Dunleavy Vineyards: Wine Tasting Near Bristol
20 minutes from Central Bristol
£20pp wine tasting and tour in the Chew Valley
Who knew there are vineyards so close to Bristol?
Finding ourselves a few miles out from the hustle and bustle and surrounded by rows of vines in the open countryside was the perfect way to spend our Sunday afternoon.
Dunleavy Vineyards, situated a few miles past Bristol Airport, is a small-scale women-owned vineyard with a clear focus on quality, locality, and community when it comes to English winemaking.
Visiting Dunleavy Vineyards near Bristol
English vineyards are increasingly recognised for their quality, particularly when it comes to sparkling wine. The climate and soil conditions in parts of the UK now closely mirror those found in established wine regions in France, and that influence is evident in the style of wines being produced.
During our tour and wine tasting, we heard about the full-scale production from growing to end process, and how Dunleavy have recently expanded to another site closer to Bath.
What makes Dunleavy Vineyards different?
We loved hearing how Ingrid (owner) collaborates with fellow creatives to bring something a little different to the wine scene. On the still rosé, you will find a QR code which takes you across to a soundscape paired perfectly with the bottle to offer the full experience, not just quenching your thirst.
How cool is this! You can view it on their website.
Alongside this, every bottle label is thoroughly thought out from font type to graphics which we found super fun discussing.
Wine Tasting at Dunleavy Vineyards
On our visit we got to try 4 wines.
Still Rosé: This was my personal favourite, it was light, fruity and very palatable (almost too much!).
Sparkling White: As a white wine drinker, I was surprised this was my least favourite, if you’re into your champagnes and prosecco, I think this would be a huge hit for you.
Sparkling Rosé: This was a favourite amongst the group, it was delicate, fizzy, and very crisp. If you’re into your sparkles, you’ll like this one.
Sparkling Red: I loved this wine more than I thought I would, I usually consider reds quite heavy but as all Dunleavy’s wines are light this was a crowd-pleaser. This is the kind of wine I’d take to a summer dinner party.
Is the Dunleavy Vineyards Tour worth it?
For those interested in English wine, the tasting and tour provided insight into how smaller producers operate behind the scenes and the thought process which goes into every bottle.
We’d 100% recommend this tour, particularly if you’re into your wines.
Book a tour on their website.
Written by Tamara Lawrence
This blog was written as part of the #SummerInBristol campaign ran by Visit Bristol