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You are here: Home / Outside London / Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery

in Outside London, Stay · 26 02 2017

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery

Foodies love to know the provenance of what they eat and drink, and many enjoy meeting the makers. Local produce is preferred and it’s what makes Farmers Markets so popular each week. Yet there are some products we simply don’t expect to be made in England.

If I told you there are vineyards and an award-winning winery close to London you are likely to be surprised. But I can confirm it’s true as I’ve been to The Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery and can tell you what a hidden gem it is.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery

Location

The Chilterns are close to west London and The Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery is only about 40 miles away. Although it’s not far the landscape is a huge contrast to the city. The winery is in an official ‘area of outstanding beauty’ overlooking the alluring Hambleden Valley near Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire.

It’s a peaceful location that’s so tranquil you may want to stay. And that’s OK because there’s a Farmhouse B&B here too so you can.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery entrance

About The Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery

The Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery has vineyards and produce and bottle wines, real ales and liqueurs here too. There’s a popular Cellar Shop plus tours and tastings on most days. There’s also the B&B, an events barn and a cookery school. And it all happens in long-established farm buildings.

Traditional production methods are used for all the wines, ales and liqueurs. This has reaped rewards as they have received over 70 national and international awards. Its microbrewery was the first in the UK to hold a Royal Warrant as they supply Buckingham Palace.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Royal Warrant

Winery

This was the first part of the business and was established in 1980 when David Ealand purchased the Old Luxters Farm. It had been a pig farm but it was initially bought as a family home.

After surveying the land, Mr Ealand was informed that the soil was ideal for growing grapes or rhubarb. And when it was discovered that grapes do not actually need hot weather to grow well (this is still England!) the first vineyard was planted in 1982.

Two years later they got the first harvest and now produce an increasing range of fine wines with an enviable reputation. They use the latest wine making techniques and equipment to combine a respect for tradition with minimum interference to the natural processes.

The business is now run by David Ealand and his son Donald Ealand, and the 4 acre site is now 2.5 acres under vine.

Chiltern Vallery Winery and Brewery - winery

As Mr Ealand’s knowledge grew he was able to help establish many more vineyards in the area. And, as they have production and bottling on site, the winery now produces wines for other vineyard owners. Growing the grapes is one thing but you need a good winery to convert grapes into palatable, bottled wine.

Old Luxters Brewery

Established in 1990, this independent mircrobrewery was the first in the UK to hold a Royal Warrant.

They started brewing in 1991 and have revived the tradition of farm-brewed, full mash, real ales using wooden-clad mash tun, copper, liquor and fermentation vessels. Yet while all that sounds very traditional they also have the latest technology in sterility and temperature control.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery - brewery

The ales made at Chiltern Valley are ‘bottle conditioned’. This means that the beer goes through the fermentation process while it’s in the bottle, giving it a natural carbonation.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery - ale vat

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery - ale vat

The Queen’s Royal Warrant was granted in 2007. It’s said The Duke of Edinburgh is partial to their strong bodied Barn Ale.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop

Tours and Tasting

So with all this talk about what they produce, and the traditional methods, you must be thinking ‘How can I see (and taste) this all for myself?’ The good news is they have been running regular tours and tastings here for over 25 years.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery

The behind-the-scenes tours take around two hours and end in the Tasting Room. During the 30-40 minute tasting you get to try four wines, four ales and four liqueurs. You may well not want to drive home afterwards so book a taxi back to Henley or (and this would be my preferred choice) book a room at the Farmhouse B&B.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Tasting Room

Liqueur production was added for the millennium. On the tour you’ll see the production facilities for the winery, brewery and liqueurs.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop - liqueurs

You’ll see the grape pressing machinery used during the harvest and, depending on the day you visit, may see the clever bottling, labeling and capsulation machinery working that is used for the full range.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery - grape pressing machine
Grape pressing machinery
Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery - bottling machine
Bottling machinery

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery

The Cellar Shop

Open seven days a week, the Cellar Shop stocks all of wines, ales and liqueurs plus locally made preserves, chutneys and honey and more specialist food produce. The Cellar Shop has connections with many local companies including a local charcuterie that supplies ‘Venison with Old Luxters Sloe Gin’ and ‘Beef with Chiltern Valley Pinot Noir’.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop chocolates
Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Cellar Shop

Old Luxters Barn

This space is popular for weddings and private events. It’s an 18th century converted barn that was where the pigs lived when the Ealand family bought the farm.

Cookery School

This is the newest addition at Old Luxters and, quite rightly, gives you a fresh insight into how wine, real ale and or liqueurs can transform the taste of food – either as part of the recipe or when enjoyed by the glass to accompany a meal.

The classes take place in the Farmhouse and you get to select some of the ingredients to be used from the Farmhouse kitchen.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery Farmhouse B&B

Farmhouse B&B

I’ve mentioned the B&B a few times and that’s because I stayed there so know what a great place it is.

Set in the Chiltern hills, Old Luxters Farmhouse is a traditional brick and flint house with picturesque views over the garden, vineyard, and Hambleden Valley beyond.

The Farmhouse has only four bedrooms with an extra in the Pool House Suite which is a private area with sole use of the pool, sauna and hot tub.

Even though I travel so often I rarely sleep well away from home, so I was pleased to wake so refreshed from my night in the Garden Room. I had arrived quite late in the day so hadn’t seen the view until the morning. When I opened the curtains there was the vineyard and valley before me. A wild pheasant was walking in the garden and, when I opened the window, the birdsong was incredible.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery B&B - Garden Room view

Breakfast is included in the price and my 10 year old managed to eat a full cooked Farmhouse English breakfast as it was too good to leave anything on the plate.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery B&B - cooked breakfast

The B&B can provide lunch and dinner, and the courtyard tables are popular for tapas and wines in the summer months.

Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery courtyard

Hambleden Valley

This is an idyllic area to explore with stunning countryside and quintessential English village pubs.

It has provided the location for numerous period film and TV productions including Midsomer Murders, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, 101 Dalmatians and Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow.

Hambleden/Fingest Valley
© John Morris

If you want to dine nearby, The Stag & Huntsman in Hambleden village has Chiltern Valley wines and ales, as does The Frog at Skirmett. There’s also The Chequers Inn in Fingest and The Bull & Butcher in Turville. All are a short drive or taxi ride from Chiltern Valley Winery and Brewery, and all have a good reputation for decent dining.

Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery – Contact Details

Address: Chiltern Valley Winery & Brewery, Old Luxters Vineyard, Hambleden, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire RG9 6JW

Official Website: www.chilternvalley.co.uk

Tel: 01491 638330

To get there from London by public transport, you need to get a train from Paddington to Henley-on-Thames (via Twyford) and it’s then a 10 minute taxi ride (Henley Taxis: 01491 57 42 22).

I combined a visit here with afternoon tea at Danesfield House (a short taxi ride away).

Disclaimer: As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary services for review purposes. While it has not influenced this review, AboutLondonLaura.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest.

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