Wraxall Vineyard: Award-Winning English Wines, Tours and Tastings in the Heart of Somerset
An Award-Winning English Vineyard with Somerset Soul
Wraxall Vineyard is one of the oldest working vineyards in Somerset, planted in 1974 on a south-facing slope just south of the Mendip Hills. Set in the tiny hamlet of Wraxall between Shepton Mallet and Castle Cary, the estate produces a small but award-winning portfolio of English still and sparkling wines and welcomes visitors year-round to its cellar-door shop, tasting room and restaurant, The View@Wraxall. Today the vineyard is a thriving rural destination combining vineyard tours and guided tastings, a seasonal programme of food and music evenings On The Vines, and a small cluster of luxury holiday cottages and shepherd's huts where guests can fall asleep among the vines.
Run as a family venture by Lexa and David Bailey since February 2021, Wraxall is a quietly confident example of modern English wine tourism. The owners have invested heavily in both the vineyard itself and the visitor experience, opening The View@Wraxall, planting additional Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, and launching a clutch of new luxury lets in the old winery. In 2025 they released the Wraxall Classic Cuvée, marking 50 years since the original vines were put into the ground.
The Story of Wraxall Vineyard
The original vineyard at Wraxall was planted in 1974 with Seyval Blanc, Müller-Thurgau, Bacchus and Madeleine Angevine, on land with a story that long pre-dates its modern vines. There is local hearsay that the Romans grew vines at Wraxall, though no archaeological evidence has yet been found. In the 1980s the estate was taken on by opera singers Astra Blair and her husband, Raimund Herincx. Astra was a soprano and operatic agent; Raimund was a well-known tenor. They expanded the original plantings with a few Chardonnay vines that Raimund famously smuggled back from France hidden in a pair of socks.
Under the couple's stewardship, Wraxall wine was poured in First Class on British Rail GWR and served as a "special" at the Waldorf Hotel in London, paired with cream teas. Eventually the vineyard grew too much for the pair to manage, and they sold it; the site then fell into disrepair before new owners in 2007 nursed the vineyard back to life. In 2021 Lexa and David Bailey, with their four daughters and two sons-in-law, took the estate on as a family project, with a clear focus on quality and sustainability.
The Terroir and the Grapes
Wraxall sits on a beautiful south-facing hill overlooking verdant Somerset countryside and the Somerset Levels, in a mild south-west climate well suited to cool-climate viticulture. Some of the original plantings are now more than 30 years old, and the mature vineyard carries a range of Pinot Noir, Pinot Précoce, Bacchus and Seyval Blanc. Additional plantings of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay were made in 2022, and the team is bringing more of the old orchard into vine during 2025 to ensure the estate continues to produce high-quality wines for many years to come.
The Bailey family has not stood still. As well as the existing vines, new plantings have gone into the ground, a winery has been rejuvenated, and visitor facilities have been transformed. There are now three holiday cottages and two shepherd's huts on the estate, sleeping up to 16 guests in total, while the on-site tasting room and restaurant The View@Wraxall is open every day from Wednesday to Sunday.
The Wines of Wraxall
Wraxall's wine portfolio centres on traditional-method sparkling wines and aromatic still wines, all bottled under the Wraxall label. Current and recent releases include:
- 2022 Classic Cuvée - £34.50 per bottle. The estate's traditional-method sparkling wine, launched as part of the vineyard's 50th anniversary celebrations.
- Wraxall 2021 Sparkling Rosé - £38.00 per bottle. A traditional-method sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir. Currently sold out, due back in stock late 2026.
- Wraxall Bacchus Reserve 2022 - £25.00 per bottle. 100% barrel-fermented in neutral Burgundy barrels and aged on lees for six months. Winner of a Gold medal at the 2024 WineGB Awards and a 89-point Decanter review, featured in Decanter's "Best English wines to try, Christmas 2023".
- Wraxall Bacchus 2025 - £18.50 per bottle. The estate's aromatic white Bacchus.
- Wraxall Early Pinot Noir Rosé 2025 - £19.00 per bottle. A still rosé made from early-ripening Pinot Précoce.
