Bucks &amp; Oxon


<p>Former Ibiza party girl. Vineyard manager. Sparkling wine producer. Holly Morgan wears many hats. As English Wine Week (20-28 June) gets underway, we caught up with the woman behind <a href="https://dawshillvineyard.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Daws Hill Vineyard</a>, a boutique family-run vineyard in the Chilterns producing elegant sparkling wines from the same chalky soils that make Champagne possible</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="2000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers.jpg" alt="Holly Morgan Daws Hill Vineyard" class="wp-image-205615" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers-600x800.jpg 600w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers-750x1000.jpg 750w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers-300x400.jpg 300w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Holly-cheers-1152x1536.jpg 1152w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>When she&#8217;s not tending vines or chasing her three-year-old, Holly is championing English wine through her new venture, <a href="https://www.dawshillevents.com/tasting-table" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tasting Table</a>, bringing relaxed, no-snobbery wine tastings to homes, gardens, hen dos and events. We chatted bubbles, bad decisions and why life is far too short for mediocre wine. Cheers to that.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-your-first-job-in-the-drinks-biz">Your first job in the drinks biz?</h3>



<p>I worked in bars and restaurants from about the age of 13. I’m not entirely sure how legal that was (laughs). I was always told I could serve beer as long as there was an adult there. Essentially, I’ve done that my whole life. I moved to France, did ski seasons, spent time in Ibiza, and eventually came back.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-career-highlight">Career highlight?</h3>



<p>I recently launched The Tasting Table after vineyard visitors kept asking if I could bring the wine tasting to them. Because I only make two sparkling wines at Daws Hill, I now work with other local vineyards, creating relaxed tastings featuring five wines from five producers.</p>



<p>I host tastings everywhere from pubs and corporate events to hen parties and country houses. It&#8217;s informal, fun and designed for people who want to learn a little about English wine while enjoying a glass or five. If you don&#8217;t fancy leaving the house, I&#8217;ll come to you, give you a 90-minute chat, and help you get a bit more drunk.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-would-you-sum-up-your-drinks-philosophy">How would you sum up your drinks philosophy?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Tour-in-vineyard.jpg" alt="Holly Morgan Daws Hill Vineyard best vineyards near me boutique vineyards uk" class="wp-image-205616" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Tour-in-vineyard.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Tour-in-vineyard-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Tour-in-vineyard-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Tour-in-vineyard-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>My approach to winemaking is minimal intervention. I do as little as possible and let the grapes speak for themselves. I only make vintage wine, so every year’s grapes go into that year’s wine. I’m not trying to make something that tastes the same every year. I’m trying to make the best wine that particular vintage can produce. Non-vintage is actually much more difficult because you’re trying to make something consistent out of things that aren’t consistent. Also, I make wine I like. I don’t try to please everybody, because if you try to please everybody, you end up pleasing nobody.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-memorable-moment-at-work">Most memorable moment at work?</h3>



<p>It’s a bit tragic, but it is quite funny. When I was pregnant, I accidentally added too much sugar to my wine while bottling it, so it became too fizzy. The bottles started exploding. I had a whole summer of random bottles going off halfway through tours. Just bang, bang. About 1,000 bottles of wine went down the drain. I had a farmhand working with me and every week I’d say, “Can you put this leather jacket on and some safety glasses and go clear up all that glass?” Then the next week: bang, bang, bang, bang. Luckily I had split the tank, so only half the wine was affected. The wine that survived is actually the one I’m about to release, and it’s really nice if I do say so myself.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-it-s-a-lock-in-which-celebs-would-be-propping-up-the-bar">It’s a lock in, which celebs would be propping up the bar?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-23.png" alt="Absolutely Fabulous hunting Shooting Fishing " class="wp-image-205648" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-23.png 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-23-800x533.png 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-23-1000x667.png 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/Untitled-design-23-400x267.png 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: <em>Absolutely Fabulous</em> | BBC</figcaption></figure>



<p>Hunter S Thompson would be interesting. He sounds like a fascinating guy – absolutely wild. Johnny Depp always seems like he’d be fun to drink with, and I mean, it&#8217;s Johnny Depp.</p>



<p>And the A<em>bsolutely Fabulous</em> girls, Patsy and Edina. The characters rather than the actors, although maybe the actors too. I remember hearing a story from Jennifer Saunders about going drinking with Bananarama back in the Eighties. They drunk bottles of vodka straight and one of them fell out of a taxi backwards straight into the street. Apparently some of that inspired scenes in <em>Absolutely Fabulous</em>. I think she&#8217;d have some right stories.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-celebrating-what-are-you-ordering">You’re celebrating, what are you ordering?</h3>



<p>A Long Island Iced Tea. As a cocktail, that’s my favourite. I’m more of a quantity drinker than a quality drinker – I can’t drink cocktails because I drink them like shots. Otherwise, pints of beer, vodka tonic, shots of tequila. I love tequila. If I’m really celebrating though, it’s a bottle of English sparkling wine. Obviously I have to say that. A bottle of my own Daws Hill wine, of course</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-best-bar-you-ve-ever-visited">The best bar you’ve ever visited?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="900" height="600" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/petite-cuisine-67cd71d8.jpg" alt="La Folie Douce in Val d’Isère" class="wp-image-205649" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/petite-cuisine-67cd71d8.jpg 900w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/petite-cuisine-67cd71d8-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/petite-cuisine-67cd71d8-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Image: La Folie Douce in Val d’Isère</figcaption></figure>



