Woodchester Valley Vineyard: A Complete Guide to Cotswold Wines, Tours & Vineyard Stays
Tucked into a quiet limestone valley just outside Stroud in the South Cotswolds, Woodchester Valley Vineyard is one of England's most distinctive single-estate producers. Founded in 2007 by Fiona Shiner on a single experimental acre at Amberley, the estate has grown into a 58-acre, family-run vineyard and on-site winery producing more than 100,000 bottles of still and sparkling wine each year. This guide brings together everything you need to plan a visit, choose a wine, join the Wine Club or book a vineyard stay in the Cotswolds.
A family vineyard with a pioneering spirit
Fiona and Niall Shiner had been living in Hong Kong for 18 years when they returned to Britain to take on Niall's parents' property at Amberley. With three young children and a fresh sense of possibility, Fiona planted a single acre of vines in 2007 - encouraged, legend has it, by a remark from her mother-in-law that the Romans could have grown vines on the same spot. The first acre was followed by further plantings at Woodchester in 2012 (20 acres) and Doverow Hill, Stonehouse in 2013 (another 20 acres), bringing the estate to its current size of 58 acres under vine.
Almost all of England's vineyards were historically concentrated in the south-east, and there was very little local support for would-be vine growers in the Cotswolds. Fiona's belief that the location, aspect and soil were right for vinegrowing has literally borne fruit, and the awards lining the cellar wall now show that the south-west can be every bit as good as the south-east.
From vine to bottle on a single estate
Woodchester Valley is one of only a handful of English vineyards to produce wine from 100% of its own grapes in its own on-site winery - a status it has held since the winery was built and winemaker Jeremy Mount joined the team in 2016. As a true single-estate producer, the team controls every step from pruning and canopy management to pressing, fermentation, ageing and bottling, which is what gives the wines their consistent, expressive house style.
The vineyards and the geology behind the wines
Wine lovers who want to understand why English sparkling and still wines taste the way they do will find a ready-made classroom at Woodchester. The estate's three vineyard sites sit on different soil profiles, all rooted in the local geology:
- Amberley and Woodchester - typical Cotswold brash, with shallow, free-draining soils overlying Oolitic limestone, ideal for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
- Stonehouse (Doverow Hill) - higher clay content and deeper soils, well suited to the Bacchus vines.
- Aspect - at all three sites the vines sit on slopes (gentle rather than sheer), facing south, east and south-west.
Walk any of the rows and you'll quickly find fossils - scallop shells, trigonia and ammonites - that mark the area's deep geological history. The team runs a dedicated Geology Vineyard Tour with resident geologist Rachel, where guests hunt for fossils between the vines before sitting down to a wine flight and a local cheese and charcuterie supper.
Grape varieties grown
The estate grows a broad portfolio of cool-climate varieties: Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Regent, Seyval Blanc, Siegerrebe, Solaris, Sauvignon Blanc and Ortega. Still and sparkling wines are made in white and rosé styles, with a small amount of Pinot Précoce red produced from the Stonehouse site.
The winery
The winery was completed in time for the 2016 vintage. A four-tonne press handles the grapes in an inert, nitrogen-flushed environment to protect the fruit's aromatics; the still wines are fermented cool in stainless steel and a small volume of oak; and the sparkling wines are made using the traditional method with a minimum of two years on the lees before release. Magnum formats are a particular speciality, partly because the team believes (as do many classical producers) that larger bottles ferment more gently and age more gracefully.
The Woodchester Valley wine range
What makes the Woodchester Valley portfolio interesting is the breadth of styles - from a benchmark Bacchus and aromatic estate whites to méthode-traditionnelle sparkling wines in standard, magnum and limited-edition formats. Most of the wines can be bought online by the single bottle, with a 5% discount kicking in on any mixed case of six or more bottles and free UK delivery over £150.
Still whites
- Culver Hill 2023 (£17.00) - the estate white blend of Bacchus, Ortega, Siegerrebe, Pinot Blanc and Solaris. Fresh, cantaloupe-melon aromas and a citrus-mineral finish.
- Bacchus 2023 (£18.25) - the bestselling wine: elderflower, cut grass, lime leaf and passionfruit with vibrant citrus. Rated 16.5/20 by Jancis Robinson.
- Tenterhook 2024 (£20.00) - a 50/50 Ortega/Siegerrebe blend, awarded 93 points and named Best Blended White Wine by Wine GB West. Apricot, grapefruit and orange-blossom aromas.
- Orpheus Bacchus 2023 (£26.00) - limited-edition, made from the oldest Bacchus parcels. Structured, elegant and saline (the wine takes its name from the famous Orpheus Roman mosaic at Woodchester).
- Sauvignon Blanc 2025 (£28.00) - opulent and distinctive, the new vintage.
