Three Choirs hits the headlines

27 June 2025

Three Choirs Vineyards was recently featured in the national media. 

Not only was it named in the feature 11 of the best vineyard stays in the UK in The Times online, it also had an entire feature devoted to it in the Express online and appeared in the world’s longest running women’s magazine.

The People’s Friend is a weekly magazine full of lifestyle, cooking and gardening features, along with short stories and fiction serials.

Ahead of English Wine Week (21st to 29th June), we were featured in an article highlighting three UK vineyards – Aldwick Estate in Bristol, Chet Valley Vineyard in Norfolk and, of course, Three Choirs Vineyards, right here in Gloucestershire.

The article said there are more than 1,000 vineyards in the UK and that winemaking is one of the fastest growing sectors of agriculture. We’re pleased to say that The People’s Friend said Three Choirs is a ‘top-drawer example’ of an English vineyard, producing around 250,000 bottles a year.

The article quotes our managing director, Thomas Shaw, who said: “Three Choirs Vineyard’s focus is the quality of the wines and the visitor experience.”

He added: “As the climate changes, more and more varieties can be grown in the UK.”

The article shared that most of our wine is sold direct to customers online, to wine merchants or consumed by guests at our brasserie at the vineyard, with a small number of bottles sold to Waitrose.

The People’s Friend chose one favourite wine from each of the three producers featured. Its choice from Three Choirs was the Coleridge Hill 2023 – a dry white wine produced from Madeleine Angevine and Phoenix grapes.

The magazine said: “With its fresh fruity aromas, especially apple, it’s zesty on the palate thanks to the ripe fruit flavours, and offers a long, crisp finish.”

A bottle of Coleridge Hill wine from Three Choirs Vineyard - The People's Friend favourite white from the collection

The Times’ online article focused less on the wine and more on our accommodation. The article is a round-up of vineyard accommodation in England and Wales: “From cosy B&Bs to luxury hotels, shepherd’s huts to treehouses.”

The article said: “The reputation of British wine has followed a similar trajectory to that of British food: once an international joke, it is now celebrated at home and abroad. British sparkling wines beat their better-known rivals in blind tastings… 

“The steep rise in wine quality has been matched by a huge growth in wine tourism. Some have simple B&Bs offering little more than a vineyard tour and tasting, while others have luxury hotels with a Michelin-starred restaurant. Wherever you spend the night, all have the same benefit: there’s no argument about whose turn it is to be the designated driver for the evening.”

The Times described Three Choirs Vineyards as ‘Best for a romantic weekend away’.

It said: “Gloucestershire is home to one of England’s oldest commercial vineyards. Three Choirs was planted as an experiment in 1973, and the original half-acre of vines now extends across 75 acres, just south of the Malvern Hills.

“The vineyards produce 12 white, red, rosé and sparkling wines, which can be sampled either on an afternoon self-guided wine tasting and vineyard walk, or with a member of the winemaking team to offer expert analysis; order a bottle of your favourite with a tapas supper in the Brasserie afterwards. 

“The 11 guest rooms are designed with couples in mind. Whichever you book, there is peace and privacy throughout your stay.”


Romantic getaways in our Luxury lodge at Three Choirs Vineyard

Nature's Symphony

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Deluxe room exterior at Three Choirs with private garden area, perfect for relaxing romantic getaways

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Romantic luxury lodge exterior at Three Choirs, surrounded by peaceful countryside – ideal for couples' escapes

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Elegant double bed in a deluxe room at Three Choirs with stunning vineyard views – ideal for a romantic retreat

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And the Express devoted an entire feature to Three Choirs - I stayed at Three Choirs Vineyards who produce wine for Jeremy Clarkson - it was incredible.

Journalist Sophie Harris wrote: “Summer is the perfect time to stay at a vineyard and to sample some fine wines. I recently took a trip to Three Choirs Vineyards in Gloucestershire, and I couldn't recommend it enough.”

She continued: “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.”

Sophie enjoyed her meal at the Brasserie and said the tapas dishes really complemented the wine. She also experienced wine tasting outdoors in beautiful weather, which she described as one of the best wine tasting experiences she’d ever had. The journalist added that she was fascinated by the winery and the different processes for each of the wines we make.

