Jersey is only five miles long and nine miles wide, and it sits just 14 miles from the French coast and 85 miles from the south coast of England. It is self-governing and has its own financial and legal systems, but it is a British Crown Dependency and is defended and internationally represented by the UK Government.

It’s not a holiday destination I had ever been interested in visiting until friends and family started to rave about how gorgeous the island was and how easy it was to get around. I recently visited Jersey for a holiday and hired a car to easily get around the country roads, and the whole island took me by surprise, with plenty of gorgeous beaches.

Just a 30-minute flight from London Gatwick, I stepped off the plane into a small airport, found my car and got onto the road.

I had vaguely researched some places I wanted to visit and stumbled across La Mare Wine Estate, located just 10 minutes north of the airport.

I hadn’t seen any videos online of the place, nor had I heard anyone talk of the place, but as a wine lover, I knew I had to visit.

The central farmhouse known as Elms Farm was built in 1797, but it wasn’t until 1972 when the first vine was planted and the Estate matured.

It has now developed into a six-acre commercial vineyard and distillery, with a shop and restaurant where you can even get married.

Visiting on a sunny afternoon, I thought it would be packed with people, but to my surprise, there was no one else on site until a little later for a wine tour.

The landscape was gorgeous, the wine and food were delicious, and I’ve never felt more relaxed.

The staff couldn’t have been more helpful, and I decided to revisit on the last day of my holiday, too, for a delicious glass of wine.

In fact, I loved the vineyard's setting so much that I’ve already booked a trip to Jersey to revisit La Mare Wine Estate.

I was surprised at how quiet it was, but the season tends to kick off in Jersey a little later, so I presume locals flock to the outdoor tables when the weather is warmer.

You can also easily spend a day at the estate by starting off with a guided tour and tasting, then heading for a vineyard walk, and then going to the restaurant for a bite to eat.

Other attractions I enjoyed in Jersey included Elizabeth Castle, Mont Orgueil Castle, Jersey Zoo and Jersey War Tunnels.

The whole island felt like being in France but with a hint of the UK due to driving on the same side of the road, and I’d highly recommend it as a travel destination to anyone. Flights can also be made super cheap when flying midweek, and cost as little as £20.