Summer sunset wine tastings in our medieval crypt

This summer, the medieval Crypt at Walsingham Abbey is our tasting room, for sixteen guests at a time. You walk through the 15th century gatehouse on the high street and into the Abbey Grounds at Walsingham.

The Crypt is a vaulted medieval chamber that served as the warming room of the Augustinian Priory, founded around 1153. The outline of its fireplace is still in the stone.

A thousand years of pilgrimage

Walsingham has drawn pilgrims since 1061, when Richeldis de Faverches had a vision of the Virgin Mary and built a replica of the holy house from Nazareth on this spot. It became one of the four great pilgrimage sites of medieval Europe, alongside Jerusalem, Rome and Santiago. Henry VIII walked here barefoot in 1511. By 1538 he had ordered the shrine destroyed. The ruins are what remains.

The wines

Our vineyard grows three varieties in the Stiffkey Valley at Walsingham: Bacchus, Solaris and Pinot Noir.

The Pinot Noir was picked by The Times’ wine critic Jane MacQuitty as one of her top English reds. It won Bronze at the WineGB Awards, alongside our Bacchus Reserve.

We make still and sparkling wines. Our Traditional Method Sparkling Bacchus is produced using the same process as Champagne. Two styles, Brut and Demi-Sec.

Each wine is paired with local Norfolk cheeses, charcuterie and vegetarian options.

The sunset

After the tasting, you take a glass of Sparkling Bacchus out into the Abbey Grounds. Eighteen acres. The Priory ruins in the evening light. The River Stiffkey running through woodland walks. The Pack Horse Bridge. The East Window framing a Norfolk sky.

Dates

Ten summer sessions across July, August and September.

July: Thursday 9th, Saturday 11th, Tuesday 14th, Thursday 16th August: Thursday 13th, Saturday 15th, Tuesday 18th September: Saturday 12th, Tuesday 15th, Thursday 17th

Arrive at 4:45pm. The tasting runs from 5:00pm to 7:00pm.

What’s included

£35 per person. Tasting of our full range. Local Norfolk cheeses and charcuterie. A glass of Sparkling Bacchus for the walk. Event-only offers on takeaway wines. Private access to the Abbey Grounds.

Before you arrive

The Crypt can get cool on summer evenings, so bring a layer. Comfortable footwear for the country walk. Adults only. Well-behaved dogs on leads welcome.

Walsingham Abbey, Common Place, Little Walsingham, NR22 6BP. Enter from the High Street. Park at Mill Car Park, around two minutes walk from the entrance. Enter the car park from Common Place if coming from the south.

Book your place

Sixteen guests per session. Book through Eventbrite.