Set in 75 acres, Three Choirs Vineyards is one of England’s oldest vineyards, located in the heart of Gloucestershire. The first planting was in 1973, and they now offer wine tasting, a choice to stay onsite, as well as dine at their brasserie.

The rooms were added in the year 2000, whilst the lodges came in 2008. Unlike other vineyards I’ve been to, this one is open all year round, meaning you can experience the frosty winter mornings, as well as warm summer evenings. I’ve been to many vineyards over the years, and Three Choirs Vineyards felt different, more intimate, more welcoming and the best views I’ve ever experienced.

Rooms

We stayed in one of the lodge rooms, which is tucked away among the vines, away from the main building and other rooms.

This has to be one of the nicest locations I’ve ever stayed in, with vines just surrounding the lodge from every possible angle, as well as some ponds and lakes.

It truly felt like I was in the south of France as I pulled up to the lodge, which had two comfortable Muskoka chairs located on the deck.

They’re located around 500 meters from the main buildings, so we decided to drive between the two when we weren’t having a drink, and opted to walk at other times.

Convenient parking is provided beside the lodges, but there is also electric parking in the main car park.

The lodge had a comfortable bed, a desk area, a TV, as well as a wardrobe and a large connecting bathroom with a separate bath and shower.

Tea and coffee-making facilities were also provided, as well as hot chocolate, which I appreciated greatly as it’s rare to find.

It was also packed with shower caps, shampoo, shower gel and other toiletries which you could use during your stay.

Due to having floor-to-ceiling glass windows, it did get very warm in the lodge, so we made sure to close the curtains when we were out of the lodge to stop the heat from coming in.

It was a pleasant and comfortable stay, and nothing beat waking up to the gorgeous views in the morning.

There are also rooms at the top of the vineyard, next to the Brasserie, with views over the vineyard, each with its own south-facing patio.

Dining and drinking

With a delicious on-site Brasserie, we enjoyed a selection of tapas dishes including chorizo, patatas bravas, halloumi and more.

Set in the main building on top of the vineyard, the Brasserie is ambient, with quirky wine bottle lights and very comfortable seating that overlooks some of the vineyard.

I really enjoyed the food, which complemented the wine immensely. We finished off the meal with a tapas-style pudding and four small desserts to try.

In terms of drinking, there’s a gorgeous outside terrace area to sit back and enjoy a wine, or a soft drink if you prefer.

My favourite wine on offer at the vineyard was Bacchus 2022, an elegant, dry, aromatic wine with intense fruit character. The rosé was also delicious with ripe berry fruit aromas, and it’s sold at Jeremy Clarkson’s Farmer’s Dog pub.

We were very lucky with the weather on the day and got to experience sitting outside whilst wine tasting, which was absolutely delicious.

The Brasserie also offers cheese and charcuterie boards on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday lunchtimes from May to October and a full lunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays.

We chose our breakfast the night before and headed up to the restaurant in the morning for our granola, yoghurt and compote bowls, which were absolutely delicious.

Hot options were also available, as well as toast, hot beverages and juices.

Things to do

Three Choirs Vineyards offers a guided tour with wine tasting as well as lunch.

This was one of the best wine-tasting experiences I’ve ever had, with the winemaking director talking us through and showing us the winemaking process.

We also received an insight into the background of the vineyard and some of its history.

The winery was fascinating, where we saw the different processes for each of the wines as well as some of the barrels where the wine and brandy are stored.

At the end of it, we got to taste a selection of wines made in the winery and enjoyed a small charcuterie board alongside.

This was one of the most enjoyable features as I much prefer the taste of wine alongside food, but this isn’t always offered.

I also found all of the wines to be delicious, and it was a great way to decide which one to have alongside my dinner.

In addition to enhancing my wine knowledge, the actual wine tasting was a great opportunity to socialise with other wine lovers as well as explore different flavours.

Location

The vineyard’s location was perfect for us travelling by car, but if you’re using public transport, it may take a bit more planning.

Ledbury is about a 10-minute drive away, but there is no taxi rank, whilst Gloucester is around 30 minutes away but does have a taxi rank.

However, it’s very easy to find by car, and once you’re in the vineyard for a stay, you don’t need to leave, meaning you can switch off and enjoy some wine.

The stay was very enjoyable and relaxing, and I hope to revisit again in the future.

From the friendly staff to the relaxing lodge to the delicious dinner, it was a memorable visit.

Prices vary depending on which day you visit and the time of year. Click here to book a stay at Three Choirs Vineyards.

Or, if you wish to compare prices, click here to look at prices on Booking.com.