Critic Tamlyn Currin has described the Wraxall Estate Bacchus 2021 as coming from "a very exciting vineyard" with "gloriously ripe, fleshy and round" fruit streaked with "mouth-watering, crystal-clear grapefruit and greengage spiky freshness", while Sylvia Wu of Decanter scored the 2022 Pinot Noir Rosé 88 points, the 2022 Bacchus Reserve 89 points and the 2021 Estate Bacchus 88 points. The 2022 Bacchus Reserve also won a Gold at the 2024 WineGB Awards - one of only 21 golds awarded to still wines across the UK that year.
The Cellar Door and Wine Shop
Wraxall's wines can be tasted and bought at the cellar door inside The View@Wraxall, or ordered online through the Wraxall Wine Shop. The cellar door is open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 10am - 6pm and Thursday and Friday 10am - 10pm. Visitors are welcome to taste before they buy, and gift packaging (boxes and bags from £3.50 to £5.00) is available to dress bottles for friends and family.
Online orders of 12 bottles or more qualify for free courier delivery within mainland UK, while orders of one to 11 bottles are charged at £7.80 via APC Priority Express. Free local delivery is available for orders of six bottles or more to a wide list of Somerset postcodes, including BA4 Shepton Mallet, BA5 Wells, BA6 Glastonbury, BA7 Castle Cary, BA8 Templecombe, BA9 Wincanton, BA10 Bruton and BA11 Frome. Click-and-collect from the vineyard is also available.
The team at The Shop@Wraxall - led by Emily, with hospitality from Laura - also curates a programme of "world wines" hand-selected from around the globe, hand-packed gift boxes, wine vouchers, and one-to-one tasting sessions for those looking for a more personal wine discovery experience. Gift vouchers covering tastings, lunches, The View@Wraxall restaurant and the holiday cottages are available through the Wraxall Vouchers portal.
Vineyard Tours and Guided Tastings
Wraxall offers two core wine experiences, both bookable through the Vineyard Tours and Tastings page.
Guided Wine Tasting (year-round)
The Guided Wine Tasting is available all year round, Wednesday to Sunday, starting at 11:45 am and 1:00 pm. Each session lasts approximately 45 minutes and is priced at £20 per person. You will sit overlooking the vineyard and the Somerset Levels while a member of the team guides you through the range of Wraxall still and sparkling wines, with detailed tasting notes and the history of the estate.
Vineyard Tour and Guided Tasting (April to October)
Between April and October the estate runs a combined Vineyard Tour and Guided Tasting, Wednesday to Saturday at 11:00 am and 2:30 pm. The tour itself takes around 45 minutes and is followed by a tasting. The most recent scheduled dates run every Friday at 2:00 pm and every Saturday at 11:00 am. Tours are available in French, Spanish, Italian and German with prior arrangement - email info@wraxallvineyard.co.uk to enquire.
Self-guided Tastings
For visitors who prefer to take things at their own pace, self-guided tastings are available without pre-booking at The View@Wraxall. You'll receive four Wraxall wines paired with a taste of local cheese, plus tasting notes and the vineyard's history. In winter, tastings take place in the wine cellar or a heated stretch tent, so the team recommends bringing a warm layer.
Online booking is available for up to 10 people. For groups of more than 10, the team can arrange private tours and tastings on other days with advance notice. Visitors booking a tour or tasting are advised to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start time, and to book a table at The View@Wraxall separately if they want lunch or drinks before or after their tasting.
The View@Wraxall: Restaurant, Tasting Space and Private Events
The View@Wraxall is the social heart of the estate. Open Wednesday to Sunday, it functions as a cellar-door wine shop, a tasting room, a year-round restaurant and an exclusive-use event venue, all with one of the best panoramas in Somerset stretching out across the vineyard and beyond.
Lunch, Dinner and Bar Bites
The kitchen serves a seasonal, considered menu made from Somerset produce, with brunch from 10am to 3pm, lunch from 12pm to 3pm, and bar bites all afternoon. Dinner is served Thursday to Saturday from 6pm to 8pm, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the terrace. Tables of 1 - 8 can be reserved online; for 9 or more guests the team asks you to email theview@wraxallvineyard.co.uk directly. The drinks list, available as a PDF, mixes Wraxall wines with carefully chosen world wines, local Somerset ciders, non-alcoholic wines, beers and soft drinks.
