Louma Vineyard: A Regenerative Estate and Winery on the Jurassic Coast, Dorset
Tucked into the rolling hills above Charmouth, with a front-row view across the UNESCO-listed Jurassic Coast, Louma Vineyard is one of the most distinctive working farms and wineries in southern England. Part of the broader Louma Country Hotel & Farm Retreat - a 100-acre regenerative estate in West Dorset - the vineyard produces small-batch wines from hand-tended vines farmed in harmony with the surrounding landscape, the same landscape that provides the kitchen, the spa and the guest experience.
Visitors to Louma today can wander between the vines and the sea, taste estate-grown sparkling, still and rosé wines in a converted cellar, and stay in shepherd's huts, stone barns and timber stables that look out across the vines. Here is the complete guide to the vineyard, the wines, the tastings and the wider farm experience.
Location and Setting
Louma sits on Champernhayes Lane in Wootton Fitzpaine, just outside Bridport, with a postcode of DT6 6DF. The estate looks south across the Marshwood Vale to Charmouth and Lyme Regis, taking in the 95-mile sweep of the Jurassic Coast - England's only natural UNESCO World Heritage Site. The closest train station is Axminster (about 20 minutes by car), with direct services from London Waterloo, Clapham Junction, Bristol Temple Meads and Exeter St Davids. Exeter Airport is roughly 50 minutes away, Bournemouth Airport about 1 hour 30 minutes, and the team at Louma can arrange a private transfer in a Louma vehicle from any of these arrival points.
For those driving, the route leaves the A303 onto the A356 through Crewkerne, follows the B165 towards Lyme Regis for ten miles, then turns left at Portobello Cross and continues through the white gates for four miles along Champernhayes Lane. The what3words reference for the driveway is ///medium.pacifist.butter.
The Jurassic Coast context
The Jurassic Coast tells 185 million years of Earth's history in a single line of cliffs and bays, from the Triassic through the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. Charmouth Beach, only three miles from Louma, is one of the most fossil-rich shorelines in the world - the same beach where a young David Attenborough once hunted for ammonites. That proximity to such ancient geology shapes both the terroir and the guest experience at Louma, and it is the reason why guided fossil walks from the estate feel like stepping into deep time rather than simply a coastal stroll.
History and Philosophy
Louma began as a family farm and has grown into a serene retreat that balances nature, wellness and thoughtful design. The estate is part of the Steyn Group and trades as Louma Country Hotel under Grape Vibes Limited (company number 12430631). Underpinning everything is a simple idea: that a quiet place, rooted in nature, can spark profound change - not loudly or forcefully, but gently, softly, with moments that linger long after guests leave. As the team puts it, "what people will take from here is a renewed love of nature and an appreciation of the world around us. These are things that will live on long, long, long into the future."
Eat Well, Move Well, Think Well
The farm's ethos is built around three pillars: Eat Well, Move Well and Think Well. Eating well is rooted in the kitchen garden, the orchard and the livestock that graze the same pastures as the vines. Moving well means walking woodland trails, riding through the fields or simply stretching in the morning sun. Thinking well is supported by quiet corners of the estate, mindful experiences and the regenerative philosophy that runs through every aspect of the operation - from the way the sheep are wintered in the vineyard to the way honey is harvested from the rocket hives. Together, the three pillars form what the team calls a constellation of wellness.
The Vineyard
The vineyard at Louma occupies two distinct blocks, separated by a swathe of pasture and woodland. The Top Vineyard holds Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Divico, Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier, while the Bottom Vineyard is planted with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. Together the vines produce a focused portfolio of estate wines - still whites, rosé, a Pinot Noir and a small but prized collection of vintage sparkling wines.
Vineyard Manager Jonathan Atkin
The vineyard is run by Jonathan Atkin, who moved to Dorset from York with his family. In Yorkshire, Jonathan had managed Dunesforde, one of the UK's most northerly commercial vineyards, where he discovered viticulture while looking after his mental health. After a few years in a traditional system he found regenerative farming and the practices that showed him a more beneficial way to grow and tend vines, and the landscape around them. He and his team have applied those principles at Louma since 2021. Outside the vineyard, he balances fatherhood with staying physically, mentally and spiritually fit - a perspective that quietly threads through the wines he makes.
Regenerative viticulture
Louma is not certified organic, but the team adopts organic and regenerative practices wherever they align with the estate's ethos. Poll Dorset sheep are winter-grazed in the vineyard on a broad variety of plants, including broad-leaved plantain, which brings up trace minerals from deep in the soil and acts as a natural wormer. This reduces the need for chemical wormers, which in turn protects dung flies, dung beetles and the wider soil food web. As the vines come back to life in early spring, the sheep are moved on to their summer pastures, and the vineyard team can begin the year with healthy soil, healthy animals and a clean canopy.