- Pinot Précoce 2023 (£28.00) - the estate's red, ethereal and smooth.
Rosé
- Pinot Rosé 2025 (£22.00) - dry, ripe and balanced, the new-release English pink.
- Rosé Brut 2022 (£40.00) - traditional-method sparkling rosé, delicate and crisp.
- Magnum Rosé Brut (£85.00) - limited-edition large format.
Sparkling
- Cotswold Classic 2023 (£29.50) - delicate, flavourful and inviting; an everyday sparkling.
- Reserve Cuvée 2021 (£37.00) - elegant, flavourful, traditional method.
- Blanc de Blancs 2019 (£48.00) - decadent, zesty and elegant from 100% Chardonnay.
- Trigonia Blanc de Blanc (£70.00) - limited edition, named after the fossil trigonia shells found in the vineyard.
- Magnum Cotswold Classic (£65.00), Magnum Reserve Cuvée (£75.00) and Magnum Rosé Brut (£85.00) - large formats for celebrations.
Other products
- Verjuice (£14.95) - a traditional acidulant made from unripe grapes, perfect for cooking, salad dressings and non-alcoholic cocktails.
- Taste of the Cotswolds gift trio (£75.00, was £77.25) - one bottle each of Bacchus, Pinot Rosé and Cotswold Classic in a presentation box.
- Cotswold Sparkling Collection (£110.00, was £114.00) - Cotswold Classic, Rosé Brut and Reserve Cuvée in a bespoke WVV gift box.
- Medal Winning Trio (£102.00), Woodchester Essentials (£106.00), Bacchus Gift Set (£109.00), Reserve Cuvée Gift Set (£145.00), Signature Woodchester (£161.00), Luxury Collection (£177.00) and Medal Winning Collection (£178.00).
- Sauvignon-esque Trio (£70.00, was £72.25) - three wines exploring the Sauvignon style.
Beyond the bottles, the Wine Gifts collection also includes presentation boxes, Riedel Veritas wine glasses, a Woodchester-branded ice bucket, a Reserve Cuvée candle, branded jute bags, corkscrews and wine stoppers - all easy add-ons for a special occasion.
The Cellar Door Shop on Bath Road
If you can't spare the time for a full tour, the Woodchester Valley Cellar Door Shop on the A46 in Inchbrook Trading Estate (GL5 5EY) is open seven days a week for walk-ins. You can buy the full wine range, gift vouchers and gift packaging, or pull up a stool and try a wine flight or a glass. There is also a dedicated Sunday tasting in the shop - a 30-minute, £15-per-person tutored tasting at 11am each Sunday for those who want a quick, expert introduction to the wines.
Cellar Door opening hours
- Monday - Saturday: 10am - 6pm (all year)
- Sunday: 10am - 5pm (March - December, closed in January and February)
- Telephone: 07523 967 219
The shop has limited parking directly outside, so ask the team to direct you to the dedicated parking spaces; please also note there are no public toilet facilities at the Cellar Door.
Vineyard tours and tasting experiences
All vineyard tours and tastings begin at the Tasting Room at Convent Lane, Woodchester, Stroud GL5 5HR, which enjoys panoramic views across the valley. Bookings are taken through the Bookeo system, and regular tours can be booked up to six months in advance. The schedule differs between summer (April - October) and winter (November - March). All tours are for over-18s.
Classic Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting - £30 per person
Ideal for first-time visitors. Walk the vines, enter the winery and finish in the Tasting Room with a flight of Cotswold still and sparkling wines. Runs Tuesday* (*April - Oct), Wednesday**, Thursday, Friday** (**Wed and Fri - please book the Classic Tour with the optional lunch add-on), Saturday and Sunday.
Premium Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting - £40 per person
An upgrade to the Classic Tour with premium wines and perfectly paired nibbles. Available Monday, Thursday* (April - Oct only), Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Classic Tour & Tasting with Optional Grazing Lunch - £50 per person
The Classic tour with a locally-sourced grazing-lunch hamper and a glass of your favourite wine. Runs Wednesdays year-round and Fridays from April to October.
Geology Vineyard Tour - £55 per person
A 5:30pm summer evening tour led by resident geologist Rachel. Learn about the rocks and soils that make Woodchester wines so distinctive, hunt for fossils among the vines, then return to the Tasting Room for a wine flight and a picnic-style dinner of local cheese and charcuterie. The next scheduled date is Wednesday 12 August 2026, 5:30pm.
Vineyard Tour & Dog Walk - £20 per person
A relaxed, dog-friendly evening tour starting with a welcome drink in the Tasting Room, a walk through the vines learning about UK viticulture, and a three-wine flight on return. Tuesdays, 6:15pm; the next dates are 21 July and 18 August 2026.
