc, Rondo, Dornfelder, Dunkelfelder, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Riesling and Madeleine Angevine are all grown there.
The combination of cool sea breezes and low yields produces the kind of fruit that Head Winemaker David Brocklehurst, who has been at Knightor since 2014, likes to work with: aromatic whites, fresh rosés, and reds with naturally vibrant acidity. As the winery puts it, “the climate and low yields allow us to produce lighter, fruitier, lower ABV wines with good acidity that are refreshing as an aperitif and excellent with food.” All Knightor wines are vegan friendly, low in sulphates, and any residual sweetness comes from the fruit rather than added sugar.
The Wines
Knightor makes wines in small, exclusive batches. Each release is shaped by the vintage, intended to express the year rather than a house style, and many are blended or aged to add depth and balance rather than overt oak. The result is a portfolio of still and sparkling wines that punches well above the winery’s modest size.
Sparkling Wines
Sparkling wines are aged for a minimum of five years on the lees and are described as embodying “the complexity and elegance that define the very best English sparkling wines.” The flagship is the Blanc de Blancs 2015, made entirely from Chardonnay and recognised at the 2024 Glass of Bubbly Awards as the World’s Finest Sparkling Wine. Alongside it sits the Knightor Brut Classic Cuvée White, crafted from the finest parcels of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and aged for over five years on the lees. The nose shows delicate aromas of apples and lemon shortbread; the palate expresses green apple, citrus and freshly baked bread. It is the fizz Knightor’s wedding team recommends most often for toasts and reception drinks.
Still Wines and the Carpe Diem Range
The still range is built around the Carpe Diem collection - a light, fruit-forward trio of white, rosé and red wines designed to be easy to drink at a long lunch or alongside a wedding breakfast. Together with the sparkling wines they form what Knightor calls the “Carpe Diem Gift Pack”, available from the online store.
Knightor Vermouth and Cocktails
If the wines are the heart of the business, the vermouth is its personality. Knightor blends four vermouths - White, Dry, Rosé and Rosso - using English wines and a careful recipe of botanicals, herbs and spices. Aromatics include root, pine, sweet citrus, spice, floral and herbal notes, with nutmeg running through the blends. They are made exclusively from the winery’s own grapes and can be enjoyed on their own over ice, paired with a good mixer, or built into classic cocktails.
Knightor’s bar team has developed a small but confident list of signature serves. The Cornish Spritz mixes equal parts Rosé Vermouth and soda with a slice of orange for a low-alcohol aperitif - a long-standing favourite at Knightor weddings, where it often appears as the welcome drink. The Cornish Negroni swaps traditional Italian vermouth for the Rosso. The Knightor Spritz is described as “incredibly light and with a subtle kick of herbal goodness”, while the Knightor Dry Martini pairs gin with the intense flavour of the Dry Vermouth.
The vermouth has won Knightor a following well beyond the cellar door, and has been featured on cocktail lists at Star & Garter in Falmouth, Doctor Ink’s Curiosities in Exeter, Salcombe Distillery, Abbotshill Wine Shop & Bar in Ealing, Colwith Farm Distillery and The Longstore in Charlestown.
The Cellar Door and Tastings
The cellar door at Knightor Winery, Trethurgy, Cornwall, PL26 8YQ (What3Words ///Grove.Trial.Boosted) is a relaxed wine bar and tasting room with a wood stove inside and a courtyard outside for sunny afternoons. The full range of still and sparkling wines and vermouths is available to buy, alongside soft drinks, beers, ciders and simple food. Families are welcome, dogs are welcome, and there is plenty of space for children to explore - which makes it a different kind of stop from the more formal wine country destinations further east.
Cellar Door opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday 11am - 4pm, Friday 11am - 6pm, and Saturday and Sunday 11am - 4pm. The phone number is 01726 851101 and the team can be reached at [email protected] for general enquiries or at [email protected] for trade orders.
