Poulton Hill Estate Vineyard: Award-Winning English Wines in the Heart of the Cotswolds
Nestled on the warm, south-facing slopes of a hill just outside the Cotswold village of Poulton, a few miles east of the Roman town of Cirencester, Poulton Hill Estate Vineyard is one of England's quietly remarkable family wineries. Founded in 2010, the estate has grown from a single experimental block of vines into a 9,750-vine vineyard producing up to 20,000 bottles of wine a year, alongside a small but acclaimed range of hand-distilled English spirits. Whether you are searching for a Saturday morning vineyard walk, a Friday-evening glass of something local under the summer sky, or a bottle of well-priced, vegan-friendly English wine to send as a gift, Poulton Hill offers the complete Cotswold cellar-door experience.
Setting the Scene: A Cotswold Vineyard With Roots in Roman Britain
The story of Poulton Hill Estate is rooted in the landscape of the Cotswolds. Vines for winemaking were first introduced to Britain by the Romans, and the area around Poulton is steeped in that history, with the Roman town of Cirencester close by and the Regency spa town of Cheltenham just a short drive north. The estate itself sits on the south-facing slopes of Poulton Hill, where the combination of aspect, free-draining soil and a local microclimate that suits cool-climate viticulture makes it possible to ripen varieties as diverse as Seyval Blanc, Phoenix, Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Regent and Rondo.
Since the first vines went into the ground in 2010, the team at Poulton Hill has worked with one guiding principle: to be not just environmentally conscious but environmentally active. Two flocks of rare-breed sheep - Jacob's Sheep and Olde English Babydoll Southdown Sheep, two of the oldest breeds in England - graze the orchard and the area around the vines, keeping the ground tidy without nibbling the grapes while fertilising the soil as they go. Wildflower strips have been planted to support the insect population, and every grape that goes into a bottle of Poulton Hill wine is harvested by hand.
The People Behind the Vines
Poulton Hill is very much a people-led business. Vineyard Manager Diogo joined the estate team in 2012 after spending summers working through vineyards in France during his teens. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for excellence, he is rarely seen without his quad bike and a pair of secateurs in hand. When he is relaxing in his garden, his go-to Poulton Hill favourites are the Arlington White and the award-winning Bulari Brut.
Natalie has been at the helm of the business since 2015. A graduate who began her wine-industry career in Tony Laithwaite's sales department before being dispatched to Sydney to help set up the Australian operation, she has since worked with vineyards across the UK, Bordeaux, South Australia and New Zealand. Under her management Poulton Hill's range has expanded from a single sparkling white into a full portfolio of sparkling and still wines and two spirits, and the wines have collected more than forty national and international awards. In summer, Natalie can usually be found among the vines leading the estate's highly regarded tastings, which are enjoyed by over a thousand visitors a year.
Francesca joined in early 2024 to complete a placement for her Agri-Food Business Management degree, running the Cellar Door and the Saturday tour and tasting events. She never really left. After handing in her dissertation, she started full-time at the vineyard a week later and now works alongside Natalie to run the Cellar Door and organise all of the events.
The Wines: A Complete Range of Still and Sparkling
Poulton Hill produces an unusually broad range for a small estate, from traditional method sparkling wines to still whites, rosés and a red, plus a trio of spirits. All wines are suitable for vegans and vegetarians.
The Bulari Sparkling Range
Bulari - a play on the Latin Bullarum, meaning bubbles - is the trademarked name Poulton Hill Estate has registered as a generic term for quality English sparkling wine. The brand is now used across the estate's two flagship sparkling wines and is available for licence to other high-quality English sparkling producers who meet the same strict production criteria.
- Bulari White - A pale-gold traditional-method sparkling made from 65% Seyval Blanc and 35% Pinot Noir. Aromas of freshly cut green apple and pear give way to citrus notes of orange peel, lemon and a hint of lime zest. The palate is filled with juicy apple, grapefruit and lemon sherbet, supported by a fine mousse and a crisp, clean finish. 11.5% vol, 75cl. Available from £18.99 (half bottle) up to £36.99 (full bottle).
