Locally-produced wine and beer tastes even better when you’ve taken a tour of the vineyard or brewery where it’s made. West Dorset is home to some outstanding makers of fine vintages, excellent ales and stimulating spirits - several of whom open their doors to visitors. Here, we give you our picks of the best brewery and vineyard tours in West Dorset.
A visit to any of these producers makes for a fascinating outing. You’ll get to hear the unique stories behind some popular Dorset brands, and you’ll often have the opportunity to meet some of the makers themselves.
You’ll also get the chance to sample some of what they produce, and be offered the option of buying from the cellar door.
Palmers Brewery, Bridport
Just ten minutes away from Newlands by car, Palmers has the distinction of being the last remaining thatched brewery in the UK.
Stepping into Palmers means stepping back into the brewing industry as it was, over two hundred years ago. Their process has changed very little since the family-owned business was set up beside the River Asker in 1794. They still have their water wheel, which used to provide power for the brewery.
The weekday tours operate throughout the year and typically last around two hours. They finish in the Palmers Wine Store, where you’ll be able to sample some of what they make.
Booking is advised and while children under 12 are permitted, they must be accompanied by an adult.
You’ll find Palmers beers for sale in many places across Dorset.
Furleigh Wines, Salwayash
The 85-acre Furleigh Estate is a very modern Dorset vineyard that draws on centuries of wine-making traditions. Once a dairy farm, it’s now home to over 22,000 individual vines.
The grapes include Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier—the raw ingredients for classic sparkling wines. The vines are set in a landscape of lakes and woodland, alive with Dorset wildlife.
The process of transforming grapes into bottled pleasure is itself a fascinating blend of gentle pressing, temperature control and, of course, having the nose for knowing what’s right.
Vineyard and winery tours are available from the spring through to October on selected days of the week. These allow you to stroll through the vineyards, hear about the history of wine-making in England, and look inside the modern winery.
You’ll also enjoy a tasting of some of the wines, accompanied by an expert explanation of wine tasting techniques.
The tours aren’t open to anyone under 18, for licensing reasons. Booking is essential.
Drop-in tastings at Furleigh Wines
If you don’t have the time or inclination for a tour, you can visit Furleigh for a tasting. They have several bottles open most days of the week, which you can sample for a small charge. No booking required.
The Furleigh Estate is about a 20-minute drive from Newlands - postcode DT6 5JF.
Bride Valley Vineyard, Litton Cheney
For over a decade, tens of thousands of bottles have been filled with still and sparkling white wines from the Bridge Valley Vineyard, which is a 25-minute drive from Newlands.
Established because the chalky soils are almost identical to those found in the Champagne region of France, it was the culmination of the founder’s 50 years in the wine trade.
In 2018 the vineyard achieved the UK’s first-ever Crémant - a wine made using the same technique as Champagne. Bride Valley is now recognised as a superior English sparkling wine.
Tours of the vineyard are available from Easter through to the harvest in late summer. They begin at the tasting rooms in Litton Cheney and involve a stroll through gorgeous Dorset countryside with wonderful views.
No vineyard tour is complete without a tasting, and this is no exception. You’ll enjoy a guided tasting of several different Bride Valley wines.
Children are welcome on the tour, in the company of an adult.
Langham Wine Estate, Dorchester
Unlike the other vineyards we’ve mentioned, Langham’s offers a self-guided tour option. This allows you to explore the vineyard and enjoy a tasting flight of three wines, at your own pace. Of course, you’ll also get some information about what you’re seeing as you take the tour.
Langham’s is a bit further away from Newlands - it’s around 45 minutes away, through wonderful Dorset scenery (postcode DT2 7NG). But it’s worth making the journey. Children and dogs are welcome.
The standard tour at Langham’s includes both their vineyard and winery, along with guided tasting of three wines. They also have a private tour option, if that’s appropriate for you.
The acres of vines on today’s Langham Wine Estate grew out of a hobby enterprise, begun years ago by John Langham. His son, Justin, decided to turn the small-scale operation into something more commercial. The local soils and climate make this area ideal for growing and ripening the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes beloved of the Champagne region in France.
The modern winery, which you can see on the tour, is a blend of old and new. State-of-the-art equipment sits comfortably inside a barn rich with historic character.
As with the other brewery and vineyard tours in Dorset, advance booking is essential.
Tips for making the most of your visit to a Dorset brewery or vineyard
Plan your day - While the tour may take only a couple of hours, consider what you might do immediately afterwards. Particularly if you plan to make the most of the samples on offer.
Ask questions - You’ll get so much more from your visit if you ask questions. Give the tour guides opportunities to share stories that don’t always get told.
Book ahead - Tours are popular, particularly during the busy summer season. To avoid being disappointed, don’t just turn up, hoping that somehow they’ll squeeze you in.
With a range of accommodation options, Newlands Holiday Park is the perfect base for exploring the great variety of vineyards and breweries located in west Dorset. Book online today and experience our award winning park on the Jurassic Coast.