Thornfalcon Winery & Press: A Boutique Vineyard, Cider Press and Farm Retreat in Somerset
A boutique English winery and farm retreat in the heart of Somerset
Thornfalcon Winery & Press is a 40-acre boutique farm, vineyard and cider press nestled in the picturesque village of Thornfalcon, between Taunton and Ilminster in South West Somerset. Founded in 2023 by winemaker Panu Long and director Sophie, the estate unites a working winery, traditional cider orchards, three luxury cabin retreats, an off-grid Wild Spa beside a two-acre lake and a programme of food and wine experiences - all set against a backdrop of vineyards, meadows, orchards and ancient woodland.
The estate's first drinks range, hand-grown, hand-picked and hand-pressed on the farm, includes a traditional-method English sparkling wine, a dry rosé, two bottle-conditioned fine ciders (a dry and a keeved) and an organic apple juice. Everything is produced in small batches with minimal intervention, drawing on a deep respect for the land, traditional techniques and the slow alchemy of flavour and fermentation.
Visitors can stay in one of three beautifully restored retreats, walk the vineyards and orchards on a guided tour and tasting, soak in a wood-fired Finnish sauna beside the lake, or settle in for a five-course supper club feast in the Red Barn. The estate officially opens its gates over a weekend of celebrations on Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026, when its first full programme of tours, tastings, supper clubs, retreats and wine school begins.
Location and setting
The village of Thornfalcon sits between the Quantock Hills, the Blackdowns and the Mendips, in the Taunton Vale. The surrounding hill ranges shelter the farm's vines and orchards from coastal weather, producing a protected micro-climate on fertile clay soil. Thornfalcon is a few minutes off junction 25 of the M5 motorway, fifteen minutes from Taunton railway station and the market town of Ilminster, and within easy reach of the A303. Fast train lines connect Taunton directly with London, Bristol and the wider South West.
From the farm, the Quantock Hills and Exmoor are within a thirty-minute drive; the Somerset Levels stretch to the east; Lyme Regis and the Jurassic Coast are forty minutes south; and the surf beaches of North Devon are around an hour and twenty minutes away.
The farm
Thornfalcon Winery & Press covers 40 acres of pasture, vineyard, orchard, woodland and water. Two fields of vines sit alongside two cider orchards, a productive organic kitchen garden, newly planted woodland, rewilded meadows and nature corridors across the estate. The farm is home to a resident family of swans, a flock of chickens, a bevy of doves, and a plentiful carp population in the lake. Migrating birds visit on their flight path, and the estate also keeps bees.
At the heart of the farm lies a two-acre swimming and wildlife lake with a fishing hut, pontoon, rowing boat and a traditional Finnish wood-fired sauna on its banks. Guests of the cabins can swim in the lake before 9am or after 5pm, or by booking a Wild Spa session.
The vineyards
Thornfalcon has two vineyard plots. The first, planted in 2023, is made up of the classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. The second plot was planted in 2024 with disease-resistant hybrid varieties suited to English conditions: Solaris, Voltis, Seyval Blanc and Cabernet Noir.
The soil is well-draining loamy clay on former pasture that has not been tilled or sprayed in living memory. The estate farms its vineyards as sustainably as possible: there is no tillage and no herbicide around the vines, in order to limit disruption to the rich fungal and microbial life beneath the soil and to avoid releasing stored carbon.
While the estate's own vines mature, Thornfalcon also sources fruit from select partner vineyards across the South West that hold the same varieties and terroir. Grapes from Thornfalcon's own vines will be used in production from 2026 onwards.
The orchards
Three traditional orchards span four acres and produce around ten tonnes of cider apples a year. The trees are pedigree Somerset cider varieties - Kingston Black, Browns, Stembridge Cluster and Porter's Perfection - alongside a handful of more ancient specimens. The estate farms the orchards with zero spraying, fertilising only with grazing sheep, abundant grasses, herbs and the natural fauna that flourish beneath the trees.
All juice and cider is pressed on the farm using the original 19th-century cider press, combining ancient techniques with modern cider- and winemaking knowledge. Thornfalcon's ciders focus on the refined bouché style - known as keeved in English - fermented and matured with indigenous yeasts in steel vats and oak barrels before finishing fermentation in champagne-style bottles.
