From a 72-strong group of Norwegian ‘rowers’ to runners from the USA, Austria, Finland, Germany and Japan, this September’s Bacchus Wine Half Marathon & 10K brought an international field to the vines of Denbies Wine Estate in the Surrey Hills National Landscape.
Bacchus, now in its 16th year, has grown from a quirky local event into one of the UK’s most distinctive running experiences, combining running with English wine, food, fancy dress and live entertainment.
Along the way, conventional race refreshment stations are replaced by opportunities to sample Denbies wines, making Bacchus a race designed to be savoured rather than simply raced.
Demand for Bacchus continues to grow, with entries rising by around 15% year on year and the event selling out earlier each time. This year, 3,150 runners took part, cheered on by an estimated 1,500 spectators who joined the celebrations at Denbies.
The wine run is also attracting attention well beyond the Surrey Hills, with runners travelling from across Europe and further afield. Its international reach was reflected off the course too, with this year’s event attracting coverage from Japanese television.
It is a far cry from the first Bacchus, when 217 runners entered the half marathon and 56 tackled a full marathon.
Steven Seaton, managing director of 2:09 Events, which organises the race on behalf of Denbies, said: “We are delighted that in a buoyant market Bacchus has now firmly established itself as the pre-eminent wine race in the UK with a growing international reputation. Demand for entries has never been higher, and, on current trend, we will be sold out for 2027 before the end of 2026.”
At the heart of the event is its extraordinary setting. Bacchus takes runners through the vines and across the beautiful countryside surrounding Denbies Wine Estate, one of England’s largest single-estate vineyards.
Along the course, runners can sample Denbies wines at six refreshment stations during the half marathon and three during the 10K, before joining the celebrations at Bacchus’s famous after-party.
And the landscape is not just for race weekend. Denbies’ network of paths through its vineyard, woodland and hillsides attracts runners, cyclists and walkers throughout the year, providing a gateway to the wider Surrey Hills.
With interest in English wine continuing to grow, Bacchus is increasingly showcasing both Denbies Wine Estate and Surrey to an international audience.
From just 273 runners at its first staging to thousands of participants and spectators today, the event has become one of Surrey’s most distinctive annual fixtures, combining wine tourism with the global appetite for destination running events.
