Tours and Tastings
About this activity
Our tours and tastings are an invitation behind the scenes at Thornfalcon, a forty-acre working farm, vineyard and cider press in a magical corner of West Somerset. Come and walk through the vines and orchards, see the winery and cider press in action, learn about fermentation and the wine making process first hand, and taste the drinks we make - all crafted fresh from the land, by hand.
We run small-group tours through spring, summer and autumn, and bespoke private tastings year-round. Whether you've come for the afternoon, a Saturday with friends, or as part of a longer stay with us, we'd love to show you around.
What a tour looks like
You'll meet us at Thornfalcon Winery & Press, and we'll walk the land together. Thornfalcon's two vineyard plots were planted in 2023 and 2024 - one with the classic champagne varieties. Chardonnay, Meunier and Pinot Noir, and one with hybrids including Seyval Blanc, Voltis and Cabernet Noir.
We'll explore the cider orchards with their vintage quality apple varieties, and explain about our 15-year programme to restore these ancient orchards to their former glory.
And we'll take you into the winery and the cider press where we hand-press fruit through the autumn, and refine the drinks making process throughout the year. Along the way we'll talk about why we planted what we planted, the choices we've made, the many learnings of starting a winery from scratch, and where we hope to take it next.
We'll end with a tasting in beautiful new Red Barn event space, where Panu will talk you through our sparkling wine, rose and ciders, paired with nibbles from local producers we love.
What you'll taste
Thornfalcon's drinks range is deliberately small-batch - hand-grown, picked and crafted on the farm. This typically includes:
- 2019 English Sparkling wine - Brut. Charnonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Traditional method. abv12.5%
- 750ml Keeved Cider (off-dry). Style known as bouché in Normandy. A fine cider, served in a wine glass. abv5.5%.
- 750ml bottle conditioned dry cider 2024. Bone dry, good with tapas, roast white meats etc. abv6.5%
- 2024 rosé wine. Pinot noir, Meunier. Zippy grapefruit & redcurrant notes, great with food abv11%
- 750ml pressed apple. 'Beyond organic' zero-spray, deeply delicious juice, and a great mixer with a squeeze of lemon/lime
Everything you taste is available to take home by the bottle or the case, and we'll happily pack a box for the journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
The standard tour runs for 90 mins. Allow a little longer if you'd like to walk afterwards or have a drink in the courtyard before you set off.
A flight of our still and sparkling wine, cider and our 100% apple juice .
Yes absolutely. Children are very welcome at the farm and on the tour, and we also have a mini-vintner's juice tasting flight for under-18s.
Yes, but on a lead, as we have wildlife across the farm.
Of course — everything you taste is available to take home by the bottle or the case.
The walking parts cross uneven and sometimes steep ground, so the full vineyard tour isn't currently wheelchair-accessible. The tasting itself takes place in our fully accessible Red Barn space.
Yes we do. Bespoke private tastings, small group bookings, hen parties, corporate days, and tastings for our overnight guests are all possibilities - and more. Drop us a line and we'll build something around you.
We're a few minutes off junction 25 of the M5, and fifteen minutes from Taunton railway station and Ilminster. Full directions sent on booking.
Tours run rain or shine! Do bring some wellies and a waterproof for the tour just in case, and the tasting is always indoors. If the weather is biblical we'll re-route to keep you mostly dry.
You can cancel your tour and tasting up to two weeks before - but as we cap numbers to keep the experience intimate, we don't offer refunds seven days before the events. We'll do what we can to reschedule as needed.
Both, very happily. We can recommend a long lunch at one of our favourite local pubs (see our guide to eating and drinking near Thornfalcon), or fold a tour into a stay in one of our three cabins with a wood-fired sauna and a swim in the lake to follow.
Absolutely - tours, tastings and experiences at Thornfalcon are a brilliant gift! Gift vouchers are coming soon.
The details
£25
per person.
Duration
approx 90 mins
Group Size
up to 15 for a regular tour
When
Usually Saturdays at 1400
Where
Thornfalcon Winery & Press
Parking
Free, on site
Private and bespoke tastings
We also run private tastings for small groups, hen parties, corporate days, special birthdays and events, and for guests staying in the Coach House, the Lambing Shed or the Vine Hut. If you have something particular in mind — from a tutored tasting to a long lunch built around our wines — tell us what you'd like.