- Bulari Rosé - A wonderfully fresh and fragrant sparkling rosé with hints of rose petal and raspberry on the nose and an elegant pale-pink appearance. The delicate mousse carries alluring flavours of passion fruit and hints of orange, leading to a dry, crisp finish. 11.3% vol, 75cl, Seyval Blanc 65% / Rondo 35%. £36.99.
- Bulari Rosé Half Bottle - A blend of 90% Seyval Blanc and 10% Phoenix, bottled at 37.5cl for single-glass occasions. 12% vol. £18.99.
Still White Wines
- Bacchus 2023 - 100% Bacchus, pale gold in the glass with notes of elderflower and stone fruit on the nose. Peach, pear and guava lead the palate, with a hint of minerality and a long, clean, crisp finish. Pairs beautifully with seafood pasta, white meat or Thai cuisine. 11.5% vol, 75cl. £18.50.
- Awkward Hill 2023 - A pale-straw white made from 85% Phoenix and 15% Bacchus, named after the awkward slope on which the vines grow. Aromas of apple blossom with subtle herbaceous undertones; the palate is dry, crisp and balanced, bursting with peach, pear and creamy apple. 11% vol, 75cl. £18.50.
- Arlington White 2023 - Named after the Arlington cottages in Bibury. Melon and pear on the nose lead to a crisp, fresh palate with apricot, lime and honey. A medium-dry style, 10.5% vol, 70% Phoenix and 30% Seyval, 75cl. £18.50.
- Phoenix 2024 - The latest release from this increasingly important variety on the estate. 75cl, £18.50. Available to purchase online.
Still Rosé
- Still Rosé 2025 - A classic, crisp and elegant Cotswold blush made from 40% Pinot Noir, 30% Bacchus and 30% Seyval Blanc. Strawberry, delicate rose and peach on the nose; the palate is dry, fresh and vibrant with summer fruits and a long finish. 11% vol, 75cl. Pairs with cheese, salads, fish and chicken. £18.50.
Still Red
- Arlington Red - Deep ruby in colour with a beautiful nose of cherry, blackberry and hints of strawberry. The medium-bodied palate bursts with English red berries, dark cherry and damson, supported by subtle oak and soft tannin. 10.5% vol, 75cl, Regent/Rondo blend. £18.99.
Special Offers and Mixed Cases
For anyone exploring the full Poulton Hill white portfolio, the Whites Trio Offer bundles one bottle each of Bacchus 2023, Awkward Hill 2023 and Arlington White 2023 for £44.99 (RRP £55.50). The estate also regularly lists Damaged Label mixed cases - six bottles for £85 (RRP £111.98) or twelve bottles for £165 (RRP £223.96) - free collection from the Cellar Door. Discounted stock is updated regularly online.
The Spirits: Hand-Distilled From Estate Grapes and Local Fruit
Poulton Hill's spirit range is small, limited and made entirely from estate or locally grown produce.
- Cotswold Brandy - A limited-edition eau-de-vie made exclusively from grapes hand-harvested at the Poulton Hill Estate in 2013. The base wine is triple-distilled and matured in American oak casks to produce a brandy with aromas of almond and vanilla, hints of wood and spice, and a beautifully soft, fruity finish. Each bottle has been individually hand-labelled and numbered. 40% vol, 50cl. From £40.00 to £50.00.
- Sloe de Vie - Sloes hand-picked at the peak of ripeness following the 2015 vineyard harvest, fermented, triple-distilled and bottled to preserve the delicate freshness of the fruit. A wonderfully smooth digestif to round off a special meal. From £12.50 to £37.50.
- English Vermouth - A limited-edition semi-sweet vermouth made from a blend of estate-grown Phoenix, Bacchus and Seyval Blanc grapes, with orange, vanilla, fig leaf, tonka bean and juniper. The Phoenix is the heraldic symbol of nearby Cirencester, and the mythical bird gives the vermouth its name. Only 400 bottles produced by hand. 17% vol, 50cl. £25.99.
