The chalk of the Surrey Hills is the reason the county makes serious sparkling wine. The group Vineyards of the Surrey Hills describes the soils as shared with Champagne, and lists seven member estates on a route barely 15 miles from end to end, from Greyfriars near Guildford in the west to Denbies near Dorking in the east. Four of them have clear visitor offers, and they suit different kinds of day out.
One thing to know first: by late October the main outdoor season is over at some estates. Prices below are the operators' own and are best treated as “from”, so check before you book.
Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking
The big one. Denbies, on Bradley Lane, Dorking, has 265 acres under vine and describes itself as Surrey's largest vineyard. It is family-owned and has been since 1984. It is open all year apart from Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. From April to December that means 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Saturday and 10am to 5.30pm on Sunday. From January to March it closes at 5pm.
Outdoor Vineyard Train Tour: about 50 minutes, £13 per person, or £18 for the sparkling version.
Tour and tasting: £16.95 per person. It begins with a short film, with a glass of sparkling wine during it, then a walk through the winery and tastings in the cellar.
Secret Vineyard Tour: about two hours, £35 per person.
Food and Wine Pairing Experience: about two hours, £47 per person.
Gallery Restaurant Cellar Wine Tasting and Lunch: about three hours, £45 per person, Wednesday to Friday from noon and on bank holiday Mondays.
There is free parking, and Dorking and Dorking Deepdene stations are about a 15-minute walk away. The estate also has a gift shop, a farm shop, a café-style restaurant and walking routes. To buy: the Greenfields sparkling cuvée, Bacchus, Cubitt Blanc de Noir and Chalk Ridge Rosé. Details are on the Denbies tours page.
Albury Organic Vineyard, near Guildford
On Shere Road, Albury, this is billed as Surrey's only organic vineyard. It is family-run, with 20 acres on the North Downs Way at the Silent Pool. The tasting room, shop and vineyard open on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome outside, and a self-guided tour is available.
The guided Vineyard Tour and Tasting is £27.50 per person, with £5 redeemable against sparkling purchases. It runs on Saturdays from May to September, takes 1.5 to 2 hours over uneven, hilly ground, and is not suitable for children. So for now, the English Wine and Cheese Tasting at £34.95 is the better bet. It is scheduled for 24 and 31 October and on several November dates, including the 1st, 7th, 15th, 21st, 22nd and 28th.
To buy: the Albury Estate sparkling wines and the Silent Pool Rosé. For Christmas, the Taste of Surrey Gift Box starts from £52.95, ordered by 18 December. See the Albury booking page.
Greyfriars Vineyard, Puttenham
Greyfriars sits on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Hog's Back, Puttenham, and vines have been grown here since 1989. The tour is listed at £25 per person, lasts 1.5 to 2 hours and comes with a souvenir tasting glass. Reviewers report five wines tasted and a Saturday afternoon tour, and tour guests get a discount on wine bought that day. Its Cuvée Royal and Sparkling Rosé Reserve have both won awards.
Greyfriars has no current 2026 schedule we can point to, so phone on 01483 813712 before setting out. It is the natural first stop on a west-to-east route, and the Visit Surrey listing has the details.
High Clandon Estate Vineyard, East Clandon
Founded in 2004 by Sibylla and Bruce Tindale, High Clandon, near East Clandon, makes vintage-only sparkling cuvées from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The visit is a talk by the owners, a tour of the gardens and vineyard, and a tasting in the Glass Barn. The estate says its tour has twice won IWC Cellar Door of the Year.
Tours are by appointment, plus pre-bookable open days with tours at 11.30am and 2.30pm. One is listed for Saturday 24 October. Group tours need a minimum of six people, on 07711 266918. Prices are listed variously at £20 and £25 per person, so confirm when you book, and book ahead because past autumn tours have sold out. To buy: the vintage Cuvée, in bottles and magnums, and the estate's honey. More on the High Clandon visit page.
Without a car
Guildford is about 30 minutes by direct train from London Waterloo. Grape and Grain Tours runs a day from Guildford station at 9.45am, returning around 5pm, for £139 per person all-inclusive. It visits Greyfriars, Albury and Chilworth Manor.
Which to choose
First visit, any day of the week: Denbies.
Weekend with a dog: Albury.
A small, owner-led tasting: High Clandon, booked ahead.
Hog's Back views and a classic tour: Greyfriars, after a phone call.