The wider estate operates on the same regenerative principles. Cattle are mob-grazed and supplemented with home-grown hay and tree hay (a centuries-old practice using dried ash and willow); pigs rotate through paddocks sown with kale, turnips and vetches; Light Sussex chickens range on fresh ground sown with grains and seeds. Nothing is wasted - sub-par orchard fruit goes to the pigs, whey to the chickens, and trimmings from the kitchen garden back to the compost heaps.
The Wines of Louma
The Louma cellar focuses on six estate wines, all bottled under the Louma label:
- Special Cuvée - a signature sparkling wine built around the classic Champagne varieties grown on the estate.
- Chardonnay - a still white from the south-facing Dorset slopes, made in the same patient, low-intervention way as the rest of the range.
- Rosé - a pale, savoury rosé drawn from the Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier blocks.
- Pinot Noir - a still red that reflects the cool, maritime climate of the Jurassic Coast.
- Brut Cuvée - a dry traditional-method sparkling wine, dry and food-friendly.
- Louma Rosé - a delicate, lightly coloured sparkling rosé that sits alongside the vintage collection.
The sparkling portfolio goes deeper for tasting-room visitors, with four distinctive bottles poured during the Vintage Sparkling Tasting Experience: Louma 2018, Louma 2021 Special Cuvée, Louma Blanc de Noirs 2020 and Louma Blanc de Blancs 2020. Together they tell the story of how Louma's house style has evolved from the first commercial vintage to the present day.
The wine-making process
From vine to vintage, the winemaking at Louma is rooted in patience and respect for the land. Grapes are hand-harvested, carefully sorted, gently pressed and aged to perfection. Every step reflects a commitment to natural methods and authentic flavour. The result is wines that capture what the team describes as the true spirit of Louma - wines that taste of place, season and a particular patch of West Dorset. There is no rush: small yields, careful sorting and slow elevage mean that each bottle carries the imprint of the growing season in which it was made.
Wine Experiences and Tastings
Wine at Louma is not an afterthought; it is part of the wider farm-to-fork story, and there are several ways to explore it. All tastings are run by the Louma team, with pairings drawn from the kitchen garden and the dairy that sits within view of the vines.
Discover Louma Wines
The flagship vineyard experience begins with a guided walk through the vines led by a member of the team. Guests then move into the Wine Cellar for an immersive tasting, exploring each wine with all their senses while learning the farm-to-fork story behind it. The tasting is paired with food matches designed to bring out the best in every sip. The Discover Louma Wines activity is open to staying guests and other visitors, and sits within a broader set of estate activities at Louma, ranging from yoga and Pilates to horse treks and the Fossil Discovery Coastal Walk.
Louma Vintage Sparkling Tasting Experience
For a more focused tasting, the Vintage Sparkling Tasting Experience pours four distinctive vintages - Louma 2018, Louma 2021 Special Cuvée, Louma Blanc de Noirs 2020 and Louma Blanc de Blancs 2020 - alongside Louma strawberries and a seasonal cheeseboard. The one-hour, intimate session is designed as a relaxed introduction to the sparkling side of the cellar, ideal for guests who want a taste of Louma without committing to the full estate tour.
- Duration: 1 hour
- Minimum: 2 guests per booking
- Cost: £85 per person
The Vintage Sparkling Tasting can be booked online.
The Explore the Vines Package
The most immersive way to experience the vineyard is the Explore the Vines Package, one of Louma's curated Seasonal & Special Offers. It includes breakfast, lunch and dinner throughout the stay, a two-hour guided vineyard tour and tasting of all five estate wines across varying vintages (accompanied by a carefully selected cheeseboard), and complimentary access to the Wellness Barn with its indoor and outdoor pools, sauna and gym. Suitable for all levels of wine knowledge, the package runs from 1 June to 31 October 2026 and starts from £670 per night for two adults.
The Farm and Gardens
Louma is a working farm as much as it is a vineyard and hotel. The regenerative approach means the same fields, hedges and woodlands that support biodiversity also feed the kitchen and the cellar. A self-guided walk around the estate takes in the Hen House, Harvest, the Kitchen Garden, the Glasshouse, the Herb Garden, the Ornamental Garden, the Apple Orchard, the ponds and the Cow Barn and Sheep Barn - both built in 2022 by local timber-farmer Dave Burleigh using traditional methods.
