Christmas
Christmas market
Local stalls selling gifts, wreaths and crafts, with carol singers, mulled wine, mince pies and activities for families.
Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November · 11am to 3pm · Free entry · Drop in
Home / Vineyards / Cornwall / Polgoon
Vineyard guide · Penzance
Visiting Polgoon Vineyard and Orchard
Polgoon is a family vineyard and orchard just outside Penzance, looking over Mount’s Bay, making still and sparkling wine, cider and juice. The shop and deli open every day, with guided tours and tastings, summer evenings in the Vinehouse, and a holiday cottage on the farm.
Polgoon at a glance
| Founded | Land bought 2002, first vines planted 2004 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Still and sparkling Cornish wine, and award-winning cider |
| Grapes | Seyval Blanc, Ortega, Rondo, Pinot Noir Précoce, Pinot Noir, Bacchus and Sauvignon Blanc |
| Open | Shop daily, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm |
| Booking | Book tours ahead online, tours are non-refundable |
| Food | Deli snacks in the shop all year, the Vinehouse restaurant and bar in summer |
| Dogs | Welcome on a lead, not in or around the winery |
| Children | Self-guided summer tours suit families, Christmas market is family friendly |
| Stay | Ortega, a three-bedroom holiday cottage for up to six with a hot tub |
| By train | Penzance, then a 15 to 20 minute walk from the town centre |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in October 2026.
About Polgoon
John and Kim Coulson spent years as fish merchants in Newlyn before buying Polgoon in 2002. The name is Cornish for ’pond on the downs’, and the land, once a flower farm, had been derelict for more than ten years. In spring 2004 they planted 3,500 vines on sheltered slopes above Mount’s Bay: Rondo, Pinot Noir Précoce, Seyval Blanc and Ortega.
The first harvest came in 2006, and the rosé made from it won the trophy for Best Still Rosé at the UK Vineyards Association awards in 2007. The next year’s harvest was lost to the Cornish weather, so the Coulsons turned to the apples in their orchard, and cider is now the largest part of the business by volume. John taught himself to make wine from books, online resources and other producers, and Kim has run sales, the shop and the day-to-day business.
Polgoon’s wines are vegan, and the range has grown to include Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus, an orange wine and traditional method sparkling Seyval. Recent awards include Silver at the WineGB Awards for its Sauvignon Blanc in 2023 and 2024, and Golds for its elderflower cider and scrumpy at the Royal Cornwall Cider Championships.
The wines
Polgoon makes still and sparkling wines, all vegan, alongside its ciders, scrumpy and juices. The whites include Sauvignon Blanc, a wild ferment Sauvignon Blanc, Bacchus, Seyval and Bacchus, and Seyval Blanc with Ortega, and there is an orange wine. Rosés come from Pinot Noir and from Rondo, the red is a blend of Rondo and Pinot Noir Précoce, and the sparkling wine is a traditional method Seyval Blanc. Given the farm’s history, it is worth trying the cider as well as the wine. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at Polgoon
The shop and deli open every day: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. It sells Polgoon’s wines, ciders and juices, local produce, soft drinks and deli snacks. The bar and the Vinehouse Restaurant open in summer, when there are also food pop-ups from 4.30pm on Friday and Saturday evenings; the bar is closed until next summer. Tours are booked online and are non-refundable. This is a working farm with a gravel car park and a track that may not suit everyone. Wheelchair users can drive up the track on the left after the Polgoon gate and park behind the blue containers next to the shop, and Polgoon asks you to call ahead if you need help. Dogs on leads are welcome, but not in or around the winery.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Tour and Tasting A walk through the vineyard and orchard, a demonstration of how traditional method sparkling wine is made, and a guided tasting of five wines. Private tours for larger groups can be arranged by email. Tours are non-refundable, and tour vouchers are sold online. | – | About 90 minutes | Booked online, check the booking page for dates |
| Self-Guided Tour Explore the vineyard and orchard at your own pace, then a flight of three wines in the Vinehouse Restaurant. Polgoon suggests it for repeat visitors and families, and dogs on leads are welcome. | – | About 30 minutes of walking, then a tasting | Summer only, in timed slots |
| Christmas Market A winter market at the vineyard with festive shopping, seasonal food and drink, lights and family activities. | – | 11am to 3pm | 21 and 22 November 2026 |
| Christmas Wreath Making Wreath making with Alice Ruby Design, with food from Smoke N Grill and a silent disco. | – | From 2pm | Saturday 12 December 2026 |
Book these on the Polgoon website.
