Babu's Vineyard: An Award-Winning Artisan Winery in the Heart of Norfolk
The Story Behind Babu's Vineyard
Tucked into the ancient village of Weston Longville, just a few miles west of Norwich, Babu's Vineyard is a small, artisan family-run vineyard and winery that punches well above its weight. Planted in 2009, it is believed to be the very first vineyard planted in this corner of Norfolk - and certainly the first in a thousand years, since the village was recorded as the Saxon settlement of Westum in the Domesday Book.
The vineyard was created by Peter Ross as a retirement project. With the help of friends and neighbours, the first vines went into the ground in 2009. What began as a hobby quickly became a serious venture: following successful early harvests, Peter established a winery, and the first wines were bottled in 2014. Since then, Babu's has been quietly producing a succession of award-winning wines from a single, hand-tended patch of Norfolk countryside. Visitors are invited to sample the results through vineyard tours, tastings and, of course, bottles of the wines themselves.
Why "Babu"?
The name is a personal one. Babu is Swahili for "grandfather" - a family title. Peter Ross became a grandfather in 2004 with the birth of his granddaughter Erin, followed by grandsons Joseph and then great-granddaughter Edith, who eventually inherited the title. So the vineyard carries the family moniker as a permanent reminder of who it was planted for.
Location and Terroir
Babu's Vineyard sits at Glebe Farm on Rectory Road in Weston Longville, Norwich, Norfolk, NR9 5LF - right next to the Old Rectory, the former home of the 18th-century diarist Parson Woodforde. The proximity is no coincidence: Parson Woodforde has inspired two of the winery's most distinctive labels, The Rector's Red and The Parson's Pleasure.
The site is one of the more northerly vineyard locations in England, deep in the East Anglian climate. The cool, dry growing conditions and sandy loam soils of central Norfolk make it a demanding but rewarding place to ripen grapes - and the varieties Peter chose are well suited to the challenge.
The Grape Varieties: Solaris and Rondo
The vineyard is planted predominantly with two grape varieties:
- Solaris - a white grape widely grown in Northern Germany and Southern Denmark, prized for its ability to ripen reliably in cooler climates. At Babu's it is used to make all of the white wines and dessert wines.
- Rondo - a red variety of similar northern-European provenance, used at Babu's for the rosé and the red.
Both varieties are ideally suited to the East Anglian climate and terroir, producing clean, aromatic wines with characteristic freshness and balance.
The Wines
Babu's current release consists of six wines, all hand-crafted at the small winery on the farm. Prices are per bottle.
The Rector's Red 2021 - £20
Named after Parson Woodforde, the 18th-century diarist who lived in the Old Rectory next to the vineyard, The Rector's Red 2021 is made from estate-grown Rondo grapes. It spent 14 months in oak barrel before being bottled in March 2023, and was released in September 2025 after slow maturation in bottle. The wine already shows a magnificent nose and a deep, dark colour. The first 50 bottles were released in September 2025 at £20 per bottle.
The Parson's Pudding - £20
A late-harvested Solaris bottled in elegant 37.5cl format, The Parson's Pudding is a sweet, smooth and superb dessert white. Similar in character to the 2021 Gold Medal-winning dessert wine, it is delicious on its own or paired with a perfect pudding. It won a Silver Medal in the 2023 WineGB East competition.
The Rose 2025 - £19
Recently bottled, the 2025 Rosé has a Provençal blush and is both delicate and delicious - pitched as the perfect drop for summer evenings (or indeed any time of year). In the 2026 WineGB East competition it won a Silver Medal.
The Parson's Pleasure 2023 - £19
Another wine named after Parson Woodforde, The Parson's Pleasure 2023 is an easy-drinking off-dry white and a well-balanced blend of oaked and unoaked Solaris. It took a Silver Medal in the 2024 WineGB East Competition.
Dolce Solaris - £18
A medium-sweet white wine, Dolce Solaris is described as perfect for enjoying in the sunshine, on its own or as an accompaniment to fruit- and cake-based dishes. It won a Silver Medal in the 2023 WineGB East competition.
