Raimes English Sparkling

You'll find Raimes English Sparkling just outside Alresford in Hampshire, a proper English sparkling wine producer in the heart of the South Downs. This is the sort of place that makes you realise the English wine industry has genuinely come of age - no longer scrappy upstarts but legitimate contenders against the big names. The vineyard sits on chalky soil that's surprisingly similar to Champagne, which the owners have clearly done their homework about.

Visits here tend to involve a walk through the vines, a tour of the production facilities if you're lucky enough to catch an appointment, and a tasting session. The quality is notably higher than you'd expect from a small English operation - the sparkling wine has real complexity and doesn't taste like someone trying to copy the French. It's about three or four hours if you want the full experience rather than just a quick pop-in.

This works brilliantly as part of a broader Winchester or Alresford holiday. The town itself has the lovely Watercress Line steam railway and decent independent shops, so you're not isolated. If you're camping nearby at Woodlands Camping or Holden Farm Camping, both just 2.4 miles away, a morning at Raimes followed by lunch in Alresford makes for a proper day out. Wine enthusiasts will get the most from it; younger kids will likely find it tedious unless they're actively interested in how things are made. Check ahead about opening times and whether tours need booking - it's not a casual drop-in sort of place.