The Cellar Door: Buy Direct From the Winemakers
The Poulton Hill Cellar Door is open Tuesday to Friday 9am - 4pm and Saturday 11am - 3pm, with staff on hand to talk visitors through the range. In winter the hours reduce to 09:30 - 15:30, Tuesday to Friday. Visitors can browse the full range of wines, spirits and gifts, take advantage of special Cellar Door pricing, pick up Bibury Trout Farm produce and enjoy a quality wine by the glass. Visits outside of these hours are possible by appointment - call 01285 850257.
Poulton Hill wines are also poured at an extensive list of independent pubs, restaurants, farm shops and hotels across the Cotswolds and beyond, including Bibury Trout Farm, Gloucester Services, the Jesse Smith Farm Shop in Cirencester, KNEAD bakery, the Swan at Southrop, the Bell at Selsley, the Kingham Plough, the Five Alls at Filkins, the Crown at Ampney Brook, the Falcon Inn in Poulton, and many more.
Tours and Tastings: A Walk Through the Vines
A visit to Poulton Hill begins with a relaxed walk around the vineyard, where the team shares the estate's history and explains how the grapes are grown. Guests then move indoors to the Cellar Door for a guided tasting of a sparkling wine and three still wines, plus an introduction to the medal-winning spirits. Tours start at 11am and last about 1 hour 30 minutes. The total measure of wine served is the equivalent of a small glass, so guests remain legally able to drive, and spittoons are available.
Pricing
- Summer Tour & Tasting (June to mid-September): £30 per person. The full tour of the vineyard plus the Cellar Door tasting.
- Winter/Spring Wine Tasting (October to May): £20 per person. Tasting only, no tour.
Private Tours
Private tours and tastings are also available, and visitors can opt to add a charcuterie board after the tasting. Email info@poultonhillestate.co.uk for details. Tours are for over-18s only; a Challenge 25 policy operates, and guests may be asked for ID. Guide dogs are the only dogs permitted on tours, and hen or stag dos are not accepted on public tours.
Tour dates and tickets can be booked online.
The Bulari Bar: Friday Evenings in the Vines
The Bulari Bar is Poulton Hill's summer pop-up, running Friday evenings from May through to September in the heart of the vineyard. Gates open at 5pm, no booking is required, parking is free, and children and dogs are welcome. The bar serves the full Poulton Hill wine range by the glass and by the bottle, alongside local beers, soft drinks and a changing rota of street-food vendors who set up on the lawn.
The 2026 line-up has included Gurt Wings, Smiths of Bourton, Sri-Licious, Taste of Punjab, Pop Up Pizza, The Table by Tania, BBQ Street Box and the Cotswold Cattle Co. Live music is programmed for selected evenings, with Chloe Marie performing two 45-minute sets on Friday 31 July and Friday 21 August 2026.
Upcoming Bulari Bar Dates
- Friday 7 August 2026 - Sri-Licious. Details.
- Friday 14 August 2026 - Taste of Punjab. Details.
- Friday 21 August 2026 - BBQ Street Box plus live music from Chloe Marie. Details.
- Friday 28 August 2026 - Gurt Wings. Details.
The bar closes for the autumn and winter, reopening in May the following year.
Special Events: Supper Club, Christmas in the Vines and More
Beyond the weekly Bulari Bar, Poulton Hill hosts a small calendar of one-off events throughout the year. Past examples have included the Supper Club - an evening of dinner cooked by TABU with a welcome glass of Bulari 2021 on arrival, £65 per person, and the English Wine Week Shop & Sip weekend, where the Cotswold Chippy serves up fish and chips on the lawn. The estate has also previously hosted Christmas in the Vines, a Christmas shopping event with a small army of local makers and producers.
Upcoming dates and tickets can be viewed and booked online.
