Hotel review: The Vineyard Hotel, Berkshire, England

The reception area at The Vineyard Hotel. Image courtesy of The Vineyard Hotel.

​There is something to be said for escaping London for a weekend to indulge in a relaxing retreat.  So, when The Vineyard Hotel, a five-star specialist wine hotel located in Stockcross near Newbury in Berkshire, invited us for a wine-focused night away with wine, delicious food and a spa on the cards, we couldn’t resist.
 
The vibe
This delightful, award-winning hotel boasts 30,000 bottles of wine housed in the on-site cellar and features 49 individually designed rooms and suites - all named after famous wines.  The property also admiringly houses more than 100 pieces of art. 

The wine vault at The Vineyard Hotel, Berkshire. Image courtesy of The Vineyard Hotel.

​The wine
Everything at The Vineyard Hotel is about wine. There are no rules to a visit here, whether the guest is a wine lover or a vineyard explorer, the enigmatic staff do their best to ensure wines on offer are tasted and enjoyed in the upmost luxurious surroundings, to ensure every guest enjoys the wine tasting experience to the fullest.
 
The hotel's award-winning sommelier Romain Bourger won 'UK Young Sommelier of the Year' in 2016, so guests looking for inspiration can be assured they’re in good hands when he recommends wines to be paired with their meal.
 
To introduce wines from around the world to a wider audience, The Vineyard has unveiled a Grape Priced Wine campaign (#GrapePricedWine), to showcase fabulous wines that are accessible – whatever your price point.
 
For those who are serious about wine, the hotel also runs WSET courses and exams across several levels, to allow guests to achieve a qualification in wine. 
 

Image courtesy of Rosanna Head.

​The cuisine
One of the hotel’s great offerings is its 3AA Rosette restaurant. The a la carte menu is fantastic, however, it’s the tasting menus that make a stay here truly memorable.  Guests can choose from the Judgement of Paris tasting menu (£89), where each course is paired with two wines - one Californian and the other French, or The Discovery Dinner tasting menus (£75). We tried the Discovery Dinner menu, an exciting and at times blinder of a menu (one of the wine parings is a blind test), allowing the taster to enjoy five exciting courses, each paired with a different wine. 
 
We loved all the courses, especially the starter of octopus, tomato and green olive sauce, fregula and sweet potato, which was paired with a gorgeous 2015 Viognier from Australia.  

Celebrating 20 years of culinary excellence
​To mark the hotel's 20th birthday, the hotel has created 'Back to the Vine' a culinary festival featuring the culinary delights of seven Michelin starred chefs who have graced their kitchen over the years. From 25 June - 30 June guests will be able to enjoy a five-course dinner with expertly paired with wines for £150 per person. On Sunday, 1 July guests can enjoy a fabulous four-course Sunday lunch also with paired wines, and priced at £90 per person.  

The Vineyard Hotel Spa. Image courtesy of The Vineyard Hotel.

​The Vineyard Hotel Spa – the perfect place to relax
All that eating and drinking can sometimes get the better of us, so it’s a blessing that the hotel has an award-winning 5-star spa to help people unwind. In addition to an indoor pool, sauna and steam rooms, the hotel is unique in that it offers a selection of wine-themed spa treatments featuring red grapes including a body wrap, body polish and a back treatment.

The verdict
This luxury hotel is ideal for a relaxing retreat while broadening one’s wine knowledge. The staff are very helpful, the sommeliers are proficient and the evening meals, superb.  It is all about discovery and adventure at The Vineyard, a concept that we love.
 
The details
Priced from £247 for accommodation including breakfast (based on two guests sharing and depending on time of year and availability).
 
The Vineyard Hotel
Stockcross
Newbury
Berkshire
RG20 8JU
 
http://www.the-vineyard.co.uk
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A summary of our stay at The Vineyard Hotel

Best bits: The jazz pianist in the lounge; his soulful playing added a relaxing ambience to the evening . We also loved singing a few numbers with him! 

Worst bits: It's hard to fault the place, but it did take a while for the dishes to be served; not that we minded as it meant more time to enjoy the wine!

Most suited for: Those with a penchant for wine tasting who want a relaxing country retreat 



Rosanna Head
*During our stay we were hosted by the lovely team at The Vineyard Hotel. All views are my own. 
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​Our experience overall
The property: ★★★★
Food and drink: ★★★★★
Staff attentiveness/friendliness: ★★★★★