The drinks range
Thornfalcon's first drinks have been crafted by hand by winemaker Panu Long, drawing on the estate and on partner vineyards in the South West. The approach is grounded in flavour, craftsmanship and a deep respect for the land, with small-batch production and minimal intervention shaping every bottle.
Somerset Sparkling Wine 2019 - £30
A dry, quality traditional-method sparkling wine from Somerset, with lemon, baked apple and brioche notes. Made from a 2019 blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay using fruit sourced from Somerset vineyards with similar varieties and terroir to Thornfalcon, the wine has been artfully blended and matured to deliver vibrant fruit and elegant richness on the palate. 12.5% abv. Serve chilled as an aperitif, or pair with seafood, olives and charcuterie.
Rosé Wine 2024 - £12
A 2024 dry rosé that reflects the cool summer in its bright acidity and notes of ripe redcurrant and red grapefruit, softened by longer-than-usual maturation. A natural ferment and time on lees gives this wine a savoury complexity, and it is a little lighter in alcohol than many continental rosés. 11% abv. Serve chilled when dining or as an aperitif, pairing well with tapas, creamy pasta and oily fish.
Sparkling Fine Cider - Dry 2024 - £9
A bone-dry, bottle-conditioned sparkling cider made from Kingston Black, Stembridge Cluster, Porter's Perfection and Browns apples. The juice is slow-fermented over winter and bottle-conditioned to create a natural sparkle. No sulphur, no cultured yeasts, no finings - just 100% Somerset apple. 6.5% abv. Serve chilled in a wine glass; the dry character lends itself to salads, pasta, creamy dishes and white meats.
Sparkling Fine Cider - Keeved 2024 - £12
A naturally off-dry, ripe-fruit keeved cider, known as bouché in Normandy, carefully guided over at least a year from harvest through to maturation in the bottle. The long contact with the lees gives more complex notes. No sulphur, no cultured yeasts, no finings. 100% Somerset apple. 5.5% abv. Serve chilled in a white wine glass as an aperitif, pairing well with rich cheeses, spiced dishes, truffle and creamy desserts.
Apple Juice - £4.50
A 100% Somerset apple juice, made with fruit hand-picked from the zero-spray orchards and pressed on the farm's original 19th-century cider press. The apples are grown naturally, nurtured by grazing sheep, wild grasses and orchard flora, to produce a juice with real character and depth. Excellent on its own or as a mixer with a squeeze of lemon or lime.
All five drinks are available to purchase at the farm.
Stay at Thornfalcon
Three beautifully designed retreats sit within the farm, each its own private escape into the Somerset countryside. Check-in is from 3pm and check-out by 10am.
The Coach House
A beautifully designed, characterful converted Coach House at the heart of the farm, sleeping five people across two bedrooms and two bathrooms. The huge open-plan living space has vaulted ceilings, a well-equipped kitchen, a cosy wood burner and seating area, a dining table for eight, Sky TV and a thoughtful library of books. French doors open along one wall onto a patio and the Coach House's private paddock. The elegant en-suite master bedroom has a king-size bed with 400-thread-count cotton sheets, while the twin bedroom can be configured as a super-king or left as two singles, with a sofa bed and blackout blinds. The en-suite master bathroom features a luxurious bathtub and products from Made, by Mary Temperly; the second bathroom doubles as a wet room with a rainforest shower. Pets are welcome. View the Coach House.
The Vine Hut
A luxurious shepherd hut for two, immersed in the meadow with sweeping views over the vineyards and Thorn Hill. The Vine Hut has a king-size bed with 400-thread-count sheets and feather topper, a bijou green-and-white en-suite bathroom with rain shower, and an open-plan kitchen and living room with a hobbit wood burner and a well-stocked kitchen. A copper bathtub sits on its own decking for alfresco bathing looking up to Thorn Hill, alongside a fire pit and a range of seating with views across the farm, lake, hills and surrounding countryside. An add-on gypsy caravan is available for two children. View the Vine Hut.
