Although less well known than Kent or Devon, Essex has a surprisingly large and long-established wine growing industry with over 30 vineyards scattered across the county’s rich rural landscape. Whilst much of the output may go to wineries elsewhere in the UK, there are a growing number of Essex winemakers producing their own label wines, and winning awards.
Within Essex, the Crouch Valley has a remarkable microclimate, which is allowing the six vineyards here to grow grape varieties more typical of southern Europe alongside the Anglo-Germanic varieties such as Bacchus, and it’s this area we’ll be visiting for our weekend tour, based on the edge of the cathedral city of Chelmsford.
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• Two nights bed & breakfast accommodation at Pontlands Park Hotel https://www.pontlandspark.co.uk, a country house hotel on the southern edge of Chelmsford

• Friday afternoon coach trip from the hotel to New Hall Wine Estate for a winery tour and curated tasting of New Hall wines

• Friday evening dinner at Pontlands Park, with wines, and introductory commentary for these, from Tanners Wine Merchants of Shrewsbury

• Saturday coach tour to:

  • Clay Hills Vineyards, for a short tour and tasting

  • Stow Maries Great War Aerodrome – the last remaining intact World War 1 Royal Flying Corps air base

  • Galleywood Vineyard & Winery for a winery tour and tasting, followed by

• Saturday dinner at Galleywood, in their gourmet restaurant, accompanied by their own wines

• Sunday morning visit to the Crouch Ridge vineyard, for a tour, tasting, and a light lunch.

 

The price of the event is £580 per person based on two people sharing a Standard Double or Twin Room, with a single supplement of £140. Some superior rooms are available for which a supplement of £40 per room will be added. Free parking at the hotel.  Coach transfers are included. Extra nights bed & breakfast at Pontlands Park may be available. Please note that the hotel has only guaranteed room availability until 30 September 2025, so any booking enquiries after this date are subject to the hotel having a suitable room available.

 

The non-refundable and non-transferable deposit payable on booking is £165 per person, with the balance payable by 15 January 2026. Click  here for the booking form which you should complete and return to David Carter, at events@chwineclub.org.uk or 11 MacKinnon Place, Dunfermline, KY11 8PW. Payment by bank transfer is preferred, details will be supplied, alternatively please make cheques payable to The Charles Hastings Wine Club and post to David.

Event booking terms can be found here.