Wine Tastings at the Cellar Door
Three tasting formats are offered throughout opening hours. The Guided Wine Tasting, priced at £16 per person, is a structured flight of four wines with insights on production, serving and tasting profiles from a Knightor host; it runs for approximately 45 minutes. The Self-Guided Wine Tasting, at £11 per person, lets visitors work through a flight of four wines or vermouths at their own pace using the provided notes - ideal as a relaxed aperitif before ordering from the bar. Larger groups and private tastings can be arranged by emailing [email protected].
A Cornish cheese plate (or vegan alternative) is available from 11am to 3pm for £8.50 per plate, showcasing local Cornish cheeses chosen to complement the wines. Olives, crisps and nuts are also available to purchase separately.
Tours and Experiences
Three flagship experiences are available at the winery near St Austell (not at The Vine in Portscatho).
Guided Winery Tours
The Guided Winery Tour takes visitors from grape to glass with one of Knightor’s winemakers. The host explains how different grape varieties and winemaking techniques produce the styles in the bottle, follows the journey from vine to bottle, and finishes with a tutored tasting. The tour runs for approximately 90 minutes, costs £22 per person, and takes place on Sundays at 11am from March to September. Dogs are welcome, and a Cornish cheese plate can be added for £8.50 per plate by emailing [email protected]. 2026 tickets are available via the Knightor online shop.
The Cornish Cocktail Experience
A more recent addition, The Cornish Cocktail Experience lasts around 90 minutes and is run as a private or group booking. Guests are welcomed with a cocktail or mocktail, hear the history of aperitifs, vermouths and cocktails, and enjoy a tutored tasting of the four core vermouths. They then handle, smell and select their own botanicals to create a bespoke vermouth spritz and finish by wax-sealing a 37.5cl bottle of their chosen vermouth to take home. The experience costs £30 per person, includes the welcome drink, the unique vermouth spritz and the wax-sealed bottle, and accommodates groups of 10 - 12 or larger private parties. Bookings are arranged directly with the team via [email protected].
The Vine by Knightor
The second site, The Vine by Knightor at Knightor Vineyard, Portscatho, Trewithian TR2 5EH, is a summer-only tasting room and kitchen tucked between the vines of the Roseland vineyard. It serves wines by the glass, cheese plates, Cornish cheese plates with tasting flights, and a brand-new pizza menu on Fridays and Saturdays (Margherita or Pepperoni). Exclusive case discounts are offered on six bottles or more purchased on site, and no reservations are needed - visitors can simply turn up.
The Vine opening hours are Tuesday to Thursday 12 - 5pm and Friday and Saturday 12 - 7pm. Sunday and Monday it is closed. The site is dog friendly and offers sweeping views over the Roseland, making it a natural stop on a coastal walk or a relaxed afternoon on the way back from the beach.
Weddings at Knightor
Weddings are the other half of Knightor’s identity. The estate offers exclusive use of the barn, courtyard and orchard, accommodating from 2 up to 150 guests, and has been named Simply Wedding Award Winners 2025 & 2023. Couples are looked after by a dedicated in-house weddings team, currently led by Elena (Wedding & Events Manager), Isla (Wedding & Events Coordinator) and Nay (Wedding & Events Coordinator).
Three formats are offered:
- Full Wedding - for 36 - 90 daytime guests with evening capacity up to 150.
- Intimate Wedding - for 2 - 35 daytime guests, with the option to add evening guests with extended hours. Starting from £1,950, the package includes six hours’ exclusive hire of the barn, courtyard and arbour.
- Elopements / Ceremony Only - for 2 - 90 guests. From £750 in 2027 (subject to availability, Monday - Thursday only).
Wedding Venue Hire Pricing
Pricing for 2027 starts from £4,700 (Mon - Thurs, low season) up to £8,000 (Saturday, high season) for a Full Wedding. The 2028 Full Wedding rates range from £5,000 to £8,400. Intimate Wedding hire is priced at £2,500 for 2027 and £3,500 for 2028 (subject to availability). Reduced hire rates are offered, with remaining 2026 weekday dates from £2,990 and weekend dates from £4,000.
