Wine tasting in Cornwall: Your Complete Guide To Cornish Vineyards & Tours
The Changing Landscape of Cornwall
Famed for its beaches, cream teas, fishing villages & mining; Cornwall has been a favourite UK and international holiday destinations for centuries.
In recently years, the growth of new food & drink producers & artisans are putting Cornwall firmly on a whole new map; one for culinary tours & tastings.
Leading the way are the County’s fabulous range of wineries and the development of ‘enotourism’ (wine tourism).
With wine tours and tastings on offer by no fewer than five Cornish vineyards, stretching from Penzance to Looe, it’s a perfect time to enjoy a wine tasting tour in Cornwall, and to explore them with us at Cornish Tours.
Why Cornwall for Wine Tasting?
What Is It That Is Making Cornwall Perfect For Wine Tourism?
With its temperate (often sub-tropical) climate, mild winters and summers stretching into early October - as well as south-facing slopes to capture maximum sunshine - Cornwall seemed a natural choice for entrepreneurs to experiment with England’s flourishing wine industry.
Whilst across the Channel, thanks to the Romans, our European neighbours have been leading the world of wine for centuries, it was not until 1952 that the first commercial vineyard was planted in Hambledon, Hampshire. The number of vineyards across the south of England slowly spread both east & west; finally reaching Cornwall in 1976 when Polgassick, near St. Austell, was created, albeit with the tender vines grown in poly tunnels.
Roll forward to 1989, and one of today’s shining stars of the English wine industry, Camel Valley Wines, first planted their vines in Cornish soil. Famed for their sparkling wines, and with the first English-producing winery receiving a Royal Warrant to the then Prince of Wales (Prince Charles) in 2018; Camel Valley’s reputation is literarily now fit for a King & Queen with a double Royal Warrant award in 2024.
Camel Valley’s growth also enabled them to commence tours & tastings which have become very popular. These take place each week, with a 90-mins behind the scenes tour, before you sit on the terrace, overlooking the very vines themselves, sipping through various vintages with a tutored tasing.
What followed in the decades since, has seen Polgoon Vineyard (Penzance) Knightor Wines(St. Austell & The Roseland), Looe Valley Vineyard (near Looe) & Trevibban Mill Vineyard(Padstow) each offer their own tours & tastings.
Each of the Cornish vineyards is unique in their approach, wines & tasting options, which makes them ideal for a wine tasting tour. Cornish Tours have developed relationships with each to enable you to explore beyond the County’s pretty harbour villages, amazing gardens & beaches – and enjoy a fabulous day amongst the wines with Cornish wine tasting tour.
Planning Your Cornwall Wine Tasting Experience
How To Plan The Perfect Cornwall Wine Tour.
Whether you’d like a single vineyard tour, tasting & lunch; a full day tour taking in two or three vineyards; or a multi-day tour (with accommodation & dinner); join Cornish Tours & explore all that the County’s flourishing enotourism has to offer.
We also have the option of including a hop across the Tamar River to discover Alder Vineyardand Tamar Valley Vineyard and witness what our Devonian neighbours are up to!
Single Vineyard Tours – these are usually a half-day tour, and we will select a vineyard that gives you a full tasting & a tour for a more curated experience of what that respectively vineyard has on offer.
Full Day Tour – here we pair up two vineyards which will allow you two very different experiences. At one vineyard, you will have a full tour & tasting, at the other a tasting and a lunch.
Multi-Day Tour – for the ultimate experience of a wine tasting tour in Cornwall – you will experience four vineyards (including one in Devon); an overnight stay in a coastal or country hotel with a three-course dinner & wine.
Bespoke Tours – with Cornish Tours, we offer the flexiblity to build a wine tasting tour just for you. You let us know what you’d like to get out of the overall experience and we will put together a tour uniquely for you. This could range for a Michelin Star dining & wine flight to a romantic picnic amongst the vines.
The best time of year to visit a Cornish vineyard is between Easter & October, with harvest time usually in September and tours start from £50pp.
What To Expect On A Cornwall Wine Tasting Tour
Your Cornwall Wine Tasting Experience
When you join us on a Cornish wine tasting tour – we will collect you from your home or holiday accommodation in our 2025 Ford Tourneo custom, which can accommodate up to 7 adults.
If you are a couple and would prefer your tour to be exclusively yours, no problems at all, we are happy to design your Cornish wine tasting tour just for you.
You are never more than 1 hour from a vineyard in Cornwall so we aim to keep journey times to a minimum so that more time is spent enjoying the vineyard experience and, most importantly, tasting the wines!
Most English wines are known as ‘cooler climate’ wines and predominately whites & rosés, as well as sparkling. There are some exceptions; and you’ll discover some red wines too along the way.
On your Cornish wine tours, you will discover grape varieties you may never have heard of before, including Rondo & Bacchus, Seyval Blac & Dornfelder… and blends of wine which are completely new to you too. A perfect voyage of discovery!
Each of the tours are both fun & informative – & each of the vineyards aim to keep your experience light hearted & educational, specific to their methods used; giving you a better understanding of what goes into each & every bottle that you will taste.
Some of the Cornish & Devon vineyards we visit offer the opportunity to combine your tasting with lunch; others we will include lunch in a nearby restaurant or country pub on route between the vineyards… so your whole wine tasting tour is one you can just sit back & enjoy whilst we do all the driving.
Making The Most Of Your Visit
Insider Tips for Cornwall Wine Tasting
On your Cornish wine tasting tour, you will often meet the vineyard owner or head winemaker themselves. They are passionate about what they do, and you’ll learn how they started, planted their vines, & learn what is unique about their location.
You’ll learn why certain grapes are more accustomed to the Cornish climate and the kinds of foods that the respective wines pair well with.
At the end of the tour, you’ve the opportunity to buy wine too, and most of the vineyards include a special on the day discount for those on a tour – our vehicle has plenty of space to accommodate boxes of wine!
We will also let you know what is nearby the vineyards you will visit in case you’d like to couple up your wine tasting tour with a historic house, Cornish garden or a picturesque harbour.
Booking Your Cornwall Wine Tour
How To Book Your Cornwall Wine Tasting Adventure
Drop us an email and let us know the ideal dates for your tour; together with type of tour you are interested in (half day, full day or two-day tour).
We will come back to you with a couple of suggested itineraries and then, once selected, we will send you an invoice with a payment link for a 50% deposit (you may may on any credit card or via a bank transfer). The balance payment is due 7 days prior to your tour.
On the day of your Cornish wine tasting tour; we will collect you at the pre-arranged time from your home in our comfortable air-conditioned vehicle.
Email Us Now to start your Cornish wine tasting tour.
We look forward to welcoming you on your wine tour of Cornwall soon!