Strawberry wine isn’t usually our go-to, so we approached this bottle with some scepticism…
We’ll be honest: strawberry wine isn’t usually top of our list. It tends to sit somewhere between nostalgia and novelty, and neither are things we instinctively reach for. So when Lyme Bay Winery sent over their Strawberry Wine, expectations were… measured.
That said, served properly (well chilled, no overthinking) this one quietly won us over.
This is a medium, well-balanced fruit wine with a delicate strawberry aroma, and importantly, it doesn’t tip into the overly sweet territory that puts many people off fruit wines altogether. The strawberry flavour is clear but restrained, and there’s enough freshness to keep it feeling light rather than syrupy.
How it actually drinks
Straight from the fridge, it’s clean, refreshing and easy. Not showy, not trying too hard just a pleasant glass for warm days when heavy wines feel like too much effort. It works particularly well as an aperitif, or poured alongside lunch when you want something cold and uncomplicated.
Where it really comes into its own, though, in our humble opinion, is as a longer drink. Topped with soda, plenty of ice and a few fresh mint leaves, it becomes something closer to a spritz. Light, cooling and oh so very drinkable. Add a slice of lemon or a strawberry if you like, but it doesn’t need embellishing.
A more grown-up take than expected
Lyme Bay Winery is known for treating fruit wines with the same care as more traditional styles, and that shows here. The strawberries are sourced from quality growers, then fermented and aged with restraint, resulting in a wine that feels considered rather than novelty-led.
At 11% ABV, it sits comfortably in that space where you can have a glass (or two) without it feeling heavy or overwhelming, ideal for summer evenings, garden lunches or those moments when beer or wine just don’t quite appeal.
When it makes sense
- Hot days when you want something properly chilled
- Garden drinks topped with soda and ice
- Easy aperitifs before food
- Casual summer gatherings where refreshment matters more than formality
This isn’t a bottle that’s trying to reinvent the wheel and that’s probably why it works. It’s a well-made strawberry wine that knows what it is and doesn’t pretend to be anything else.
If fruit wine hasn’t been on your radar for a while, this one might be worth a second look; cautiously, but pleasantly.
Lyme Bay Winery Strawberry Wine, 75cl | 11% ABV, £12.79, from lymebaywinery.co.uk