<p>It’s easily La Folie Douce in Val d’Isère. You snowboard in, get a beer, your beer freezes while you’re drinking it because it’s so cold, they spray champagne over you while you dance on the tables in your ski boots, there’s a DJ and live musicians. It’s my favourite place in the world.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-on-the-your-boozy-bucket-list">What’s on the your boozy bucket list?</h3>



<p>All the big English sparkling wines and Champagnes. Bollinger, Nyetimber and the rest. But I call that research and development. It’s part of the job. Other than that, tequila. I’d also like to try some of the celebrity tequila brands that have become popular recently.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-wine-do-you-think-people-should-appreciate-but-don-t">What wine do you think people should appreciate, but don’t?</h3>



<p>English red wine. Five years ago I would have laughed at the idea, but my favourite red wine at the moment is English. There’s a local producer, Leonian Wines, and their Pinot Noir is stunning. People still don’t really approach English red wines or English still wines. Historically, still wines were what England made before the Nineties. The world has warmed up so much that we’re now becoming really suited to making still wines and, in good years, red wines as well.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-most-overrated-drink-and-the-better-alternative">Most overrated drink and the better alternative?</h3>



<p>Pornstar Martini. I’m not a huge cocktail drinker, but I’d rather have something longer and with a bit more to it, so maybe a Hugo Spritz as an alternative.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-there-a-country-you-d-love-to-explore-just-for-the-drinks">Is there a country you’d love to explore just for the drinks?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1707" height="2560" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-scaled.jpg" alt="Argentina vineyard" class="wp-image-205706" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-scaled.jpg 1707w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-533x800.jpg 533w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-667x1000.jpg 667w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-267x400.jpg 267w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2026/06/pexels-nano-erdozain-120534369-19046646-1365x2048.jpg 1365w" sizes="(max-width: 1707px) 100vw, 1707px" /></figure>



<p>My other half is Argentinian, and I’ve spent time there, but I’d love to properly explore the wine regions. Every time we go, we say we’ll do it and somehow never quite get there.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-holiday-tipple">Favourite holiday tipple?</h3>



<p>Aperol Spritz, that&#8217;s always the first thing I&#8217;m ordering. But then exploring the local drinks scene, local wines or spirits I&#8217;m always intrigued to taste what the locals are drinking.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-drinks-gadget">Favourite drinks gadget?</h3>



<p>A Champagne bottle opener called a Descorjet. You slide it over the top, pull the handle, and the cork comes out safely inside the device. I open a lot of bottles of sparkling wine, and apparently on average 18 people a year lose an eye to Champagne corks, so it’s partly a safety thing. It also looks really cool.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient">Favourite ingredient?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="666" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/Daws-Hill-Vineyard.jpg" alt="Daws Hill Vineyard wine being poured vineyards in buckinghamshire best uk wine producers" class="wp-image-204032" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/Daws-Hill-Vineyard.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/Daws-Hill-Vineyard-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2021/04/Daws-Hill-Vineyard-400x266.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Alcohol. More specifically, ethanol. That’s a pretty important ingredient in boozy drinks.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-one-wine-tip">What’s your one wine tip?</h3>



<p>We drink white wine too cold and red wine too warm in this country. When people say red wine should be served at room temperature, they mean room temperature in a French château. They don’t mean sitting next to a radiator in a centrally heated house. Take your white wine out of the fridge 20 minutes before drinking it, and put your red wine in the fridge 20 minutes before drinking it. </p>



<p>If you put ice in your white wine, you probably don’t actually like white wine because you’re stripping away the flavours. If it’s good white wine, it shouldn’t be ice-cold. Also glasses, invest in decent wine glasses, it will improve your experience, never put wine glasses through the dishwasher. You should hand-wash them, ideally in the morning, (as the night before you have been drinking and are more likely to break them)</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-best-hangover-cure">Best hangover cure?</h3>



<p>Prevention is key! Drink plenty of water the night before. A glass of wine, a glass of water. People often blame sulphites or other things, but most hangovers are simply dehydration and drinking too much alcohol. Rehydrate properly and trust me, you’ll usually feel much better the next day.</p>



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<p><strong><em>Find out more about Daws Hill Vineyard&#8217;s <a href="https://www.dawshillevents.com/tasting-table" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Tasting Table</a> events</em></strong> – the next one is an English Wine Week celebration, <a href="https://dawshillvineyard.co.uk/event/best-of-the-chilterns-wine-tasting-2/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Taste of the Chilterns Wine Tasting</a> on 27 June 3pm-5pm. Tickets £50. Space is limited.</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-in-the-mood-for-more">IN THE MOOD FOR MORE?</h2>



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<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/pubs-inns/best-pub-gardens-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire/">Sun, spritzes and stunning views: the prettiest pub gardens near you</a></li>



<li><a href="https://bucksoxon.muddystilettos.co.uk/eat-out/winter-restaurant-deals-oxfordshire-buckinghamshire/">9 posh eats for cheap in Bucks &amp; Oxon</a></li>



<li><a href="https://muddystilettos.co.uk/drink/wine/english-wine-week-best-english-vineyards-to-eat-drink-stay/">9 of the best English vineyards to fizz, feast and flop</a></li>
</ul>


Drinks on me! Holly Morgan of Daws Hill Vineyard, Radnage

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