The Long Room: Corporate and Private Hire
For weddings, milestone birthdays, corporate away-days and private celebrations, Poulton Hill offers The Long Room, an exquisite event space nestled within the wing of the estate's Cotswold country house. Available for private hire, The Long Room accommodates up to 80 guests and comes with a picturesque courtyard, stunning gardens, a small kitchen, a bar area and two cosy fireplaces. Ample on-site parking is included. The setting - within a working vineyard - makes it one of the more unusual event venues in the Cotswolds. Enquiries: info@poultonhillestate.co.uk.
Stay at the Vineyard: The North Wing Accommodation
For a deeper Cotswold escape, the North Wing of the country house is available for exclusive self-catered stays. Sleeping up to eight guests across three or four beautifully furnished super-king/king bedrooms (each with en-suite bathroom), the wing also has a spacious downstairs sitting room and dining hall, a recently refurbished kitchen and bar area, an upstairs seating area with views over the grounds, a well-equipped gym and a tennis court. There is a minimum two-night stay. Bookings and enquiries: info@poultonhillestate.co.uk or 01285 850700.
Harvest Helpers: Get Hands-On With the Vintage
Each autumn the team opens the vineyard to anyone keen to experience harvest first-hand. Working in pairs up and down the rows, helpers pick fruit alongside the regular crew in what is one of the most convivial times of year at the estate. Anyone interested in taking part can email the team.
Awards and Recognition
Poulton Hill's wines and spirits have collected more than forty national and international awards. Recent highlights include:
- Gloucestershire Foodie Awards 2025 - Winner, Best Artisan Drinks Producer.
- WineGB West - Silver for Bulari Rosé 2021 (Sparkling Rosé) and Bronze for Bacchus 2023 (Still Bacchus).
- Cotswold Awards 2024 - Best Vineyard in the Cotswolds.
- Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards 2024 - Best Drinks Producer.
- IWSC 2023 - Fine Cotswold Brandy.
- Glass of Bubbly 2023 - Silver for Bulari in the Gastronomic category.
- WineGB Awards 2022 - Silver for Pinot Noir Rosé 2020; Bronze for Bacchus 2021 and Bulari White 2018.
- International Wine Challenge 2020 - Commended for Arlington Red NV.
- LUX Global Excellence Awards 2018 - Best Family-Run Vineyard, South West England; Product of the Year for Sloe de Vie.
Plan Your Visit
Poulton Hill Estate sits within easy reach of several well-connected railway stations, making it an accessible day trip from London or Bristol. From London Paddington to Kemble or Swindon, the journey is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes; from Bristol Temple Meads via Swindon, around 1 hour 30 minutes. Oxford is just over an hour by car.
The estate's what3words reference is kilowatt.dozen.press. The postal address is Poulton Hill Estate, Poulton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire, GL7 5JA. For general enquiries, press, tours and tastings, call 01285 850257; for accommodation, call 01285 850700.
Ordering, Delivery and Gift Options
The full range of Poulton Hill wines, spirits and gifts - including a Le Creuset sparkling wine stopper, a Waiter's Friend and a presentation Gift Box - can be ordered online, with prices from £6 for a Waiter's Friend to £165 for a damaged-label twelve-bottle case.
UK mainland postage is £10 per order, or free on orders over £100. Orders are typically dispatched within 24 hours and arrive within five working days. For guaranteed pre-Christmas delivery, online orders must be placed by 23:59 on Tuesday 16 December (mainland UK only); Cellar Door collections run until Saturday 20 December.
Gift cards from £20 to £100 are also available, an easy way to send a taste of the Cotswolds to friends and family.
Stay Connected
Poulton Hill publishes a monthly Vineyard Vignette with seasonal updates from the vineyard, covering everything from spring bud-burst and frost-protection candles to harvest reports and bar announcements. Read the latest issue. The estate is also active on Facebook and Instagram, sharing photographs from the vineyard, behind-the-scenes winemaking videos and event announcements.