The Classic team recently spent a rather lovely afternoon at Polgoon Vineyard and Orchard near Penzance in Cornwall.
On arrival, we were greeted warmly and shown to the idyllic outdoor terrace area, where there’s plenty of seating and a covered terrace, decorated in vines - with the sun shining, we certainly felt like we were in the Mediterranean. The bar was open, serving a selection of drinks along with cheese boards, olives, and stuffed peppers.
Throughout the summer, Polgoon hosts pop-ups from local food suppliers, and we were delighted to meet the lovely Emma from Seal Cornwall, offering a selection of acai bowls, smoothies, coffee and matcha. We enjoyed a couple of acai bowls and some refreshing iced drinks. Delicious! Seal Cornwall will be at Polgoon on Tuesdays between 11am and 3pm throughout the summer and will also be attending a number of Cornish festivals - don’t miss out!
The tour and tasting
Our tour began at 3pm with our guide. Ella was passionate and knowledgeable and gave us a real insight into the Cornish vineyard, the wine-making process, and each of the wines we sampled. As the tour began, we walked to the sun-soaked vines, which are set on a slope (with a sea view!) in order to make the most of the sunshine, which hits the vines at a 90-degree angle. Here, Ella explained the beginnings of Polgoon and the types of wine Polgoon specialises in.
We saw the polytunnels (fun fact: the vines here produce 30% more fruit as the polytunnels are 5-10 degrees warmer), and Ella explained how the team tests when the grapes are ready. We were then shown the tanks where the grapes are pressed and prepared with yeast and sugar, and filtered using vegan techniques. After the tour, we were shown back to the terrace area for arguably the most fun part - wine tasting! We got to sample five of the wines, including their Rondo Rosé, Bacchus, and their Sparkling Seyval Blanc, and were provided with paper and a pen to record our thoughts on each wine if we wished. My personal favourite was the Sparkling Seyval Blanc, a delightfully crisp wine with notes of apple and pear.
About Polgoon
Polgoon’s owners John and Kim Coulson purchased the site in 2002. Previously a flower farm, John and Kim turned the site into a vineyard, resulting in a successful first harvest in 2006 and an award-winning rosé. The harvest in 2007 wasn’t so successful due to the weather; however, one silver lining was that they started producing their award-winning cider. And the rest is history!
We love Polgoon’s sustainability ethos and dedication to the local environment. The team have made it somewhat of a haven for wildlife, with its wildlife corridors, two ponds, and six working beehives. Plus, Polgoon recycles the waste from their grapes and apples to provide food for the neighbouring cows, they are a plastic-free site, and support the local community and businesses through regular weekend markets brimming with local businesses. And their beautiful wine labels are designed by a local artist, which we love!
Visit Polgoon and summer pop-ups
Polgoon is open seven days a week for guided tours and tastings or self-guided tours. The guided tours and tastings run twice a day and take approximately 90 minutes, with a guided tasting of five flights of wine. The self-guided tours take around 30 minutes, with three flights of wine to sample afterwards. Both types of tour can be booked on their website.
Polgoon hosts evening food pop-ups from 4.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summertime. You can follow them on Instagram to keep up to date with their summer pop-ups and other events. And don’t forget to visit Polgoon’s shop where you can purchase their wine, cider and apple juice, honey and jams, and lots of other locally-sourced goodies. The shop is open 9am to 5pm, Mondays to Saturdays and 10am to 5pm on Sundays.
Fancy combining your Polgoon visit with a cottage stay? Browse our collection of holiday cottages in West Cornwall and start planning your next Cornish adventure.