The Lambing Shed
An atmospheric, wood-clad cabin for two in the heart of Thornfalcon's cider orchard, nestled among the apple trees with its own private entrance, fire pit and a wood-fired bathtub for two under the boughs. The Lambing Shed sleeps two adults and an infant (with a gypsy caravan add-on for two children), and welcomes one small or medium-sized dog. Inside, the cosy wood-clad bedroom has a king-size bed with a hand-painted headboard, the en-suite has a rain shower, and the open-plan living space features antiques, textiles and a curated library. Double glass doors open up onto the orchard. View the Lambing Shed.
During a stay, Thornfalcon can chill the estate's wines, ciders and apple juice in your fridge ready for arrival. From June to October, produce boxes packed with seasonal fruit, vegetables and eggs from the farm's chickens are available for £20. Wine tours and tastings are offered from August 2026 onwards.
Experiences
Thornfalcon offers a collection of experiences designed to reconnect visitors with nature, great food and wine, and a slower pace of life.
Tours and Tastings - £25 per person
The standard tour runs for approximately 90 minutes and takes small groups through the vines, orchards, winery and cider press, finishing with a tutored tasting in the new Red Barn event space. Expect to taste Thornfalcon's sparkling wine, rosé, two ciders and 100% apple juice, paired with nibbles from local producers. Saturday tours run at 14:00 from August 2026 onwards, with up to 15 people per group. Bespoke private tastings for small groups, hen parties, corporate days and overnight guests are available year-round on request. Children are welcome (a mini-vintner's juice flight is available for under-18s), and well-behaved dogs on leads are also welcome. Tours run rain or shine. Book a tour.
Wild Spa
Thornfalcon's picturesque Wild Spa sits on the shores of the two-acre lake, under the silver birch. An off-grid, wood-fired Finnish sauna and traditional hot tub look out over the lake, reeds and sky. Everything is natural: no chemicals or plastics are used, and the sauna and hot tub are filled, lit and prepared individually for each guest, who can then rejuvenate with a dip in the lake or under the cold shower.
Two session types are available, each for exclusive use: a Morning Rejuvenation (sauna, shower and lake plunge) between 09:30 and 11:00, and an Afternoon Relaxation (sauna, shower, lake plunge and optional hot tub) between 15:30 and 17:00. The hot tub takes three hours to fill and heat and can be added for a small additional cost. Massages and holistic therapies are available by prior appointment via Sense Therapies and Rural B Holistic Therapy. Book the Wild Spa.
Pilates and Personal Training
The estate's stables house a dedicated Pilates Reformer studio and personal training gym run by Helfit, led by award-winning trainer Helen. From July 2026, Reformer Pilates classes are available for guests to join, alongside one-to-one personal training and online programmes. Contact Helen for further information and bookings.
Supper Club - £65 per person
The Thornfalcon Supper Club is a series of intimate, farm-to-table suppers celebrating the very best of Somerset's seasons and produce in the Red Barn. Acclaimed chef Ross Stacey, formerly senior chef at London's River Café, creates five-course feasts inspired by the changing harvest from the kitchen garden, orchards and local farms, with freshly made pasta and bread, open-fire cooking and beautifully prepared meat and fish, all paired with Thornfalcon wines, ciders and seasonal drinks. A wine pairing can be added for £20 per person. Vegetarian and vegan options are available. Each supper runs for approximately three hours with up to 20 guests.
Confirmed Autumn 2026 dates:
- 5 September 2026 - partridge, pumpkin, mushrooms, green beans, scallops and pears
- 19 September 2026 - partridge, pumpkin, mushrooms, green beans, scallops and pears
- 24 October 2026 - pheasant, hake, mussels, winter squash, radicchio, puntarelle and quince
- 28 November 2026 - venison, wood pigeon, celeriac, beetroot, Swiss chard, sardines and squid
Wine School - £350 per person
A relaxed six-session introduction to wine, run in collaboration with Vine Wine, designed for anyone who would like to understand wine better. Led by WSET Level 4 Diploma holder and WSET Scholar Robert England of Vine Wine, the course combines straightforward explanations, guided tastings and group discussion, with visits to Thornfalcon's vineyard and winery alongside viticulturist and winemaker Panu Long. Sessions cover: an introduction to wine, tasting and pairing; terroir and the vineyard; winemaking from grape to bottle; white grape varieties; black grape varieties; and sparkling, sweet and fortified wines. The course is for up to 12 people. Tickets are coming in 2027, with sessions planned for March, May and September 2027. Wine School details.