What’s on
Coming up at the vineyard, from its own website. All vineyard events.
Christmas
Christmas wreath workshop
Make a plastic-free wreath from local foliage on a willow base with a local florist. A food pop-up follows in the evening.
Saturday 12 December 2026 · 2pm to 5pm · £35 a head · Book ahead
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Buy Polgoon wines
9 bottles in stock with our wine partners this week. Prices are for a single 75cl bottle.
Sparkling
Polgoon Seyval Blanc Sparkling 2021
All Seyval Blanc, made by the traditional method, with lemon, apple, pear and a hint of bready character.
£32.99at WinebuyersBuySparkling rosé
Polgoon Pinot Noir Rosé Sparkling 2021
A single estate sparkling rosé made only from Pinot Noir and fermented in bottle, with citrus, toast and a little honey.
£33.99at WinebuyersBuyWhite
Polgoon Seyval Blanc & Ortega 2022
A crisp coastal white pairing Seyval Blanc for citrus freshness with Ortega for softer orchard fruit and aroma.
£17.99at WinebuyersBuyWhite
Polgoon Sauvignon Blanc 2023
All Sauvignon Blanc, dry and bright, with lemon, lime, lychee and a touch of white pepper on the finish.
£18.99at WinebuyersBuyWhite
Polgoon Bacchus 2023
An aromatic Bacchus with elderflower and gooseberry, and a fresh, ripe peach palate.
£19.99at WinebuyersBuyWhite
Polgoon Single Estate Orange 2024
A dry, textured orange wine from estate grapes fermented on their skins, giving an amber colour and plenty of character.
£23.99at WinebuyersBuy
Show 3 more wines
White
Polgoon Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc 2024
A small-batch Sauvignon Blanc fermented with wild yeasts, giving extra texture while keeping a bright, zesty edge.
£24.99at WinebuyersBuyRosé
Polgoon Pinot Noir Rosé 2023
A dry, pale rosé from hand-picked Pinot Noir grown near Penzance, with bright berry fruit and zesty acidity.
£18.49at WinebuyersBuyRed
Polgoon Rondo & Pinot Noir Precoce Red 2024
A dry, lightly oaked red from Rondo and Pinot Noir Précoce, with blackcurrant, damson and plum.
£18.49at WinebuyersBuy
Getting there
Polgoon is on the western edge of Penzance, and the town centre is a 15 to 20 minute walk away, which makes it easy to reach from Penzance station at the end of the main line from London. By bus, take the Mousehole bus to the Pirate Inn and walk about six minutes down Castle Horneck Road. By car, follow Polgoon’s directions rather than the postcode: stay on the A30 heading towards Land’s End without turning off at the roundabout, and look for the small brown grape sign pointing to the entrance. If you get lost, call 01736 333946.
Make a day of it
Penzance seafront is a short walk away, and St Michael’s Mount and Marazion are just along Mount’s Bay. Newlyn, where the Coulsons worked as fish merchants, is next door, and the Minack Theatre, Porthcurno, Sennen and Land’s End are all within a short drive to the west.
See every vineyard you can visit in our Cornwall directory. Our other Cornwall vineyard guides: Camel Valley, Knightor.
Questions people ask
When is Polgoon open?
The shop and deli open every day, Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm and Sunday 10am to 4pm. The bar and Vinehouse Restaurant open in summer.
Do you need to book a tour at Polgoon?
Yes. Guided and self-guided tours are booked online in advance and are non-refundable. Private tours for groups can be arranged by emailing the vineyard.
Is Polgoon dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on a lead, including on the self-guided tour, but are not allowed in or around the winery.
Why shouldn’t you use the postcode to find Polgoon?
The postcode can send you the wrong way. Stay on the A30 towards Land’s End without turning off at the roundabout, and look for the small brown grape sign at the entrance.
Can you get to Polgoon without a car?
Yes. It is a 15 to 20 minute walk from Penzance town centre, or take the Mousehole bus to the Pirate Inn and walk about six minutes down Castle Horneck Road.
Can you stay at Polgoon?
Yes, in Ortega, a holiday cottage with three bedrooms for up to six people, a garden and a six-seater hot tub. Contact Polgoon directly for rates and availability.