Gimme five ... British hotels for wine lovers

(01647 432367. www.gidleigh.com), Dartmoor, is a haven of ticking clocks, wood fires and purring cats. The Michelin twostar restaurant is one of five in Britain designated Relais Gourmand in the Relais et Chateaux guide. On the 500-choice wine list are labels from £19 for a 1994 Roussanne, Domaine Virginie, Languedoc, to £300 for 1990 Richebourg, A&F Gros - the hotel has won a Wine Spectator Grand Award every year since 1984. Doubles from £385 a night half board; 10 per cent discount (until 28 February) on two or more nights.

There are vineyard and valley views from all eight terrace guest rooms recently added to Three Choirs Vineyards (01531 890223) in Gloucestershire. Urban escapees seek peace beside open fires, or tuck in to venison haunch, pan-fried calves' liver and fillets of brill from the mod Brit menu. The vineyards produce 250,000 bottles a year, and guests are welcome to try tastings. Doubles £65 a night B&B. Three-nights-for-two packages £220 half board. The Vineyard at Stockcross (01635 528770) in Berkshire is a 19th century hunting lodge turned gourmet's haunt: fusion food and wine evenings in the Michelin-starred restaurant cost £85pp (five courses with selected wines - note that the hotel's 2,000-bottle wine list received the AA Wine Award for the year 2001). There is a variety of Chateau d'Yquem vintages available (1895 is a mere £3,500). Of the 31 Emily Tod Hunter-designed rooms, choose the grande suites for fourposters and huge sitting rooms. The hotel has a rod on the river Kennet and can arrange shooting and golf - or hit the spa. Doubles from £280 a night half board, including bottle of champagne and massage.

A faux-Tudor four-star south of Chester, De Vere Carden Park Hotel (01829 731000) feels corporate, but the 130 wines compensate - from Carden Park Seyval Blanc Brut 1996 for £17.50 (the hotel has its own vineyards) to Premier Grand Cru Classe 1992, at £185. Work off your braised lamb shank with golf, tennis or laser clay shooting.

The spa has 15 treatment rooms, an aromatherapy steam room and sauna. Doubles Monday to Thursday from £110 a night half board (weekends from £130), including use of spa facilities.

Body wraps counterbalance over-indulgence on the 600-bottle wine list at the Hotel du Vin (0121 236 0559) in Birmingham, where sleek interiors and a champagne bar attract a fashionable crowd.

Wines to accompany your pan-fried red mullet with fennel and sauce vierge start at £11.50 for white Chilean Concha y Toro to £600 for Le Pin Pomerol 1995 (a fine red Bordeaux).

Half-bottles encourage experimentation. Doubles from £100 a night, room only. Two-night packages from £499 per double half board, including four spa treatments.

It's all French to me...