The best wine, gin and spirits festivals to book in 2021
What’s your tipple: grain, grape, or something more botanical? With the drinks festival calendar filling up with events focused on everything from gin and rum to English wine and whisky, there’s something for everyone – and after the year we’ve had, we could all use a drink or two.
As well as showcasing some of the finest gins, whiskies, wines and more from around the country, craft festivals often offer some of the best local food around (not to mention soft drinks for designated drivers).
Throw in live music and entertainment and you have the makings of a fantastic day out, and at a bargain price.
Here are 10 events which – Covid restrictions permitting – will be going ahead this year.
Grab your tickets and prepare yourself for a fabulous day of sipping in the sun.
GIN
The Gin to my Tonic Festival
May 22, ILEC Conference Centre, London
London is the location of the first of many such events across the country from this growing gin community; hundreds of gins to try, a bar offering 35cl serves for £5, and a balloon glass to take home is a nice bonus. If gin isn’t your thing, there are also producers of vodka, rum, bourbon and whisky in the mix.
Tickets £16; thegintomytonic.com
Gin and Rum Festival
July 2-3, Leeds Town Hall; plus various locations nationwide throughout the year
A series of 18 events this year (with lots more planned for 2022, that kickstarts in Leeds at the start of July. Tastings and talks, themed bars and masterclasses are on the cards (as is a DJ and dance floor for when the drinks have started to kick in).
Tickets from £16.62; ginandrumfestival.com
Sussex Gin Fest
July 10, Borde Hill, West Sussex
The Grade II* listed gardens of Borde Hill Estate play host to local artisan producers of gin (not to mention other British distilleries and those from across the globe), including Blue Thorn and Cabin Pressure Spirits. Meanwhile Greek and Thai street food, wood-fired pizzas and barbecue grub is on the menu to keep you on your feet.
Tickets from £18.90; sussexginfest.com
Surrey Gin Fest
September 11, Loseley Park, Surrey
From the same team behind the Sussex bonanza, this residency in Surrey takes place in the grounds of the Elizabethan Loseley manor house near Guildford. Expect a similar turn-out of producers, with more details to be announced closer to the event.
Tickets from £16.20; surreyginfest.com
Junipalooza
September 18-19, Tobacco Dock, London
Spirit samples from over 60 distilleries (showcasing more than 200 gins between them) are included in the ticket price so you can sip to your heart’s content during the four-hour session (Sunday’s is an hour longer!) hosted at London’s centuries-old dock.
Tickets from £26.80; tobaccodocklondon.com
WINE
Festival of Wine
9 October, One Great George St, London; 13 November, Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
Sadly a planned event in Glasgow this June has been cancelled, but the tour’s two other locations are set to go ahead. London’s was a sell-out in 2019, and this year wine writer Tom Cannavan is bringing together over 300 wines to taste, with masterclasses available with winemakers and tutors. Exhibitors for London and Ediburgh will be released closer to the time.
Tickets £28; festival-of-wine.com
English Wine & Food Festival
July 10-11, Brightwell Vineyard, Oxfordshire
Local vineyards including Harrow & Hope, Alder Ridge and the Queen’s own Windsor Great Park (whose releases of sparkling wine always sell out) will be in attendance, offering tastings of all their bottles. Tutored sessions can be booked on the day for a fiver, but there’s plenty to sample if you don’t get a slot.
Tickets from £8; englishwineandfoodfestival.co.uk
Oxford Wine Festival
September 10-11, The Oxford Union
40 producers and merchants from this country are joined by more from the around the world, for three sessions of sampling (the first 11 tasters are included in the ticket price). Look out for Wiston Estate’s sparklers and Black Chalk’s Wild Rose, both well worth a sample or two.
Tickets £22.50; oxfordwinefestival.org
Hastings Seafood and Wine Festival
18-19 September, various locations, Hastings
Stalls and marquees are spread across the Old Town to showcase not only good booze but great local food, too. Expect special menus and festival offers at shops and restaurants in the area. Details are scarce at the moment but will be updated closer to the time. Stay tuned.
WHISKY
Midlands Whisky Festival
September 11, Cannon Street, Birmingham
Connoisseurs and novices alike will find plenty to please at this bustling event of 400-odd spirits for tasting, talks and cocktail making. There’s cheese and charcuterie to nibble on, and the ticket includes a ‘Dream Dram Token’, which can be exchanged for a luxury dram on the day.
Tickets from £40; whiskyfest.co.uk
