Top Isle of Wight Tipples

One of the things I love most about being on the Isle of Wight is tucking into all the delicious fresh local food. But what to wash it all down with?

Fortunately, the island has a great selection of locally-produced tipples to enjoy too. And you can also visit many of the producers when you’re on the island – which is one of my favourite things to do!

Don’t worry if you’re reading this while you’re stuck on the mainland, however – in many cases, you can order a delivery to your home and still get a taste of the island while awaiting your next trip…

Fancy a cheeky G&T? Then you’re in luck because the island is home to the multi-award winning Isle of Wight distillery. You may have seen their beautiful Mermaid Gin bottles around – sometimes upcycled into table lamps! A real local success story, today the distillery exports its products worldwide and offers a range of delicious rums too.

The bar and shop is free to visit. It’s a small and relaxed place to while away a few pleasant hours, and it has a lovely terrace overlooking a vineyard. There’s no tour, but you can catch a good glimpse of the distilling area and the friendly staff are always happy to chat and share info.

My top tip is to orientate yourself by purchasing a Spirit Tasting Board, which gives you samples of seven different gins and rums for £9. This is a fun way to start your visit and also helps you work out what you like most before ordering a drink at the bar! Along with a full drinks and cocktail list, there’s also a menu of nicely-done comfort food (I love the gluten free pizza).

See if you can taste the flavours from the natural Island ingredients in their spirits – they include wild rosemary, elderflower from the fields, local strawberries, and Boadicea hops from the botanic gardens. You’ll also notice a taste of the sea, thanks to rock samphire foraged from the cliffs and sea salt from Ventnor!

The Isle of Wight Distillery is open daily and is located just a few miles outside Ryde and has its own bus stop – the number 8 service stops right outside.

Rum lovers might also like to keep their eyes peeled for Barnacles Brothers Coastal Rum when out and about in the island’s bars and restaurants.

The company’s two founders, who were born and raised on the Isle of Wight, use a Caribbean rum base and add their own unique coastal twist to it. Two of the secret ingredients are gorse flowers and rock samphire which they sustainably forage by hand on the Island. I find it very refreshing, with a nice mix of botanical notes and a hint of spice!

Goddard’s, the first brewery on the island, recently moved to an impressive new site roughly midway between Sandown and Arreton. The bar-restaurant area has the feel of a classy mountain retreat, and boasts a sunny terrace too!

Goddard’s operates as a membership club, but the good news is that it now welcomes day visitors too. The £5 day membership fee also includes a free drink or a flight of three 1/3-pints, making it decent value for money.

The company brews at least ten beers over the year including traditional, seasonal and small-batch craft tipples. If you haven’t tried them before, I’d recommend starting with a crisp, refreshing Planet lager (which is also gluten free) and don’t miss their rich and fruity red ale, Fuggle Dee-Dum.

There’s a viewing platform overlooking the brewing hall, a hi-tech interactive exhibit, and a short visitor film you can watch too. Hang out in the cool restaurant bar with a pint afterwards where you can also buy breakfast, small bites and pub classics.

Goddard’s is open daily and is located near the number 8 bus route, a 5-minute walk from the Amazon World bus stop.

Another place I like to visit is the unusually boat-shaped Pilot Boat Inn in Bembridge, home to Wight Knuckle Brewery’s taproom.  There you can try a selection of craft beers from their new brewery which is based at nearby Nunwell Farm.

Start with their light and refreshing faux lager, try the Pale Ale (which SIBA voted the best beer in the South East in 2023) and finish up with the rich and roasty Black IPA. Personally, I’d recommend paying £10 for their taster and you’ll get a 1/3 pint of six different beers! There’s stone-baked pizza on offer too, and you can walk it all off along the harbour after. You can also arrange to visit their brewery if you wish.

The Pilot Boat Inn is right by Bembridge Point bus stop, from where the number 8 runs regularly to Sandown and Ryde.

Adgestone is currently the only island vineyard open to the public. Home to Britain’s oldest commercial vine dating from 1968, the winery produces a wide range of still, sparkling and fruit wines and liqueurs.

For me, what stands out at Adgestone is how they cultivate a number of unusual grape varieties you probably haven’t heard of, and they’re well worth exploring further. Their Full Bodied Red has an unusually good depth for an English red wine, and be sure to try England’s only blue sparkling wine (yes, you read that right – the unique colour comes from the grape skins!). The vineyard has promised a sparkling red wine soon too, meaning you’ll be able to fulfil your patriotic duty by drinking red, white and blue fizz in one session!

Entrance to the shop is free, you can buy drinks and food sharing platters to have onsite, and there are  regular music events in summer. There are three different tour options and I’d suggest the Whole Vineyard Experience (£20) which includes a guided visit of the vineyard and cellars and a tasting of all their wines and liqueurs.

The vineyard is open seasonally from Wednesday to Saturday. It’s located approximately 15 minutes’ walk uphill from the Yarbridge Cross bus stop which is served by main bus routes 2 and 3, or a 20-minute walk from Brading railway station.

Finally, designated drivers and teetotallers needn’t miss out either!

Did you know that the island’s legendary sweet tomatoes are available to buy as bottled juice? You can find the red variety in many local shops and bars, and keep your eyes peeled for the ‘sunshine juice’ made from yellow tomatoes too! They make a great Virgin Mary cocktail.

For something fruity, check out Godshill Orchards who produce amazing apricot, cherry and apple juices.

Cheers and enjoy your Isle of Wight tipples!