Great Island Tipples
Did you know the Isle of Wight is home to several craft breweries, small batch distilleries, and sunkissed vineyards?
Foraged botanicals, locally grown hops and crops, and over 2000 hours of sunshine a year provide the ingredients for award-winning beer, wine and spirits. Keep reading for some of the best Island tipples to sip on as you soak up your surroundings.
BEER & CIDER
GODDARD'S BREWERY
The Island’s oldest brewery, and home to favourites such as Ale of Wight and Fuggle-Dee-Dum. Goddard’s offer tours of their Sandown site, as well as tasting flights and delicious food from the on-site Firkin Deck bar & restaurant.
WIGHT KNUCKLE BREWERY
This family-run firm brew their beers in Sandown, with a taproom at the Pilot Inn in Bembridge – where you can also pick up a handmade HotBox pizza! Their Pale Ale was voted SIBA’s Best Beer in the South East in 2023.
BOOJUM & SNARK
Female-led Boojum & Snark create quirky craft beers served in their Sandown taproom. Their location also doubles as a museum, community hub, and art space! Options include a juicy Boojum IPA, Lacemaker farmhouse-style ale, and Vanishing – a rich chocolatey porter.
ISLAND BREWERY
Producers of Wight Gold, Yachtman’s Ale, Vectis Venom and many others, Island Brewery pride themselves on brewing ‘real ales from a real Island’. Check out the full list here.
SEAHORSE BREWERY
The Isle of Wight’s newest craft brewery, Seahorse Brewery are located at Wild Oak Farm in Wootton Bridge, with a range of playfully-named ales paying homage to the Island. Find Squirrel’s Nuts Amber Ale, Lighthouse Session Ale, and more at Wild Oak Farm Shop.
YATES BREWERY
Home of the popular, easy-drinking Islander ale, Yates’ Brewery was established in 2000 and has since scooped over 20 awards. Find their beers bottled or on tap across the Island.
GRAZED KNEE CIDER
Grazed Knee press local varieties of apples such as Isle of Wight Pippin and Bembridge Beauty to produce juicy, refreshing cider. In fact, each batch is hand crafted from a cave under St Boniface Down! Stockists include Godshill Cider Barn, The Needles Landmark Attraction, and Wildheart Animal Sanctuary.
WINE
ADGESTONE VINEYARD
One of the oldest vineyards in the British Isles, Adgestone Vineyard has been operating for over 50 years. The chalky south facing slopes and almost frost-free microclimate on the Island makes ideal vine growing conditions seen in very few English counties. The vineyard is also one of the few to still use subterranean cellars, allowing for a natural growing and fermentation process without additives or pesticides – growing a variety of vines that do well in similar Mediterranean climes.
In addition to a range of award-winning English wines, Adgestone also produce Something Blue – the only sparkling blue wine produced in the UK. Immerse yourself in the production process with a Grape to Glass tour!
SPIRITS
ISLE OF WIGHT DISTILLERY
The Isle of Wight Distillery in Ryde is the home of Mermaid Gin, with several varieties all bursting with locally foraged botanicals, as well as Mermaid Spiced Rum and Mermaid Salt Vodka. Sample a colourful collection of cocktails in the Mermaid Bar!
TIPSY WIGHT
Known for crafting well presented vodka and vodka liqueurs in distinctive leaning bottles. Natural, locally-sourced ingredients are used to create a wide range of flavours. Find them stocked across the Island or order online.
ISLE OF WIGHT GIN COMPANY
An artisan distillery producing delightful hand-crafted small batch gin in beautiful bottles. They've even produced Isle of Wight Donkey Sanctuary Hedgerow Gin, featuring delicate botanicals such as blackberry, elderberry and rosehip.
For more Island inspiration, see our Explore section.
Find Ways To Save
Book your ferry travel to the Isle of Wight today!
