Fall In Love With English Wine

Think of Norfolk and Suffolk, and what springs to mind? We’ll hazard a guess that glorious sandy beaches, spectacular coast lines, big skies, and chocolate-box villages are high up on the list, but vineyards – not so much! Well, think again…

Around 14 miles from Wild & West farm, nestled in the Waveney Valley – which runs along the border between Norfolk and Suffolk – is Flint Vineyard, an unexpected gem that takes full advantage of the region being the driest and sunniest in the UK. Add in its loamy soils, and it’s the perfect environment for wine-producing.

Since it opened in 2016, Flint Vineyard has grown to over six hectares and 26,000 vines, with a state-of-the-art winery producing some seriously good English still wines (George at Wild & West is a fan of the Bacchus, a great alternative to Sauvignon Blanc). In just a short space of time, their wines have earned a good reputation, something founder Ben Witchell puts down to ‘pioneering methods, courage, a little luck, and patience’. Ashining example of the sort of artisan, local makers that we love to support at Wild & West.

The Flint team are an inventive bunch – innovating in their winery with methods to produce the Charmat Rosé, the first sparkling wine to be made using the Charm at method, most often used in Prosecco.

Unveiling the mysteries of winemaking

If you’re a wine lover, then we highly recommend taking a trip to the vineyard where you can immerse yourself in the magic of this fantastic local industry. Join a discovery tour and learn about everything from pruning through to harvest, winemaking and bottling. The guided tastings are not to be missed – a chance to dissect and sample some premium Flint wines (it’s all very relaxed and informal) with the stunning vineyards as the backdrop. What’s not to like?

In 2022, Countryfile named Flint Vineyard one of the TopTen Vineyards to Visit in Britain, an endorsement we couldn’t agree more with.Here’s to one of our favourite local makers…cheers!

flintvineyard.com

Other Vineyards

Wyken Vineyard – 14 miles
Tours for 10+ Wednesdays and Thursdays
Leaping Hare restaurant

Valley Farm Vineyards – 18 miles
Tours and tastings available
Wood-fired pizza oven

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