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Vineyard guide · Albury
Albury grows organic grapes on the North Downs above the Silent Pool, near Shere, and farms them on biodynamic lines. It is a weekend place, closed in January and February. Book the Saturday tour in summer, or just turn up for a wine flight and a cheese board.
| Founded | First vines planted 2009 by Nick Wenman |
|---|---|
| Known for | Organic, biodynamic sparkling wine and Silent Pool Rosé |
| Awards | Blanc de Noirs 2022, silver at the IEWA 2026 |
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, with Seyval Blanc in the Blanc de Blancs |
| Open | Tasting room weekends, 11am to 4pm in March and October to December, 11am to 5pm April to September (with bank holidays). Closed January and February. Christmas wine shop weekdays 11am to 3pm in November and December 2026, for sales and collections only |
| Booking | Guided tours and tastings must be booked. Walk-ins welcome in the tasting room, but booking is recommended in autumn and winter |
| Tours from | £27.50 |
| Food | Cheese boards, charcuterie, bread, olives and nuts in the tasting room |
| Dogs | Welcome on leads, with a dog menu |
| Children | Welcome to visit; guided tours and wine and cheese tastings are over-18s only |
| By train | Guildford, about 10 minutes by taxi; Gomshall and Clandon are closer, but pre-book a taxi |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in November 2026.
Nick Wenman planted the first vines in 2009 on the southern slopes of the North Downs, just outside Guildford on the road to Dorking. He planted the three classic sparkling wine grapes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. It is still a family business. His daughter Lucy is general manager, and Alex, the estate manager, is one of the few women running a vineyard in England.
Everything is grown organically, with no herbicides or pesticides, and Albury goes further than most by following biodynamic principles, which it says puts it among very few UK vineyards. In practice that means compost teas and biodynamic preparations in place of chemical sprays, and cow horns packed with manure that are buried in the vineyard each winter, dug up in spring and sprayed on the vines. Albury is a member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain and of the Surrey Hills vineyards group.
Silent Pool Rosé is the flagship, and the one we’d pick for the patio. The sparkling wines are the more serious side: a Blanc de Blancs made from Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc, a Classic Cuvée, and the Blanc de Noirs 2022, which won silver at the IEWA in 2026. Linda’s Pinot, a sparkling rosé and two vermouths, Rosso and Bianco, turn up in the gift boxes. Where to buy them.
This is a weekend visit. The tasting room shuts on weekdays outside the Christmas shop, and closes altogether in January and February. In summer we’d book the Saturday tour, which is the one that explains the biodynamic farming, and it’s the most interesting thing about the place. The rest of the year, a wine flight and a cheese board on the patio is a good afternoon, and you can walk the vines for free. Inside tables are limited in autumn and winter, so book a table by email then. Parking is free, but you have to enter your registration at the terminal in the tasting room or you risk a penalty notice. There is a disabled bay by the entrance and the tasting room is accessible. Coaches need notice.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Vineyard Tour & Tasting A member of the team takes you round the vines and explains how organic and biodynamic growing works, then a tasting of three Albury wines. Over-18s only. | £27.50 per person, with £5 off sparkling wine bought on the day | 1.5 to 2 hours | Saturdays at 11am and 2pm, May to September |
| English Wine & Cheese Tasting A hosted tasting of English sparkling wines, then a glass of your favourite with a plate of English cheeses. A self-guided vineyard walk is included. Over-18s only. | £34.95 per person | – | Selected dates through to December |
| Relaxed Wine Flight Tasting A self-guided flight with tasting notes, in the tasting room or out on the patio, with the free vineyard walk thrown in. You can pre-book or order at the bar. | – | – | During tasting room hours, outside the summer tour season |
| Self-guided vineyard walk Ask for a map in the tasting room. The route suits people who are steady on their feet. | Free | – | All year when open, weather and vineyard conditions permitting |
Book these on the Albury Organic website.
Coming up at the vineyard, from its own website. All vineyard events.
Tasting
A member of the team talks you through three Albury sparkling wines, served with English cheeses. You can take a winter walk through the vines before or after.
Weekends 1, 7, 15, 21, 22 and 28 November and 5, 6, 19 and 20 December · 12pm or 2pm · £34.95 a head · Book ahead
Workshop
Local artist Charlotte Godfrey helps you paint a ceramic Christmas bauble in the tasting room, with a glass of sparkling wine. No experience needed; ages 12 and over.
Sundays 29 November and 13 December · 11.30am or 2pm · £55 a head · Book ahead
Workshop
Local willow weaver Lorraine shows you how to make a willow heart or a Swedish star. Materials and a glass of Albury sparkling wine are included, with lunch for full-day guests.
Wednesday 2 December 2026 · 10am to 12.30pm (willow heart), 1.30pm to 4pm (Swedish star), or both · Book ahead
Workshop
Claire from Plant Passion leads a wreath-making session using local willow, conifers, foliage and dried flowers. A glass of Albury sparkling wine is included.
4 and 5 December · Book ahead
Food and wine
A three-course Christmas dinner by private chef Renu Ballantine, using local produce, with canapés and a glass of Albury sparkling wine. Other drinks are extra.
Friday 11 and Saturday 12 December · £68 a head · Book ahead
None of our wine partners has these wines in stock this week. The vineyard sells them in its own shop, or see our pick of English wines to buy online.
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Guildford is the nearest mainline station, about 40 minutes from London, with a taxi rank and roughly a 10-minute ride to the vineyard. Gomshall and Clandon are a little closer, but they are small stations, so book a taxi in advance. By car, take the A25 from Guildford towards Dorking over Newlands Corner, turn off at the Silent Pool sign, and follow the track up the right-hand side of the Silent Pool car park to the top.
The Silent Pool itself, a spring-fed lake, is at the bottom of the track, and the North Downs Way runs past the vineyard. Shere, a village with a ford and a couple of old pubs, is a mile or so east. Greyfriars, on the Hog’s Back the other side of Guildford, is the obvious second Surrey Hills vineyard.
See every vineyard you can visit in our Surrey directory. Our other Surrey vineyard guides: Denbies, Greyfriars.
Yes, at weekends when the tasting room is open. Walk-ins get a table if there is one, and you can order a wine flight at the bar. Guided tours and hosted tastings have to be booked.
Take the train to Guildford and a taxi from the rank, about 10 minutes. The vineyard recommends GM Cars (01483 566566), AMG Cars (01483 667788) and Waverley Cars (01483 385858).
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