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Essex vineyards to visit

The Crouch Valley in south Essex is one of England’s main wine-growing areas, with more vineyards in the north of the county around Saffron Walden and the Colne valley.

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Essex vineyards open to visitors

Essex wine in brief

  • The Crouch Valley, between Maldon and Burnham-on-Crouch, is one of the driest and warmest parts of the country, and many English wineries buy grapes from it.
  • Most vineyards open at weekends or on set days, and tours mostly run from spring to September.
  • Crouch Ridge and New Hall are close together near the River Crouch, so both fit in a day.

For guided days with transport, see our tours and wine tours from London. Details checked in October 2026.

Essex vineyards at a glance

Taken from each vineyard’s own visiting information. A dash means the vineyard does not say, so check with them before you travel.

VineyardWhereBookingFoodDogsStay
Crouch Ridge EstateAlthorne, near Burnham-on-CrouchSome walk-inYesYes–
New Hall Wine EstatePurleigh, near MaldonSome walk-inYes––
Saffron GrangeLittle Walden, near Saffron WaldenBook aheadYesYes–
Tuffon Hall VineyardSible Hedingham, near HalsteadBook ahead–––

Essex vineyards open to visitors

From the Crouch Valley to Saffron Walden and the north of the county.

Crouch Ridge Estate

Althorne, near Burnham-on-Crouch

A Crouch Valley estate with a wine barn and terrace, tastings, guided tours and rooms overlooking the vines.

Visiting: It opens from March to October on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 11am to 6pm. A self-guided flight of three wines is from £17, and hosted tastings for two are also offered. The Grand Tour and Tasting is £40, at 11am on set dates from May to September, booked ahead by phone. Food is served in the wine barn and well-behaved dogs are welcome.

Vineyard website

New Hall Wine Estate

Purleigh, near Maldon

A large Crouch Valley wine estate with a weekday cellar door shop, a vineyard trail and winemaker-led tours on set Fridays in summer.

Visiting: The cellar door shop opens Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm, all year (closed on bank holidays), and on summer Saturdays for self-guided flights with no booking. Two-hour tours and tastings run on set Fridays in summer, booked ahead, and are not suitable for children. Dogs on leads may walk the trail and come into the shop, but not the winery. There is no restaurant, but picnics are welcome.

Vineyard website

Saffron Grange

Little Walden, near Saffron Walden

A sparkling wine vineyard on chalk with a cellar door shop and tasting room, and guided tours through the year.

Visiting: The cellar door and tasting room open Thursday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm. A guided walk with a sparkling wine tasting is from £25, takes about an hour and a half and is booked and paid ahead, with up to four people a booking; a flight of three sparkling wines is from £15. Cheese, charcuterie and seafood plates can be added. No children on tours; well-behaved dogs on short leads are welcome.

Vineyard website

Tuffon Hall Vineyard

Sible Hedingham, near Halstead

A north Essex vineyard with a cellar door, seasonal tours with wine and gin tastings, and holiday lets on the farm.

Visiting: Public tours of about 90 minutes, with a walk in the vines and a tasting of wines and gin, run from March to October; spring 2027 dates are still to be announced. Private tours for ten or more can be booked all year. A Christmas pop-up opens at the cellar door at the end of November. The farmhouse and three smaller lets on the farm can be rented.

Vineyard website

Questions people ask

Where are the vineyards in Essex?

Mainly in the Crouch Valley in the south of the county, around Purleigh, Althorne and Burnham-on-Crouch, with others in the north near Saffron Walden and Sible Hedingham.

Which Essex vineyards can I visit without booking?

New Hall’s cellar door shop opens on weekdays all year, and Crouch Ridge’s wine barn and Saffron Grange’s tasting room take drop-in visitors on their opening days. Tours everywhere need booking.