Retreats and corporate events
From autumn 2026, Thornfalcon hosts a series of creative, wellness and corporate retreats. The first is the Writer's Retreat, designed to provide space, company and a catalyst for anyone working on a novel, article, white paper, thesis, journal, comedy, drama, play, poem, non-fiction book or any other writing project. Further retreats follow in spring and autumn 2027. Dedicated vineyard, wine and cocktail experiences for teams and clients, alongside immersive corporate retreats and strategy days for executive boards and trustees, are coming in autumn 2026.
The Opening Weekend: 5 and 6 September 2026
On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026, Thornfalcon opens its doors and gates to launch its new programme of tours, tastings, supper clubs, wine school and retreats. The weekend features cooking masterclasses with chefs Ross Stacey and Davide Bonaldi, English wine and cider tastings, family activities and walking trails. Book tickets for the Opening Weekend.
Saturday 5 September 2026
- 10:00 - 12:00 - The Art of Pasta masterclass with Davide Bonaldi - £45
- 12:00 - 14:00 - General admission, with the chance to try Thornfalcon's wines and cider - Free
- 12:00 - 16:00 - Open Day for Thornfalcon and Helfit's Pilates Reformer Studio - Free
- 14:00 - 15:30 - Vineyard Tour and Guided Wine Tasting with winemaker Panu Long - £20
- 18:00 - 22:00 - Thornfalcon Supper Club with Ross Stacey and Davide Bonaldi - £65 (with optional £20 wine pairing)
Sunday 6 September 2026
- 11:00 - 12:30 - Mastering Outdoor Cooking masterclass with Ross Stacey - £45
- 12:00 - 14:00 - General admission, with the chance to try Thornfalcon's wines and cider - Free
- 14:00 - 16:00 - The Art of Pasta masterclass with Davide Bonaldi - £45
- 16:00 - 17:30 - Evening Vineyard Tour and Guided Wine Tasting with winemaker Panu Long - £20
Film location
The estate is also available as a Grade II listed, period film and photography location. The photogenic thatched farmhouse includes high-ceilinged rooms with original 18th-century features such as flagstones, inglenook fireplaces, wide elm floorboards, an original scullery and bread oven, and shutters on lead-light windows. Across the farm, barns and outbuildings include a coach house, winery, cider barn with the original 19th-century cider press, a Grade II listed hay barn, stables, grain store and old Dutch barn. The 40 acres include the two-acre lake, off-grid sauna, hot tub, gypsy vardo, shepherd hut, converted lambing shed, orchards, kitchen garden and avenue of trees. Accommodation and meals are available for limited numbers on site. Enquiries about film and photography bookings can be made directly with the estate.
The people behind Thornfalcon
Panu Long is Thornfalcon's Vineyard Manager and Winemaker. He has a 25-year history in the London drinks industry, specialising in flavour, drinks creation, events and hospitality, before turning his hand to growing vines and making wine at Thornfalcon. Sophie is the Managing Director of Thornfalcon Winery & Press, overseeing the expansion of the farm and business. She also runs a strategic consultancy for Culture, Media and Heritage and was previously the Director of Audiences, Digital and Commercial at the V&A.
Visiting Thornfalcon
Thornfalcon Winery & Press is in the village of Thornfalcon, between Taunton and Ilminster in South West Somerset. The farm is easily accessible by road, close to the M5 and A303, and Taunton railway station is fifteen minutes away, with fast trains from London, Bristol and the wider South West. Free parking is available on site for tours, tastings, the Wild Spa and events.
The winery can be contacted at hello@thornfalcon.com for bookings and enquiries, and shares regular updates from the vineyard and orchards on Instagram.