Every wedding package includes dedicated wedding coordination, exclusive use of the barn, courtyard, arbour and orchard, use of crockery, tables, chairs, glassware and linen, late licence until midnight or 1am, a fully stocked and professionally staffed bar, free on-site parking, and space for up to 90 daytime guests and 150 evening guests.
Wedding Accommodation
On-site accommodation for up to 20 guests includes the Manor House, the Orchard Barn Honeymoon Suite and three Shepherd’s Huts. Check-in is from 4pm and check-out at 11am, and an extra night can be added for £1,150. A recommended list of nearby local accommodation is also available for guests who do not stay on site.
A free complimentary wedding wine tasting is offered to every couple who books, allowing them to sample the full Knightor range before the day. Discounts are available on bulk wine orders, and the team can advise on drink pairings via [email protected].
Events and Feast Nights
Outside of weddings, the winery hosts an annual calendar of food, music and seasonal events.
Summer Pop-Ups
Back by popular demand, Street Food Pop-Ups run on Friday evenings through the summer. They are free to attend, with undercover seating, free parking, and no reservations needed. Local food trucks are paired with live music and the cellar door bar, fully stocked with wines, local lagers, ales and ciders. Upcoming dates include:
- 7th August - Nauti Buoys and Tori Chilcott
- 14th August - Molinos Street Food and One for the Road
- 21st August - Nauti Buoys and Tillie Rose
- 28th August - Dank Franks and Taylor Latham
Food is served 5 - 8pm, live music runs 7 - 9pm, and the bar is open from 4pm. Dogs and well-behaved children are welcome.
Feast Nights
The Friday Feast Nights programme celebrates different cuisines and foods throughout the year. Bookings are taken by emailing [email protected]; a £15 per person cancellation fee applies for cancellations within 48 hours. The next event is the Asian Street Food Night on Friday 25th September 2026: the bar opens at 6:30pm and the feast is served at 7:30pm. The menu is designed as a sharing platter for two, costing £21 per person (paid on the evening), with vegetarian and vegan options available on advance request.
Christmas at Knightor
Festive season celebrations run throughout December, including Shared Christmas Party Nights priced at £50 per person with a £7 non-refundable deposit. Each night includes a three-course meal, a disco to dance the night away, and a fully stocked bar open until midnight. 2026 dates are Friday 4th December, Friday 11th December, Friday 18th December and Saturday 19th December. Private festive events can also be hosted on other dates throughout December and January.
The Team
Three named coordinators lead the weddings side of the business. Elena joined Knightor in 2019 as a Front of House team member, became a Wedding Coordinator in 2021, and was promoted to Wedding & Events Manager in 2024. Isla, who is celebrating her fifth year at Knightor in 2026, joined as Front of House in 2021 and stepped into the Wedding & Events Coordinator role in 2023. Nay, who joined in 2025, brings more than 15 years of hospitality experience to the team and is currently planning her own wedding, which gives her a personal perspective on the journey each couple is taking. Behind them, David Brocklehurst is Head Winemaker and Liam is Operations and Sales Manager, with Halla running marketing - each marking ten years at Knightor in recent seasons.
Visiting Knightor
The main winery and cellar door are at Knightor Winery, Trethurgy, Cornwall, PL26 8YQ, with What3Words reference ///Grove.Trial.Boosted. Telephone 01726 851101. The Vine by Knightor is at Knightor Vineyard, Portscatho, Trewithian, TR2 5EH. Free parking is available on site. The venue notes that Knightor is a working winery and old farmstead, with areas of rough ground, uneven levels, and steps; visitors are asked to wear appropriate footwear and take extra care.
Wine, vermouth and gift vouchers can be ordered around the clock from the online store. The winery is active on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest, and an accessibility guide and venue brochure can be downloaded.
Whether arriving for a Sunday morning tour, a long lunch with a flight of Cornish wines at the cellar door, a wedding weekend, or simply to pick up a bottle of vermouth from the shop, visitors find a complete slice of contemporary Cornish wine country at Knightor - cool climate, hand-crafted, and firmly rooted in the landscape above St Austell Bay.