Exclusive-Use Celebrations and Private Events
From informal gatherings of friends or family, Sunday lunches and dinner parties, through to high-end private dining and large celebrations, The View@Wraxall is available for exclusive use throughout the year. In summer, the wrap-around terrace and grass roof are the place to be; in winter, guests warm up beside the fire. Capacity is up to 60 for a drinks reception and 20 - 50 for private dining. The team curates every event, from sharing platters and comfort food through to open-fire cooking and fine-dining menus.
For corporate use, The View@Wraxall hosts company meetings, offsites, workshops and client events. Ticketed events such as art classes, yoga sessions and educational talks are also welcome. The vineyard's three holiday cottages can sleep up to 16 guests overnight, and exclusive hire of all the accommodation can be arranged for special days.
The Nook: Private Dining on the Roof
For more intimate gatherings without taking over The View, The Nook is a canvas-clad Bedouin tent perched on the roof of The View@Wraxall, with sweeping views across the vineyard and the Somerset Levels. It hosts up to 20 guests, with one group per day to keep the experience personal.
Lunch bookings at The Nook run Wednesday to Sunday, April to September, from 2pm to 5pm, with a Wraxall wine tasting (£20 per person), a Somerset grazing table to share (from £34 per person), table service and drinks from the bar menu, all wrapped into a minimum spend of £650 Wednesday - Friday and Sunday, or £700 on Saturdays (exclusive of 10% service charge). Evening bookings run Wednesday to Saturday, 6:30pm to 9:30pm, with an open-fire cooking experience and a £900 minimum spend. A £100 deposit secures the date, with the balance taken two weeks before, and the cancellation policy is two weeks. For enquiries email theview@wraxallvineyard.co.uk.
Events On The Vines
Outside of private events and the restaurant service, the estate runs a lively programme of seasonal Events On The Vines, including steak nights, vinyl and paella evenings, fire-pit suppers, pizza nights with Edd of Soul Dough and burger and wings nights. Many events are ticketed and bookable online. Upcoming and recurring events include:
- Steak Night - every Thursday at The View@Wraxall, 6:30 pm to 10:00 pm. A locally sourced steak with a choice of sides, paired with a curated Wraxall wine list. More information.
- Pizza On The Vines with Edd from Soul Dough - recurring Friday evenings from 5:00 pm to 9:30 pm. Sourdough pizza and Wraxall wines; tables are allocated 90-minute slots and bookings are limited to tables of 8. More information.
- Burgers & Wings Night - Friday 14 August 2026, 6:00 pm to 8:30 pm. Burgers, wings and special bottles by the glass. More information.
- Vinyl DJ & Paella Night - Friday 21 August 2026, 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm. Sundowners, paella (seafood, chicken or vegan at £12 per portion) and DJ Vinyl Groove from 6:30 pm. More information.
- Fire Pit Evenings at Wraxall Vineyard - Friday 28 August 2026, 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm. Flame-cooked mains, seasonal sides and classic puddings paired with Wraxall wines. More information.
Festive opening hours for the Christmas and New Year period, with special menus over the festive weeks and a courier cut-off for Christmas and New Year's Eve wine deliveries, are also part of the calendar. Workshops, retreats and talks are a regular fixture on the programme, alongside the food and music evenings.
Staying on the Vineyard
Wraxall's holiday lets are among the most distinctive vineyard accommodation in the West Country: a clutch of characterful properties scattered through the vines, all with their own terraces, wood-burners and quiet views.
Vine Cottage
Vine Cottage is the largest of the three cottages, a chic and spacious 1800s property sleeping up to 8 (with space for 2 more on a small double sofa bed in the snug). It has four double bedrooms, two en-suite bathrooms, two family bathrooms, a huge open-plan kitchen and dining room, a study/games room, a large enclosed garden with seating for 12, and a BBQ. Minimum stay is 3 nights. Two well-behaved dogs are welcome (£25 per dog, per stay).
Old Winery Cottage No.1
Old Winery Cottage No.1 is a luxuriously appointed romantic bolthole for two, with a super-king bed, en-suite bathroom, wood burner and secluded terrace for sunset drinks. Minimum 2-night stay. One dog is welcome.
