In 2007 a Norfolk fruit farmer called Stephen Dyer planted vines at Surlingham, near Norwich, and gave them an Anglo-Saxon name: win for wine, birri for grape. Winbirri Vineyards is now run by his son Lee Dyer, who grows the grapes and makes the wine on about 25 acres at the edge of the Norfolk Broads. The winery is on site, so the grapes go from the vines into the press within minutes of being picked. Bacchus is the grape that made their name, alongside Solaris, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir and Rondo, and the range runs from crisp whites and still rosé to reds and a sparkling wine. In 2017 Winbirri's 2015 Bacchus won a Platinum medal and Best in Show for a single-variety white at the Decanter World Wine Awards. A small Norfolk vineyard came out top of the world's single-variety whites that year. Lee walks visitors round the vines himself on the summer tours and tastings, and he's the best person to explain why grapes do so well here. Yare Valley Oils are in the same village, so make a morning of it. Go in summer, when Lee is available for the tours, and hear how they create such unique wines straight from the maker.

Awards and Recognition

Decanter World Wine Awards 2017: Platinum medal and Best in Show, single-variety white, for Winbirri Bacchus 2015.

Social Media

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winbirri/

Can people visit or buy direct?

Yes. Vineyard tours and tastings are run through the summer and must be booked in advance through the Winbirri website.

Website

https://www.winbirri.com

Address Summary

Surlingham, Norwich, Norfolk, NR14 7DE