Greyfriars Vineyard
Chalky slopes, hidden cellars, sparkling English wines.
Perched on the sunny slopes of the Hog's Back, just outside Guildford, Greyfriars is a family-run vineyard with a passion for exceptional English wine. From award-winning sparkling wines and fascinating cellar tours to relaxed afternoons overlooking the vines, this beautiful corner of the Surrey Hills offers plenty of reasons to raise a glass.
Plan your visit to Greyfriars Vineyard
Address: Greyfriars Vineyard, The Hog's Back, Puttenham, Surrey GU3 1AG
Getting there: Full information here
Established: 1989
Wines: Award-winning English sparkling and still wines, including Classic Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs and Sparkling Rosé Reserve.
Experiences: Guided vineyard tours, tutored wine tastings, self-guided vineyard walks, a cellar door shop, a welcoming tasting room and seasonal events.
Opening Times: The cellar door shop is generally open Wednesday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm, with the tasting room open on Saturdays, 12pm to 6pm. Seasonal Sunday opening and additional events may be available. Check the official website before visiting.
Telephone: 01483 813712
Website: Greyfriars Vineyard
The story behind the vines
Greyfriars' story began in 1989, when its first vines were planted on the sun-soaked chalk slopes of the Hog's Back. At a time when English winemaking was still finding its feet, Greyfriars was among the country's early pioneers to embrace Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, the classic grape varieties associated with Champagne.
A new chapter began in 2010, when Mike and Hilary Wagstaff took over the vineyard with an ambitious vision: to create exceptional English sparkling wines that truly reflected the Surrey Hills.
They expanded the vineyard to around 40 acres, invested in a state-of-the-art winery and even built an underground chalk cellar to give their wines the perfect conditions to mature.
Today, Greyfriars has become one of Surrey's most respected wine producers, combining traditional winemaking techniques with modern innovation and a genuine passion for the landscape it calls home.
Greyfriars by numbers
1989 - The year the vineyard was first established.
40 acres - The area of vines growing on the chalk slopes of Surrey’s North Downs.
3 years - The minimum time Greyfriars' traditional-method sparkling wines spend ageing in the bottle before they're ready to enjoy.
Three things you might not know about Greyfriars
1. It has its very own underground wine cave
Hidden beneath the vineyard is a remarkable underground chalk cellar, specially built to store and mature Greyfriars' sparkling wines. The naturally cool, stable environment provides ideal conditions for the bottles to develop their character over time. It's a little piece of winemaking magic, tucked away beneath the Surrey Hills.
2. A sparkling wine fit for Britain's finest venues
When luxury hospitality company Searcys wanted to create its first-ever own-label English sparkling wine to celebrate its 175th anniversary in 2022, it turned to Greyfriars. Together, they created a special Classic Cuvée, made from grapes grown on the Surrey Hills' chalky slopes. The result? A little taste of Surrey served at some of Britain's most prestigious restaurants, Champagne bars and event venues, including London's iconic St Pancras station.
3. Its sparkling rosé has won international recognition
Greyfriars' Sparkling Rosé Reserve has earned an impressive collection of awards, including a prestigious International Wine Challenge trophy. Made using grapes grown in the Surrey Hills, it's a wonderful example of just how far English sparkling wine has come, and why Greyfriars has earned its place among the country's celebrated producers.
What makes Greyfriars special?
Greyfriars has a wonderfully welcoming atmosphere, combining serious winemaking with a relaxed approach to enjoying it.
Join a guided vineyard tour to discover the journey from grape to glass, learn about the estate's distinctive chalk soils and sample a selection of its award-winning wines. Or take a self-guided stroll through the vines, soaking up the sweeping views of the Surrey countryside at your own pace.
The vineyard's bright and airy tasting room is a lovely place to enjoy a glass or two, while the seasonal Horsebox Bar offers an especially relaxed way to spend a sunny afternoon among the vines.
With special events, food pop-ups and wine experiences throughout the year, there's always something worth discovering.
Don't leave without…
Trying a glass of Greyfriars' award-winning Sparkling Rosé Reserve. Better still, enjoy it overlooking the vines on a sunny afternoon, with the rolling Hog's Back as your backdrop. A little taste of Surrey at its sparkling best.