Farm animals
The farm is home to flocks of Poll Dorset ewes with Dorset Down and Suffolk rams, alongside the much-loved Valais Blacknose sheep. Cattle on the dairy fields include British Friesians crossed with Jersey and Dairy Shorthorn, carefully bred for quality and sustainability. The pigs are Oxford Sandy & Black, sometimes referred to as Large Black - an uncommon Westcountry breed that Louma supports by buying in excess boars. The chickens are Light Sussex, whose free-ranging life produces rich golden yolks for the kitchen. Horses and ponies live alongside the livestock, cared for by the Sandford Family Stables team, and there are bees, deer, pheasants, squirrels and owls across the wider estate.
Kitchen garden, orchard and glasshouse
Behind the Farmhouse sit a kitchen garden, herb garden, ornamental garden and the wooden glasshouse where all the farm's flowers and vegetables start life. Georgia, the head gardener, oversees the estate alongside her team, growing more than 30 seasonal vegetables in over 100 varieties. The orchard yields heritage apples, pears, plums and cherries, while the chefs' favourite - the uniquely savoury Black cherry tomato - anchors the polytunnel crops. The garden changes with the seasons: vibrant apple orchard in October, flourishing kitchen garden in August, fresh seedlings in the glasshouse in spring, and the fragrant herb garden in June.
Spence Plantation woodland
The estate's Victorian woodland, known locally as Spence Plantation, was first developed between 1888 and 1901, making many of its turkey oaks, sycamores, beeches and hazels more than 120 years old. The woodland was neglected for decades until the Louma team cleared the dominant cherry laurel, brambles and invasive grasses, replanted 270 different varieties of trees and shrubs and built an 80-metre timber walkway designed by local woodworker David Saltmarsh. Today, Spence Plantation is a haven for bees, dormice, woodpeckers, butterflies and badgers, and a place where forest bathing - or shinrin-yoku - is genuinely possible. The team has also inoculated mushroom logs with oyster and shiitake mycelium and built rocket hives that are now home to thriving wild honey-bee colonies.
Accommodation at Louma
The estate sleeps up to 50 guests across 17 unique spaces. Every stay is inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner, and includes complimentary access to the Wellness Barn. One-night stays are welcome Sunday through Thursday; weekend stays operate on a two-night minimum. Dogs are warmly welcomed across most of the accommodation for a supplementary charge of £35 per dog per night, with a complimentary bed, bowl and towel included.
The Farmhouse
Picture windows frame views from the country garden down through the vineyard to the sea. The Farmhouse offers a Superior Room (Tawny), three Premium Rooms (Dewdrop, Seabird and Nectar Suite) and a Premium Two Bedroom Family Suite, each with a super king bed, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning and bespoke joinery. Premium Rooms feature stand-alone baths in the bedroom, while the Family Suite adds bunk beds for two children.
Stone Barns
Restored with original Dorset chert, the Stone Barns reflect the farm's ancient heritage. Stone Barn 1 (Foxglove) is a ground-floor studio with its own terrace and views over the Farmhouse Pond; Stone Barn 2 is a first-floor attic studio for couples. Two family-sized Stone Barn Cottages (Sugarkelp and a second cottage in pearl, magnolia and green stone tones) sleep four across two bedrooms with terraces overlooking the vineyard.
Timber Stables
Converted from the original stables, the Timber Stables (Earthen and Catkins) are one-bedroom dog-friendly apartments with wood-clad ceilings, open-plan lounges, private terraces and luxurious wood-fired hot tubs. Each sleeps two to four, with a sofa bed in the sitting room for extra guests.
Shepherd Huts
Hand-crafted from locally sourced materials in the nearby Blackdown Hills, the Heritage Shepherd Huts offer panoramic views from rolling hills to the sea. Two Double Shepherd Huts (Lapwing and a Tiffany-blue hide with hares in the wallpaper) sleep two to four and feature wood-fired hot tubs. Two Single Shepherd Huts - one in coral and blush, the other in mustard and teal - sleep two with private gardens, dining tables and wood-burning stoves.
The Furrow
The most spacious accommodation, The Furrow is a two-bedroom lodge tucked behind the Farmhouse with a private garden, full kitchen, wood burner, underfloor heating and floor-to-ceiling windows that bring nature to the door. It sleeps four plus a sofa bed.
Louma Exclusive
For celebrations, family reunions or bespoke retreats, the entire 100-acre estate can be reserved exclusively. The dedicated events team works closely with each group to design a personalised experience, whether that means a forest school programme for children, a horse-paddock experience, braai nights under the stars or a tailored wellness programme.
Farm-to-Fork Dining
Dining is at the heart of the Louma experience. Every stay includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, served in either the welcoming Farmhouse or the vibrant Main Barn. The menus are crafted by head chef John Long and his team, with weekly updates from the farm and harvests every other day to ensure maximum freshness. Nothing is imported unnecessarily: the chefs receive the kitchen garden's peak produce, supplemented by carefully sourced local ingredients.
