Is there anything nicer than reclining in the warm East Anglian sun with a crisp glass of locally-made wine in your hand? We think not! And, we know exactly which local wine’ll be in our glass this summer – one of Burnt House Vineyard’s delectable drinks from their small, but perfectly formed range of 5 wines.

The Scarff family have been farming land in Little Finborough since 1925 and in 2017 the latest generation, brother and sister team James and Catherine, decided to branch into viticulture and planted 22 acres of vines. Fast forward to 2024 and the talented duo now specialise in growing Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, and Bacchus grapes that they harvest to create some of the finest, award-winning still and sparkling wines in the country.

One of the things we love most about Burnt House Vineyard, apart from the extremely quaffable wine of course, is that they take sustainability seriously. They go above and beyond to ensure this little slice of Suffolk heaven stays just that… a rural paradise. Over the last five years they’ve introduced a direct drilling system to avoid heavy cultivation and soil disturbance as well as creating wildlife margins, winter bird food areas, and nectar flower mix areas.

You can go and see for yourself how idyllic it is as the vineyard is open to the public on Fridays – Sundays (in the summer months) and Saturday – Sunday (in winter). The tours and tastings are a brilliant way to learn more about the growing process, enjoy a close up view of the beautiful vines and to give all five wines a good taste before you decide on your favourite.

There’s a gorgeous light-filled dining space too where you can enjoy a delightful lunch of charcuterie, cheeses, artisan breads and antipasti, all washed down with Burnt House Vineyard wine. And, if you’re planning a corporate or private event, the stunning space with views over the vines would certainly impress your guests.

There’s a whole host of other events and experiences to try too, including a picnic in the vines complete with a hamper of East Anglian goodies, which is a really romantic idea for a date or a unique present idea for a wine lover. The vineyard regularly runs foodie events such as pizza nights (upcoming events on 11 May, 2 August and 13 September) as well as wellness workshops. And, while the wine might be for over 18s, the vineyard itself is open to all, including dogs and children.

Most importantly there’s a shop on site (as well as the option to buy online if you’re not near Stowmarket) where you can get your hands on your new favourite bottle (or case) of wine. Cheers to that!