She praised the charcuterie board offered with the wine tasting, as she said she prefers the taste of wine when accompanied by food, but that food isn’t always offered elsewhere.

She wrote: “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.”

Sophie concluded: “The stay was very enjoyable and relaxing, and I hope to revisit again in the future.”

If you would like to experience what The Times and Express describe, book one of our luxurious Vineyard View Rooms or Luxury Vineyard Lodges to really get away from it all.

It is a real honour to get a mention in three such different, but equally well respected media, and we look forward to welcoming guests who have just discovered us through either The People’s Friend, The Times or Express articles.

charcuterie board served in the Three Choirs brasserie, featuring local meats and cheeses – perfect for a romantic dining experience

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A plate of tomato salad with balsamic glaze, fork, and knife on a wooden table.

Sands of Time

Stark beauty of desolate dunes
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Curated wine flight with tasting glasses and gourmet nibbles at Three Choirs – a perfect experience for wine lovers

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Portraits of people from around the globe
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Selection of Three Choirs wine bottles displayed in a row, showcasing the variety of wines available from the vineyard

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Visual odyssey across continents
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More from our blog...

Spring in the vineyard: New growth, new promise

27 March 2026
Spring in the vineyard here at Three Choirs Vineyard is an exciting time of year, as we look forward to the bud burst on the vines. It is a relatively quiet season on the vineyard. All the work of the winter has been completed. The pruning must be finished before the vines start to show signs of life, and everything around the vines is tidy, to help reduce disease later in the year. As we move into spring, we hope the pollinators, like bees and insects, have wintered well and will be ready to start their work pollinating around the vineyard. Bud burst can happen any time from mid-April to mid-May and is the time when the vines, which have been dormant through the winter, first begin to produce new shoots. These shoots will become leaves or flowers. During the bud burst phase, the vines are quite susceptible to frost damage. Thomas Shaw, managing director of Three Choirs Vineyard, said: “It’s lovely to see the trees coming into bud in early spring, but we don’t want the vines to be doing that in March. “We don’t like spring to be too early, because we worry about the vines coming into bud and then being damaged by a late frost. “We prefer cold, sunny, dry winters to keep the vines dormant until the risk of frost has passed.” The bud burst is gradual, because all varieties of grape are different. Some varieties come into bud earlier than others, while some are more resistant if there is a late frost. As the buds burst and the leaves start to appear, that’s when we will get a hint of what we might expect in the harvest. The number of buds will indicate the number of potential fruit at harvest. With the excitement of the summer yet to start, spring at Three Choirs is a time to reflect on the beauty of the vineyard. Thomas concluded: “For me, spring is the time I like the most. It is the prettiest time of year. The vines are neat and tidy and there is a little ribbon of bright green new growth across the vineyard from the end of April and into May. “You see it all, full of new hope. Let’s hope it looks like it’s going to be another good year, with everything growing beautifully!” As the vineyard awakens for another promising season, spring is the perfect moment to experience its beauty firsthand. Why not join us for a relaxing break in one of our Vineyard Lodges and see the bud burst for yourself, or settle into our brasserie for a delicious Sunday roast while enjoying the beautiful views across the vineyard under the gentle warmth of the spring sunshine. We’d love to welcome you - come and enjoy the season with us.
winter grape vines at Three Choirs Vineyard

What happens in the vineyard over winter?

28 January 2026
People often assume a vineyard is dormant in winter, but here at Three Choirs Vineyard it’s actually the beginning of the year and a very important time.
A selection of wine bottles in a cabinet which have been produced by Three Choirs Vineyard

2025: A great vintage and first release

18 December 2025
Three Choirs Vineyard enjoyed an outstanding 2025, with ideal weather, warm summers and a long growing season delivering an excellent harvest.

