three choirs vineyard in gloucesterhisre

THE LOWDOWN

Spread across 75 acres of sun-guzzling vineyards in Newent near the Forest of Dean, Three Choirs Vineyard is one of Gloucestershire’s best kept secrets. An independent winery, brasserie and boutique stay rolled into one. If you want a shot of Provence energy, but without the annoying airport queues, this is your spot.

One of the UK’s oldest commercial vineyards, Three Choirs now produces an impressive 150,000 bottles a year – not just under its own label, but for other local growers too. What began as a humble half-acre experiment in 1973 has grown into a trophy-scooping retreat for wine lovers.

As you turn into the estate, the vines ripple across the landscape and – oh my – do you get an instant dopamine high! It’s a really stunning setting. Yet whilst it feels gloriously off-grid and rural, it’s thankfully surprisingly easy to reach, just minutes from the M50.

There’s a working winery here, open since 1990, a visitor centre that hosts wine tours and tastings, the Cellar Door wine shop, brasserie, eight chalet-style bedrooms (all with cracking vineyard views) and three lodges tucked away amongst the vines.

THE VIBE

Think rustic Tuscany-by-way-of-Gloucestershire, only with better road links and fewer airport queues. Three Choirs Vineyard has got a wildly romantic and restful vibe to it. You’ll want to throw down your bag, crack open a glass of Bacchus and drink in the views as soon as you get here.

The main building and brasserie have an early Noughties look, a combo of pretty, white walled and terracotta-red roofed buildings, which give it a Mediterranean feel that against the green vines.

The overall feel is low key, homely and relaxed, which honestly, is part of its charm – it feels very English and unpretentious rather than polished in a Soho Farmhouse way. Decor is stylishly simple, with floor to ceiling windows, featuring dreamy views, and a roaring log burner for winter days when you fancy a cosy red by the fire.

The crowd when we visited on a mid-week Spring day was mainly couples enjoying a getaway, but I can see it working really well for a girls’ day out, or for anyone craving some scenic, wine-based R&R. Everything is geared towards over 18s (clearly, being a vineyard) so expect a thoroughly grown-up escape with zero kid-chaos.

WINE TOURS & TASTINGS

There are few things more satisfying than swanning around a vineyard at 4pm on a Wednesday with a glass of English fizz in hand – am I right, or am I right? And the Residents Guided Winery Tour with Wine-Tasting delivers that in barrels.

The experience starts with a short stroll over to the winery itself, a fully working production line where you get to peek behind the curtain and see the whole process in action, from giant fermenting vats simmering away to bottles rattling along in see-through machines, getting their labels slapped on – mesmerising stuff.

My guide, assistant manager Jacob, was extremely passionate and clued up about the wines, encouraging questions (however silly, thankfully) all the way around.

Then comes the best bit – the wine tasting. I had a platter of five wines to quaff, including a sexy, sparkling Cuvée, a crisp Bacchus, a velvety red and even an orange wine which sounds terrifying, but was delicious.

They were paired with a plate of snacky morsels, and honestly, there are few finer ways to spend an hour than swirling, sipping and pretending you can suddenly identify ‘notes of elderflower. I floated out feeling merrily well-fed, and a lot more knowledgeable about wines. I did it solo, but it’s a brilliant girls’ day out, date or birthday idea, and great value at £38pp. Not staying over? Do the Guided Winery Tour & Lunch for £54.99pp instead.

I’d always assumed vineyards were more of a summer choice, but I stand corrected. Quite the opposite, the vineyard looks great in the depths of winter, especially on frosty mornings. And, when I visited in Spring, the vines were coming into bud, which then grow rapidly through June to August. September is the busy time with harvest, which goes through into October. So it’s a a fabulously multi-seasonal getaway.

SCOFF & QUAFF

The vineyard brassiere is an inviting place with an unfussy and welcoming atmosphere, featuring seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients, with an outstanding wine menu – I counted 11 Three Choirs wines, alongside tempting wines from Italy and France.

I visited on a slightly nippy day, but I’d highly recommend heading outside to the lovely terrace for sipping and feasting with those beautiful views as a backdrop on a warm day or evening.

The menu here focuses on tapas-style plates with a Med wine-bar twist. Think: grazing boards, small plate comfort-food classics, crab cakes and Bloody Mary prawns. It’s the sort of menu designed for long, lazy lunches with absolutely no plans afterwards. The kitchen is led by Head Chef Alan Tookey who has been here for six years and brings 45 years of experience to the table.

We had a prime window seat for dinner and it was magical to watch the sun go down as we sipped on a glass of wine. But in a bid to avoid toppling sideways into the vines after one too many, it was time to test the menu.

For starters I had the Severn & Wye smoked salmon. Soft, silky ribbons of properly good fish from the Gloucestershire smokery located just down the road, dressed with an enthusiastic helping of capers and lemon.

fish on a plate at three hours vineyard restaurant

For mains I had the pan-fried hake, thick pearly flakes of fish sat on buttered samphire, finished with a saffron and Three Choirs Classic Cuvée cream sauce – an absolute winner.

food at three choirs vineyard in gloucesterhisre

Meanwhile, my other half went for the lamb meatballs, cloaked in a spicy tomato sauce with soft buttery linguine. A hearty comfort dish that paired really well with a glass of red Three Choirs Raven’s Hill.