Breakfast brings house-made jams, farm eggs, cured bacon, honey from the estate's hives and Louma's own-recipe sausages, alongside freshly baked pastries, seasonal fruit, smoothies and expertly brewed coffee. Lunch is relaxed and generous - wood-fired favourites, fresh fish, vibrant salads and homemade bakes served between 12:30pm and 2:30pm. Dinner is where the day comes together, guided by what is freshest and most inspiring, with thoughtful pairings with Louma wines. Children's dining runs from 17:00 to 18:00 each evening, with a dedicated menu and a willingness to adapt dishes for fussy eaters. Plant-based dishes feature prominently thanks to John's personal Veganuary ethos.
Wellness at Louma
The Wellness Barn is the heart of the estate's spa and fitness offering. Housed in a light-filled wooden barn, it has two swimming pools (indoor and outdoor), a state-of-the-art gym and a tranquil sauna, plus dedicated adults-only swim times in both pools from 07:30-09:30 and 17:30-19:00. The outdoor pool is open all year round.
Treatments take place in two hand-built massage huts tucked behind the Wellness Barn, with views across the fields to the sea. The signature offering uses Wildsmith Skin's circadian-rhythm-inspired formulations in either a 60-minute session (£120) or 90-minute session (£170), with options for a Wildsmith Radical Botany Facial, a Wildsmith Massage or a deep tissue massage. After a treatment, guests are invited to enjoy a signature Louma Rosemary and Honey Fizz on the terrace.
Holistic therapies include Transformational Breathwork with Natalie and Craniosacral Therapy with Lisa, while fitness classes cover yoga with Pip (Reset and Connect, Strengthen, Open and Release, Breathe and Rejuvenate, Deep Relaxation) and mixed-ability mat Pilates with Cat. Classes are held in The Cow Barn, with vineyard and sea views as the backdrop.
For equine-led wellness, two retreats weave horses into the experience: the Equine Connection & Yoga Retreat for Two, and the three-night Therapeutic Equine Retreat, both delivered by Sandford Family Stables. Horse and pony treks, lessons and hands-on horsemanship sessions are also available for all levels.
Seasonal Offers and Packages
Louma runs a rotating calendar of seasonal offers for 2026, with these headline packages:
Explore the Vines Package
Two-hour guided vineyard tour and tasting of five estate wines with a carefully selected cheeseboard, plus breakfast, lunch and dinner and Wellness Barn access. Valid 1 June - 31 October 2026. From £670 per night for two adults.
Louma Spa & Overnight Package
Includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, a 60-minute bespoke massage per person, and complimentary access to the Wellness Barn. Valid year-round (excluding the festive period from 24 December 2026 to 2 January 2027), from £720 per night for two adults.
An Extra Night On Us
Book a two-night stay and enjoy a complimentary third night. Valid for arrivals on Sunday, Monday or Tuesday from 1 to 15 December 2026, with breakfast, lunch and dinner and Wellness Barn access included.
Christmas 2026
A festive escape with breakfast, lunch and dinner, a sparkling wine and champagne tasting or cocktail masterclass, animal farm and stables tours, seasonal children's activities (treasure hunts, movie nights, gingerbread decorating), a welcome gift hamper and Wellness Barn access. Valid for stays arriving on Thursday 24 December 2026, from £1,280 per night for a three-night stay for two adults.
Things to Do in the Surrounding Area
The farm sits within easy reach of some of Dorset's most celebrated experiences. Charmouth Heritage Coast Centre runs guided fossil walks along the Jurassic Coast; Lyme Regis is 20 minutes by car, with the Cobb, the Lyme Regis Museum and the Marine Aquarium; West Bay and Bridport are within 15 minutes; and inland, Forde Abbey offers 30 acres of award-winning gardens and a cider house. The team at Louma keeps detailed guides for golf at Bridport & West Dorset or Lyme Regis, pottery workshops at Clay & Salt, and brewery tours at Palmers, all within a short drive.
Plan Your Visit
Louma Country Hotel, Champernhayes Lane, Wootton Fitzpaine, Bridport, Dorset, DT6 6DF. The team is on hand between 8am and 8pm daily on +44 (0)1308 800298 or hello@loumacountryhotel.co.uk. Bookings run through the Mews booking system, with reservations confirmed in writing to reservations@loumacountryhotel.co.uk. Gift vouchers are available on request and can be personalised and delivered digitally. The estate shares seasonal updates on the vines, the cellar and the wider farm through Instagram and Facebook.