Just an hour's train journey or drive out of the capital lies The Vineyard, a luxury hotel in Berkshire with an award-winning wine cellar.
An oenophile's paradise, the hotel's glass-fronted cellar holds some 30,000 bottles of wine.
The Vineyard is owned by Sir Peter Michael, an engineer and businessman who built a vineyard in California's Sonoma Valley some 35 years ago and then brought a taste of it to Newbury in Berkshire. What an inspired idea that was.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
As our taxi swung into the hotel's gravel drive, the busy main road we had just turned off was swiftly forgotten. A glamorous Georgian house came into view, set amid manicured gardens. Guests could be seen sipping drinks around tables dotted around a large water feature. It was a supremely pretty scene.
On arrival, we were immediately handed a glass of sauvignon blanc – the first of many glasses consumed during our stay – before being shown to our suite.
Our room was magnificent. Classical FM music drifted from a radio (Sir Peter founded the station), paintings lined the walls, a three-piece suite sat around a fireplace and a mahogany desk rested in one corner. The four-poster bed was positively regal with a traditional canopy and silk headboard, while the bathroom, which was supplied with gorgeous Ren products, featured a freestanding bath, two sinks and a walk-in shower.
With a couple of hours spare before dinner, we headed to the spa, a relaxing observatory-style arena with an attractive circular pool at the centre, and a steam room and sauna located down another flight of stairs.
Before our meal, we paid a visit to the cocktail bar (we felt we had to).
Opting for the five-course discovery tasting menu paired with wines from around the world, we started with salmon adorned with wasabi and dill. I'm not usually a fan of wasabi but it was delicately flavoured and delicious. We continued with a bowl of earthy beetroot and crisp apples, with a refreshing sorrel sorbet to match. Next came farfalle pasta with broccoli, monk's beard and lettuce, followed by a fillet of halibut enhanced with mussels, which proved a pleasingly salty accompaniment.
But it was the wine that was the real star of the show. Superb selections were paired with each course, including a beautifully fresh 2009 English sparkling wine from Gusbourne, an appealingly dry 2012 grand cru riesling from Alsace and a powerful 2012 cabernet franc-merlot from Justin Vineyards in California.
Given the quantity of wine served, and the inevitable fogginess that may result, each glass comes with a paper ring with the name of the wine written on it so that you can remember it the next day. We also tried blacked-out 'blind' tasting glasses, where we had to guess the grape and country from which each wine derived. Despite (or perhaps because of) being fortified by several glasses of liquid confidence, we got everything wrong.
After dinner, we had the chance to lounge in the hotel's lively cocktail bar, delving deeper into the extensive wine menu.
In the morning, room service brought us breakfast. We somehow found the space for eggs and bacon, as well as fruit and pastries.
With beautiful grounds, five-star hospitality, delicious food and a well-appointed spa, The Vineyard is unquestionably a great hotel. But the true star of the show is its world-class wine list.
The Vineyard Hotel and Spa, Stockcross, Newbury the-vineyard.co.uk
-
Trump pardons crypto titan who enriched familySpeed Read Binance founder Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty in 2023 to enabling money laundering while CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange
-
FBI nabs dozens in alleged NBA gambling ringSpeed Read Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier are among 34 people indicted in connection with federal gambling investigations
-
Political cartoons for October 24Cartoons Friday’s political cartoons include the news cycle, opening of the new White House ballroom, AI data centers taking over, and more
-
The Peninsula: London’s first billion-pound hotelThe Week Recommends As the capital’s super-luxury hotel scene continues to expand, the respected brand is still setting the standard
-
The best sherries to try this autumnThe Week Recommends The warming tipple from sunny Spain is an underrated cold-weather staple
-
The Mini-Mayfair package at Mandarin OrientalThe Week Recommends Keep the kids entertained with a family-friendly stay at one of London’s swankiest hotels
-
Grecotel Luxme Dama Dama: Greek luxury with a breezy beach vibeThe Week Recommends Rhodes is reimagined in this refined and relaxed resort
-
The rise of English sparkling wineThe Week Recommends As UK-based brands give champagne a run for its money, here’s everything you need to know about choosing the right bottle
-
Cameron House Resort & Spa: a luxurious lakeside havenThe Week Recommends This stunning five-star resort on the shores of Loch Lomond is perfect for a special Scottish getaway
-
Hyatt Regency Lisbon: a tranquil oasis in the historic district of BelémThe Week Recommends With its sprawling spa and prime location overlooking the River Tagus, this luxury hotel is a great place to escape the bustle of the city
-
Japan meets Italy at The Bulgari Hotel in TokyoThe Week Recommends Experience the peak of hospitality in an exclusive high-rise hotel in the heart of Tokyo