By this point I’d tried so many wines to be honest I couldn’t tell you what wine I had (somewhere after glass three, everything just became “delicious”) but you’re spoilt for choice, and staff are eager to help suggest pairings if you find it all too baffling, or you’ve simply lost the ability focus entirely.

Then came the dessert platter, which is as dangerous as it sounds. A four-treat finalé of a strawberry tart, rich chocolate fudge brownie, properly brûléed crème brûlée and white chocolate and raspberry ice cream. The dessert wines looked equally tempting too, if you want to round things off in properly decadent style – at this point, self-control is very much optional.

Love a Sunday lunch? New for 2026, the brasserie has recently started doing Sunday roasts too, and they’re proving popular, so booking ahead is advised.

Breakfast was a range of tasty options, from granola with berries and Greek yoghurt to the full English. I had the crushed avocado on artisan bread with a poached egg and a cafetière of coffee. You do have to preorder your breakfast choices and arrival time however – which was my only minor moan, as I prefer a bit more spontaneity – but it did mean that breakfast service was slick.

PILLOW TALK

If you’re going to do the full vineyard experience, the last thing you want is to be thinking about taxis, timetables or anything remotely sensible, so it’s a treat to be able to wobble back to your room afterwards.

At Three Choirs, there are eight Vineyard View rooms and a handful of newer, glass-fronted lodges. The rooms sit right by the brasserie, with super-king beds, south-facing patios and wide-open valley views that feel almost cinematic at sunset.

Inside, they’re simply and traditionally furnished, very generously proportioned, with comfy big beds, big bathrooms (some with baths, some with monsoon showers), and the “oh hello” moment… your very own private terrace, with to-die-for views.

I happily lost hours soaking up the spring sunshine, glass in hand, before wandering off along the trails that spill straight into the vines. It’s all wonderfully walkable too – ideal when you’ve sampled rather more of the 11 house wines than originally intended.

Waking up here was also particularly magical – birdsong drifting in through the doors, and a first cup of tea of the day in your PJs admiring the view, all in your very own little sun trap hideaway.

For a more tucked-away escape, the lodges dial up the luxury a bit more. The Oak and Cedar Lodges are hideaways set about 500 metres from the main buildings, scattered discreetly in the valley among vines, ponds and willows. But still an easy stroll (or stagger) back from the bar and brasserie.

ACCESSIBILITY?

Very good. The lodges are all single-storey with parking right outside, which makes arrivals and departures straightforward. The Vineyard View rooms are also ground-floor including some adapted facilities for guests with reduced mobility, and the car park is only a short walk away (although if you require help with your bags you’ll need to find someone).

That said, you’re still in a working vineyard set into a valley, so expect a gently rural feel underfoot.

KID-FRIENDLY?

Not really somewhere you’d casually decamp with little ones. Three Choirs is very much geared towards grown-ups. Whilst it’s not necessarily framed as strictly adults-only in neon lights, in practice it’s firmly a couples-and-quiet-escapes kind of place.

DOG FRIENDLY?

It’s not a dog-friendly stay, no dogs are allowed in any of the buildings, rooms or lodges. That said, they’re welcome on the outdoor courtyard and terrace areas, where you can enjoy food and a glass together, as long as they’re kept on a lead.

OUT & ABOUT

A fabulous location for sightseeing the local area. The lush Forest of Dean is your go-to for fresh-air escapism when you’ve had your fill of vines, just over half an hour away with its Sculpture Art Walk and ancient woodland made famous in Star Wars.

Or, head underground at Clearwell Caves, historic iron ore mines that feel totally otherworldly, 40 minutes’ drive away, or pretty Mallards Pike Lake which is perfect for a wander, lakeside coffee or cycle.

Love a dash of history? Gloucester Cathedral is an easy cultural detour at roughly 25 minutes away – Gothic stonework galore made famous by the Harry Potter films. And shopping lovers will adore Gloucester Quays for waterside wandering, casual shopping and café stops.

Ledbury is a charming timbered market town roughly 25 minutes away, (Ledbury station is ideal if you’re coming by train) and it’s perfect for a browse around some great independent shops.

THE DAMAGE

Not bad value at all for an all-in wine, dine & flop stay. An overnight dinner, bed and breakfast stay for two people starts from £270pn in a Vineyard View room, and Self-Guided Wine Tastings start from £20pp.

MUDDY VERDICT

GOOD FOR:

Wine lovers, rejoice! Three Choirs is your new nirvana. Also ideal for couples after a loved-up escape, birthday treat or anniversary celebration. Any fans of vino-with-a-view retreats, or if you’re in need of a grown-up reset where the only agenda is eating and drinking well.

NOT FOR:

Brides or grooms-to-be. Hen and stag dos aren’t allowed, so you can sleep safely without the distant sound of someone shouting “last night of freedom” across the vines at 9am. If you’re looking for room service at midnight or a spa experience of any kind, you won’t find that here. Three Choirs is just a wonderfully blissful, switch-off and breathe-out kind of stay.

Three Choirs Vineyard, Baldwins Farm, Newent, Gloucestershire, GL18 1LS

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