Christmas Parties at Four South East Wine Estates

Denbies, just outside Dorking, can take a Christmas party of 500 people. Rathfinny's version involves secateurs and a wreath. Both are working wine estates, and so are the other two venues on this list.

Here's what each one is running this year, with prices and dates taken from their own websites.

Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey

Denbies has the busiest programme of the four. Shared party nights run on 27 November and on 4, 10, 11 and 18 December, starting at 7.30pm and going on until midnight. Each includes an arrival drink, three courses, wine with dinner and a DJ to finish. Two of the nights have the singer and pianist Danny Mills playing through dinner, and the 18th brings in a seven-piece band called The Jolly Good Timers.

Prefer something quieter? A Taste of Christmas runs on the Saturdays (5, 12 and 19 December) in the Gallery Restaurant, which sits above the vines on the third floor of the winery. Shared nights start at £49.50 a head. For a private party, the estate's spaces take groups of 6 to 500, and the Vineyard Hotel is on site, so nobody has to drive home.

Balfour Winery, Staplehurst, Kent

Balfour's Collective Christmas Party is pitched at people without enough colleagues for a party of their own. Their words, more or less. It runs on 10, 11 and 18 December, 7pm to 11pm, at £65 a head for three courses followed by dancing.

They'll also host private company parties. On Christmas Day itself, lunch is five courses in the Winemakers' Kitchen at £165, with a walk through the vines first. Children eat for half price.

Bolney Wine Estate, Bolney, West Sussex

Bolney is the smaller-scale option. Its Eighteen Acre Restaurant overlooks the vineyard through full-height windows and holds 120 seated or 200 standing. The Private Dining Room takes 40 seated.

A private party here can be a three-course set menu from £65 a person, or a hot and cold buffet from £60 for 40 or more guests. Both come with a glass of the estate's own wine. If you just want a night out, Festive Fridays run on 4, 11 and 18 December with food, drink and live music.

Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, East Sussex

Rathfinny's Christmas page has no party nights. What it offers instead is quite good fun. On 9 and 16 December, a florist from Sussex Flower Studio runs a wreath-making workshop in the Flint Barns at 5.30pm. Dinner, three courses, follows at 7.30pm.

It costs £95 a head, including a glass of sparkling rosé and all the materials. Bring your own secateurs, though. The wreath goes home with you.

Booking

Shared nights are ticketed and private dates depend on availability, so it's worth asking soon. Full details and contact links are on each venue's Venunique page.