Insider tour of one of England’s finest wineries
The Gallivant Camber Sands signs an exclusive collaboration with Gusbourne Wine Estate
London, 2024…// Recognising the increasing consumer demand for English wine tourism, boutique, adults-only property The Gallivant Camber Sands, located in the heart of British wine country, has announced an exclusive collaboration with leaders in English wine production, Gusbourne Estate, designed to facilitate greater accessibility for both leisure and corporate guests.
England, the most exciting wine region in the world right now
In recent years English wine producers have made huge strides forward in quality, with the region experiencing significant growth in global wine tourism as a result. Based on figures from the latest WineGB Tourism Survey [1], 2022 visitor numbers to GB vineyards and wineries rose 17% compared to 2021. Adding to this, half of those surveyed are expecting a greater than 20% increase in their visitor numbers over the next five years.
Viticulture is the UK’s fastest growing agricultural sector [2] with the last five years witnessing a 70% increase in total plantings and recording the production of 12.2 million bottles across sparkling and still varieties at the end of 2022 [3]. In the coming year, WineGB is predicting English wine production will almost double, reaching approximately 20 million bottles, from the 2023 harvest.
English wine: lauded and awarded
At the 2023 International Wine Challenge (IWC), the world’s most rigorously judged global wine competition, England’s sparkling wines came second only to France for gold medals in this category. Medals were won by producers in 19 regions across England and Wales with more than 65% of the medals split between the four regions of Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Cornwall.
Notably also, Gusbourne’s Blanc de Blanc 2018 was voted one of the fifty Best in Show wines at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2023 (the only British wine to be awarded this status).
Gallivant / Gusbourne Ultimate English Wine Experience, from £1,045 per couple
This unique experience is a privately hosted tour of Gusbourne Estate and overnight stay with dinner at The Gallivant, a short 20 minute drive away. On arrival at the Estate, guests are met by Dan, the Gusbourne Cellar Manager, who will take them on a private tour of the vineyards, winery and tank / barrel room as well as host a private tasting of blends direct from the barrel, recent releases and rare library wines that are no longer for sale. Guests are presented on departure with a bottle of Gusbourne’s most celebrated wine – Fifty One Degrees North 2016. This private tour takes approximately 3 hours.
After private transfers to The Gallivant, guests sit down to a personally prepared dinner by the Exec Head Chef, Nico Fitzgerald, served alongside a selected Gusbourne wine flight. The Gallivant experience also includes a light lunch on the day of arrival, English Wine at Five, turnover service, breakfast and a free yoga class pass for two. Private transfers to and from the Estate / Gallivant are arranged individually and included.
Gallivant / Gusbourne Discover English Wine, from £405 per couple
This shorter, less in depth experience, is a self-guided tour of the Estate with hosted tasting of Gusbourne’s most popular four wines and an overnight at The Gallivant. This Gallivant experience includes a beautiful bedroom, breakfast and a free yoga class pass for two.
For groups – Gallivant / Gusbourne Ultimate English Wine Experience, from £585 per person
For groups of eight or more this experience is very similar to the Ultimate English Wine Experience for couples but also includes a private lunch at Gusbourne Estate and that evening, an early evening drinks reception before dinner in The Gallivants private dining room.
Proximity to London
By train… Gusbourne Estate is 10 miles from Ashford International train station linked to St Pancras by high speed train that takes 37 minutes. There are two services every hour. The Gallivant will organise all private transfers, taking no more than 25 minutes and they are all included in the experience rate. By car…. Arriving by car from London takes a little longer depending on the starting address, but no more than 2 hours, mostly on motorway. The Gallivant will organise all private transfers, taking no more than 25 minutes and they are all included in the experience rate.
The Gallivant Camber Sands: championing English wine
Indicating their commitment to championing English wine, The Gallivant Camber Sands delisted all champagnes in favour of English sparkling wine over five years ago and in this timeframe has sampled English wine to approximately 100,000 guests through the English Wine at Five initiative extended to all hotel guests. Today the property sells over 40 different English wines and in the past 12 months 50% of all wine sales at The Gallivant Camber Sands have been from English wine producers.