Choosing your wine for Christmas

25 November 2025
With the festive season just around the corner, thoughts turn to Christmas dinner, parties and celebrations. And whether you’re getting the party started or relaxing in front of the TV on Christmas Day evening, you may want to enjoy the festivities with a glass or two of wine. But how do you choose your wine for Christmas? Well the good news is, while you might want to splash out and choose something a bit more special than your usual tipple, there are no rights and wrongs when choosing wine for Christmas. Thomas Shaw, managing director of Three Choirs Vineyard, said: “Don’t feel as though there are any rules to follow. The most important thing is to drink what you enjoy. If you don’t enjoy red wine, don’t drink red wine, drink white instead!” Some people like to enjoy sparkling wine on Christmas Day. When it comes to sparkling wine, people tend to fall into two camps – those who love it and will drink it on every occasion and those who really don’t like it! If you’re someone who isn’t keen on sparkling wine, but you’ve got guests coming round who might enjoy a glass of something fizzy before Christmas dinner, there are a range of options. Thomas continued: “There’s no need to go crazy and buy something expensive. There is a big range of prices from Cava and Prosecco up to top of the range Champagne, so you can spend as much or little as you want. “If you’re going to mix it with orange juice for buck’s fizz, definitely buy something cheaper!” While it’s not usual to have sparkling wine with your Christmas dinner, if you or your guess fancy some fizz with your turkey, just go for it! Alternatively, you might want to enjoy a refreshing white wine at lunchtime, then move to drinking red wine in the evening. Red wine is served warmer and feels like something to be enjoyed when you’re wrapped up warm in front of the fire. But there are no rules that say you have to move from white to red if you don’t want to and there are no rules which tell you exactly when you should make that change. Just do what feels right for you and don’t worry about what anyone else thinks! Whether you’re looking for red, white or sparkling for Christmas, if you want some advice and good value for money, go to a local independent wine retailer. They know all the wines on their shelves and should be able to help you choose something which is just right for you, your family and friends. Don’t be scared to ask for help! Most people will know the names of some popular wines, but won’t know, for example, whether a particular year was a good year. Asking someone who knows wines can be a real help when you are faced with so much choice. In the run-up to Christmas, local wine merchants and vineyards will sometimes hold evenings where you can go along and taste some wines to help you choose. It’s true that the price of a bottle of wine does generally reflect its quality, so when you go to a wine merchant, have a realistic budget in mind and try to stick to it! Unfortunately, wine has got more expensive in recent years, due to poor harvests in Europe, as well as inflation and the rising costs of energy and labour. Because the Christmas period is more than just one day, if you’re interested in trying new wines and finding out more about them, it is a great opportunity to learn more about what you like. Thomas said: “If you buy several different wines and taste them over a few days over Christmas, hopefully you will really like one or two of them. Having a variety over a short period of time means you’re less likely to forget what you like and what you were less keen on. And it’s good fun!” Could there be a better way to choose your wine for Christmas? 

After the harvest…

20 October 2025
After the earliest harvest on record, brought about by the warm summer, the last grapes of 2025 were picked here at Three Choirs Vineyard on 9th October. The harvest is the biggest and most important event every year on the vineyard calendar. And the key thing for us is the quality of fruit, rather than the quantity. Thomas Shaw, managing director of Three Choirs Vineyard, said: “If we have a lot of fruit, we generally don’t get such good quality. This year we’ve got very good quality grapes! “It’s not such a good year for making sparkling wines because the acidity in the grapes was low due to the high temperatures, but 2025 is an excellent year for making still wines.” Now the grapes have all been picked and pressed, they are in tanks in the winery and fermentation is taking place. By the end of November or early December, fermentation should be complete, and the winemakers will start to taste the individual tanks and decide how that wine is going to be used – whether it is going to be a blend or a single variety. Those decisions will be made before Christmas this year, rather than afterwards, as is often the case.
Harvesting grapes at Three Choirs Vineyard

2025: Our earliest harvest ever

29 September 2025
Last month, we told you all about our plans and hopes for harvest at Three Choirs Vineyard. Now, a few weeks on, we can tell you all about how successful it was. Harvest 2025 was the earliest harvest on record for us, after a very dry and consistently warm summer. We started picking two weeks earlier than usual and will finish picking three weeks earlier, at the start of October. Some years, when we’ve had a very late harvest, it has lasted almost until December. But this year has been a fast and furious harvest! We’ve had a bit of rain during September. This can prove problematic during harvest, but we’re pleased to say it was nothing disruptive this year. In fact, the weather has stayed perfect through to the end of September, to keep the grapes in good condition. The positive news is that it wasn’t just an early harvest – it was a good one, with very high quality grapes. The 2025 wines which will start to come out in the middle of next year should reflect that.