Fizz & Chips - £45 per person
The team has teamed up with award-winning Simpsons Fish & Chips for the perfect Cotswold pairing: a sparkling wine tasting, a portion of fish and chips, and a glass of your favourite Woodchester fizz. Held on the last Friday of each month at 6:30pm - the next one is Friday 28 August 2026.
Sunday Tastings at the Cellar Door - £15 per person
A 30-minute tutored tasting in the Cellar Door Shop on Bath Road. Sundays only; booking recommended.
Private groups, corporate and team away days
For groups of six or more (and up to 35) the estate offers private tours outside of the public schedule, with bespoke tasting options, optional light meals and exclusive use of the Tasting Room. Prices for private events start from £40pp with a minimum spend of £400. Corporate clients can also book wine tastings at their own premises - from a formal tasting to a more relaxed after-work session - and the team delivers to multiple UK addresses using ParcelForce. Bespoke quotes are available on request via tours@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk and corporate@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk.
The Woodchester Valley Wine Club
The Woodchester Valley Wine Club is the easiest way to live with the wines through the year. Membership is £50 to join and includes a New Member Welcome Pack (RRP £85) comprising a bottle of Reserve Cuvée in an exclusive presentation box and a £50 voucher redeemable against any vineyard tour or tasting.
Members then receive two seasonal cases per year - one in June and one in November - selected by founder Fiona and winemaker Jeremy Mount. Each case contains six bottles, priced between £150 and £175 with a minimum 10% discount built in. Cases are charged only after you've been notified of the contents, can be collected from the Cellar Door if you'd prefer, and may include extra perks such as tour, tasting or accommodation vouchers.
Membership benefits also include:
- 5% off standard wine prices, plus a further 5% on purchases of six or more bottles.
- 10% off vineyard tours, tastings and events.
- 10% off stays in the Vineyard Barns, The Retreat and Woodchester Valley House.
- Priority access to new releases, limited editions and special events, plus bespoke advice from the Wine Club team.
- Up to two additional "Members Choice" selections (up to 24 bottles per selection) per year at members' prices.
The initial 12-month membership renews automatically; you can cancel any time after the first year (a £35 admin fee may apply if you cancel inside the first 12 months). To join, complete the online Wine Club application form.
Seasonal events and what's on
The vineyard runs a rolling programme of public tours and one-off events, colour-coded by category: black for regular tours, red for tours with food, green for regular events and blue for special events. Upcoming highlights for summer and autumn 2026 include:
- Geology Vineyard Tour - Wednesday 12 August 2026, 5:30pm (£55).
- Vineyard Tour & Dog Walk - Tuesday 18 August 2026, 6:15pm (£20).
- Fizz & Chips - last Friday of the month, 6:30pm; next 28 August 2026 (£45).
- Midweek Summer Vineyard Stay with Wine Tasting - valid for stays 1 June - 31 August 2026 (£270 for one night, £450 for two, midweek, Vineyard Barns).
- Midweek Harvest Vineyard Stay with Wine Tasting - valid for stays 1 - 30 September 2026 (£265 for one night, £430 for two, midweek, Vineyard Barns).
The cellar door also opens every Sunday in August for tastings and informal visits.
Stay on the vineyard
If you want to extend the visit into a full Cotswolds weekend (or midweek escape), Woodchester Valley runs three self-catering properties among the vines - bookable through the Stay booking section.
The Vineyard Barns (sleep 2)
Luxurious suites for two, perfect for a romantic vineyard break. Think morning vineyard strolls, a glass of wine by the fire and coffee on a valley-view terrace. The Vineyard Barns are the base for the Midweek Summer and Harvest stay packages.
The Retreat Farmhouse (sleeps 4)
A spacious two-bedroom, dog-friendly farmhouse next door to the working winery, with over 1,400 sq ft of living space, two log burners, a fully equipped kitchen-diner, an enclosed garden and valley views. Rates start from £200 per night with a £100 cleaning fee; a discounted £100 Sunday-night rate is available outside Bank Holidays, and stays of seven nights or more are discounted by 25%. A minimum three-night stay applies at weekends.
Woodchester Valley House (sleeps 12 - 14)
A contemporary, architect-designed Cotswold home set in the private grounds of the vineyard, sleeping up to 14 guests in six bedrooms (four ensuite), with two living rooms, a large kitchen-diner, bi-fold doors to a terrace, parking for six cars and an EV charger. Minimum stay 3 nights April - October and 2 nights November - March; a £250 cleaning fee and a £500 refundable security deposit apply; pets are welcome (£20 per pet). Complimentary hot-tub hire is offered on July and August bookings. Ideal for multi-family gatherings, corporate offsites and creative or wellness retreats.
