What a delight to be absolutely immersed in nature. What improbable views over the rolling countryside. Down an extended avenue of closely-knit lime bushes, I drove to achieve Denbies Winery Lodge. And what a large number of choices it provided when it comes to trails, actions, eating places, retailers, and wildlife.
This boutique 4* lodge is ready within the dramatic Surrey Hills and North Downs. It’s very near Gatwick Airport and a pleasing 15-minute stroll from varied prepare stations (Dorking, Field Hill, and Westhumble) with London solely 20 miles away.
Through the years a number of members of the Royal household have come, linking traditionally with Prince Albert who, in 1851, planted a tree right here. Named after the unique household house owners the Denbies property has just lately been owned and managed by pioneer Christopher White. How rewarding it’s to take pleasure in partaking in somebody’s imaginative and prescient. How great that nature can reinvent herself. For this former pig farm and woodland now has 265 acres at present below vine, the primary of which had been planted in 1986 and whose first harvest (which might come as late as the tip of October) 3 years later. Certainly it’s England’s largest winery with a manufacturing capability of as much as 1,000,000 bottles.
It’s additionally very ‘sustainability-conscious’ being Britain’s first carbon web zero winery.
The lodge is constructed round a captivating former white cottage that’s now the nucleus of an array of two small adjoining buildings and an annex. It has 17 rooms (costs ranging from $225.00 in off-season and $385.00 in excessive season). They felt so recent and new having solely opened simply earlier than Covid instances. They’ve a contemporary nation vibe and, in step with the property, they characteristic wallpaper with colourful scenes of birds sitting amongst vines. The loos are well-finished with gray tile flooring and all of the luxuries you’d need.
I had each Conventional English Afternoon Tea, dinner, and breakfast ‘en plein air’ at The Winery Restaurant. Inside, previous the pure bark lining the partitions, are giant conservatory-style concertina home windows and a metallic pergola. It had such an exquisite ‘indoors-outdoors’ really feel. I sat beside an outdated stone wall and an apple tree to look out at swallows darting at will beneath the small, landscaped garden with its sheltered cabanas. The extra speedy view was of the yellowy-green vines punctuated with outdated oak bushes earlier than trails led me to the conifers lining the horizon. These alluring paths drew me right into a dreamy narrative as I ruminated the place their journey may finish and what may lie on the opposite aspect.
I beloved my cherry tomato and watermelon gazpacho, adopted by aubergine gratin and parsley cream sauce. The presentation was glorious and the fayre pretty priced. For my meals pairings, there was purple, white, rose, and dessert wine on provide from the winery’s barrels with 2022 a very good 12 months made with single grapes.
Subsequent door Denbies Wine Library has a curvature to indicate a wine barrel. This lounge is each glossy and classy and has an extended burgundy leather-based banquette beneath funky pendant lighting. On show are all facets of the wine-making course of, a spread of Denbies’ vintages, and a wall lined with vintage riddling racks.
A large number of eating places provides option to these staying a number of nights. Locals additionally come to expertise each The Conservatory Restaurant set in an unlimited ethereal atrium and, outdoors, the Hatch on the Garden Take Away. Right here merchandise from the native Dorking Brewery and Chimney Hearth espresso are promoted. Three flooring up in the primary advanced and open for lunch is The Gallery Restaurant affording spectacular views throughout Surrey.
There’s a large number of shops on this advanced with an on-site store, a farm shop-cum-deli with native produce, and a mini-nursery tempting me to remove my very own vine.
There’s a large number of actions with public footpaths, cyclists and runners. I might have explored the winery with a information or jumped on the outside miniature prepare and visited the indoor vineyard. As a substitute, I set off, as is my wont, alongside a number of of the property’s seven miles of strolling trails.
There’s a large number of walks previous rows of grape-laden vines that resemble musical notation with their distinctive gnarly roots and wireframes. The panorama was nearly my very own aside from a momentary explosion of Boy Scouts joyful of their freedom and their exploration. I did share it really additionally with a large number of wildlife comprising badgers, roe deer, kestrels, butterflies, goldfinches, and woodpeckers.
The lodge and property, with its pleasant employees for whom nothing was an excessive amount of hassle, appears nicely on target to achieve the requirements of its signature emblem which has a hand reaching in the direction of 5 stars as an ambition set for its total standing. What an awesome place to return and keep.
