The Dorking-based vineyard’s new lounge is designed to reflect certain aspects of the wine making process
Denbies, in Dorking, has opened a new wine library at its eco-hotel overlooking the vineyard in the heart of the Surrey Hills.
The latest addition to the hotel sits adjacent to the restaurant and features clever design elements and materials to reflect aspects of the wine making process – the curvature of the building replicates a wine barrel while one wall is lined with antique riddling racks.
The main feature however is the floor-to-ceiling wine wall, displaying a range of Denbies vintages dating back to 1993 and an enomatic wine machine, where customers can select from a choice of wines to taste by the glass.
The wine library is the perfect spot for hotel residents to unwind and generally enjoy the tranquil surroundings of the estate and its 265 acres of vines. It can also be hired for exclusive use for tastings and private dining.
The wine library is the latest addition to the hotel, which opened in September 2019 with the aim of paving the way for sustainable green tourism within the English wine industry. Recently, solar generated power at the estate has been doubled, enabling the hotel to run on its own independent energy source around the clock.
Outside the hotel, electric car charging points and cycle parking facilities have also been installed to encourage visitors to use sustainable transport methods.
“As one of the UK’s major wine producers and one of the largest wine tourism destinations in the south-east, we feel it is important to make major changes when the opportunities present themselves,” says Denbies CEO Christopher White. “The development of the hospitality side of the business has presented a perfect opportunity.”
You can find out more about the hotel by listening to The English Wine Diaries episode featuring Chris here.