Old Winery Cottage No.2
Old Winery Cottage No.2 is an "upside-down" cottage sleeping 4 guests in two king-size bedrooms, both en-suite. Upstairs is a large open-plan living space with a table that seats six; outside is a generous terrace with vineyard views and a BBQ. Minimum 2-night stay; one dog welcome.
Shepherd's Huts Owl and Hare
At the top of the vineyard, two hand-built Shepherd's Huts - Owl and Hare - offer luxury glamping for two adults. Each hut has a king-size double bed with an Italian Orthosoft mattress, an en-suite shower room, a fully fitted handmade kitchen with oven, hob and Belfast sink, a drop-down dining table, a private garden with fire pit, and views stretching across the Somerset Levels. Minimum 2-night stay; no children or pets.
All accommodation can be booked online, with a 10am checkout (slow checkout at 12 noon on Sundays) and a 3pm check-in. For Christmas, New Year, Glastonbury festival and whole-estate bookings, email thecottages@wraxallvineyard.co.uk. Optional extras include breakfast hampers, dinners in the fridge, mixed cases of Wraxall wine, and tours and tastings.
The Team Behind Wraxall
Wraxall is very much a family business, supported by a close-knit team. Lexa and David Bailey, owners since 2021, lead the estate with their four daughters and two sons-in-law, all involved at different stages - from strategic thinking and harvesting, through to design and, of course, enjoying the wine.
On the ground, Stevie looks after the vines with more than a decade of experience at Wraxall and is supported by Joel from Vinescapes, a self-proclaimed "vine nerd with muddy hands". Neil is the estates manager looking after the grounds; Lottie keeps operations on track; Emily leads brand and marketing and knows the wines inside out; Laura runs the hospitality team at The View@Wraxall; and Helen looks after guests in the cottages. Bertie and Bobby, the vineyard dogs, complete the team.
Things to Do Nearby
Wraxall sits in the heart of central Somerset, close to some of the county's most celebrated towns, gardens and restaurants. Within easy reach are:
- Hauser & Wirth Somerset and Messums Tisbury - world-class contemporary art galleries.
- The Newt in Somerset - the award-winning garden estate near Bruton.
- Bruton, Frome and Glastonbury - historic market towns full of independent shops, restaurants and pubs.
- Osip, The Botanical Rooms, Da Costa and Briar - fine-dining destinations near Bruton.
- National Trust properties and the Bruton Dovecot.
Castle Cary station is a 10-minute drive south of the vineyard and Bruton is around 15 minutes away. The A37 runs close to the estate, just off the road between Shepton Mallet and the south.
Practical Information for Visitors
Address: Wraxall Vineyard, Wraxall Road, Wraxall, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 6RQ. Directions are available via Google Maps.
Opening hours: The View@Wraxall and the Wine Shop are open Wednesday and Sunday 10am - 6pm, Thursday 10am - 10pm (Steak Night) and Friday and Saturday 10am - 10pm.
Contact: Telephone +44 (0) 7586 528984, email info@wraxallvineyard.co.uk. For The View@Wraxall restaurant email theview@wraxallvineyard.co.uk; for the cottages email thecottages@wraxallvineyard.co.uk; for tours and tastings email tours@wraxallvineyard.co.uk. Press enquiries should go to alex@palatecomms.co.uk or ashley@palatecomms.co.uk.
Accessibility: The View@Wraxall has four disabled parking spaces, step-free access and accessible toilet facilities; the estate is listed on the AccessAble guide. The vineyard itself sits on a steep hill with a gravel drive, so trainers or walking shoes are recommended for tours.
Dogs: Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the vineyard and in the Old Winery Cottages and Vine Cottage. The Shepherd's Huts do not accept dogs or children.
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Why Visit Wraxall Vineyard
Wraxall Vineyard offers one of the most complete English wine tourism experiences in the West Country. In a single day you can take a tour of a 50-year-old vineyard, taste award-winning Bacchus, Classic Cuvée and Pinot Noir Rosé, enjoy a long lunch or a Thursday steak night overlooking the Somerset Levels, browse the cellar-door shop, and either check into a luxury shepherd's hut for the night or carry on exploring Bruton, Glastonbury and the surrounding countryside. With a friendly, family-run team, a strong sustainability ethos and a quietly growing reputation for serious English wines, Wraxall is well worth a detour - or a long weekend.