Build-your-own package
Beyond the seasonal packages, the team can help put together tailored stays: tickets to the Painswick Rococo Garden, a visit to Grade I-listed Woodchester Mansion, a continental breakfast hamper, a local cheese and charcuterie hamper, or a bottle of Cotswold Classic on arrival. Email stay@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk with your brief.
Weddings, hampers and gift vouchers
Woodchester Valley does not host wedding ceremonies on site, but the team supplies wine and toasting packages - including personalised food-and-wine pairing advice from a dedicated wedding advisor, exclusive use of the grounds for photographs by prior arrangement, free mainland-UK delivery and preferential prices. A complimentary tour and tasting is offered to the bride and groom within 12 months of the big day, and a dedicated wedding wine coordinator handles each enquiry from first tasting to final delivery.
Gift vouchers are available in hard copy and e-voucher formats:
- Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting Voucher (£30) - for the Classic, Premium or Classic with Grazing Lunch tours, redeemable for one or two guests.
- Woodchester Valley Vineyard Gift Voucher (from £10 e-voucher, denominations of £10, £20, £25, £30, £50, £100, £150, £200, £250 or £500) - redeemable against any purchase: wine, tours, tastings, events or accommodation.
- Vineyard Stay Voucher including a Tour & Tasting (£260) - one-night mid-week, two-night mid-week or two-night weekend, with optional continental, cheese and charcuterie hampers or a bottle of Cotswold Classic.
Cellar Door tastings, hampers, gift sets and a fully loaded build-your-own gift box round out the gift range.
Planning your visit
There are two physical locations to be aware of:
- Vineyard & Tasting Room - Convent Lane, Woodchester, Stroud GL5 5HR. Open by appointment only; the starting point for all tours and tastings.
- Cellar Door Shop - Inchbrook Trading Estate, Bath Road, Woodchester, Stroud GL5 5EY. Open seven days a week for walk-in sales, glasses, flights and Sunday tastings (Tel: 07523 967 219).
General enquiries go to info@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk or 01453 621 700; accommodation enquiries go to stay@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk; and tour, tasting or event enquiries to tours@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk. Wine Club membership enquiries go to wineclub@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk; corporate sales to corporate@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk.
How to get to the vineyard
Once you have booked, you will receive an email with detailed directions to the Tasting Room. Because the vineyard and the Cellar Door shop are in different locations, do check your confirmation email before setting off. If you plan to drink, pre-book a taxi - the team recommends firms such as Wonky's Wheels (01453 767878), Nigel's Nailsworth Taxis (07802 432798) and Connect Cars Avening (07988 889802), together with several local Stroud operators; further travel and access information is sent with the booking confirmation.
Online shop, delivery and returns
Wine orders are dispatched by ParcelForce with a 2 - 3 working-day target (up to five days at busy periods). Mainland UK delivery is £9.99, free over £150; local delivery to GL5, GL6, GL8, GL10 and GL11 is free over £75. Mixed cases of six or more bottles qualify for a 5% discount. Wine Club members get an additional 5% off any order and 10% off tours, events and stays. The vineyard currently delivers only within the UK.
Sustainability and provenance
Woodchester Valley is a member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, and the single-estate model - every bottle comes from grapes grown on the estate's own Cotswold vineyards - gives a level of traceability that few larger producers can match. 2026 marks ten years since the winery was built and Jeremy Mount joined as winemaker, a milestone that the team sees as a decade of refining wines that express this particular patch of limestone valley.
Frequently asked questions
How do I book a vineyard tour and tasting?
Choose your experience, check availability on the interactive calendar and follow the prompts. The schedule varies between summer (April - October) and winter (November - March).
Can I just pop in and buy wine?
Yes - visit the Cellar Door Shop on Bath Road (GL5 5EY), open 10am - 6pm Monday to Saturday all year and 10am - 5pm on Sundays from March to December.
Are children and dogs allowed?
Tours and tastings are strictly over-18s. Dogs are welcome on the dedicated Vineyard Tour & Dog Walk; otherwise they should stay at home.
Is there food on site?
There is no restaurant or café at the vineyard, but several tours include food - the Classic Tour with Grazing Lunch, the Geology Tour supper and the Fizz & Chips evening being the most popular. The team can recommend nearby cafés and restaurants in the surrounding Cotswolds villages.
What if I have a gift voucher from Virgin Experience Days or another partner?
Email info@woodchestervalleyvineyard.co.uk with your preferred date and time, voucher number and PIN, and the team will book you onto the tour.
Whether you come for a half-day Classic Tour, an evening with the geologist, a Sunday tasting flight or a long weekend at Woodchester Valley House, you'll be drinking wine made entirely from grapes grown on the same valley you can see from the Tasting Room. That is the heart of single-estate English wine - and it is exactly what makes a visit to Woodchester Valley Vineyard such a memorable Cotswolds experience.