The Solaris 2024 - £23
The flagship white. The 2024 Solaris is a delicate, dry white that won a Gold Medal and the Cooper Trophy for the Best White Wine in East Anglia at the 2026 WineGB East competition. Highly praised by the judges for its fine qualities, it is ideal for drinking on its own and pairs exceptionally well with cheeses and seafood.
A Track Record of Awards
Since the winery opened in 2014, Babu's has accumulated a remarkable medal tally for such a small producer. To date the winery has been awarded 3 Gold, 12 Silver and 3 Bronze medals. In the 2023 WineGB East Competition, Babu's was the smallest vineyard entered - and yet won more medals than any other vineyard, taking home 3 Silvers and a Bronze.
The headline result so far is the 2026 WineGB East Competition, where the Solaris 2024 won Gold and the Cooper Trophy for the Best White Wine in East Anglia, with the 2025 Rosé taking Silver.
Vineyard Tours and Tastings
Babu's first opened its doors to the public for tours and tastings in 2019, and the format has been refined ever since. The 2026 tours take place in July, August and September, when the vines are at their best - in full leaf and carrying fruit.
Tour with Tasting - £20 (1.5 hours)
The one-and-a-half-hour tour includes an expert-guided walk of the vineyard and winery, followed by a tasting of four of the wines on the deck by the vineyard pond. Tours are led by the proprietor himself and offer an insight into the art of grape growing and wine making in "Nelson's County".
Each tour is limited to around 10 - 12 guests to keep the experience personal, informative and fun.
- Morning tours start at 11:00 and finish around 12:30.
- Afternoon tours start at 14:00.
2026 Tour Dates
- Saturday 18 July - morning tour and tasting
- Saturday 15 August - morning and afternoon tour and tasting
- Saturday 22 August - morning tour and tasting
- Saturday 5 September - morning and afternoon tour and tasting
Parties of around 10 or so can be flexible with dates. Visitors are encouraged to combine a tour and tasting with lunch at the renowned Parson Woodforde Pub, a short distance away in the village. Booking early is strongly advised.
Bespoke Tour - Price on Application
For groups who would like something tailored - hens, clubs, families, birthdays - Babu's offers bespoke tours arranged by appointment. Enquiries should be sent to info@babusvineyard.co.uk.
Grape Harvest
The vineyard usually harvests in late September or early October, and visitors who would like to lend a hand at picking are warmly welcomed. The team traditionally picks in fine Gallic style, with an early-morning start followed by a lunch accompanied by last year's vintage (if any is left). Anyone interested in joining should get in touch by email.
Festivals and Events in 2026
Throughout the year, Babu's attends a small number of Norfolk food and drink festivals - and visitors can buy wines at the stall. The 2026 calendar is as follows:
- Beccles Food and Drink Festival - Sunday 23 May 2026, 10:00 - 16:00, Beccles Town Centre.
- WineGB East Competition Public Tasting - Saturday 25 July 2026, 13:00 - 16:00, at The Suffolk Food Hall, IP9 2AB. Members of the public are invited to taste all the wines entered in the competition.
- The Waylands Show - Sunday 2 August 2026, 10:00 - 16:00, Waylands Agricultural Show ground, Watton - one of the oldest agricultural shows in Norfolk.
- The Aylsham Food Festival - Saturday 3 October 2026, 08:00 - 13:00, Aylsham Town Hall. Babu's will have a stall in the Town Hall.
Where to Buy Babu's Wines
Babu's award-winning wines are available from a small, carefully chosen network of Norfolk stockists:
- Bakers and Larners, Holt
- The Royal Norwich Golf Club, Weston Longville
- M's, Aylesham
- Taverham Garden Centre
- Bawdeswell Garden Centre
- The Norfolk Deli, Hunstanton
- Algy's Farm Shop
- The Norfolk Food Hall at the Showground
Wines are also available at the food and drink events listed above, and from the vineyard gate at Glebe Farm, Rectory Road, Weston Longville. Local delivery can be arranged by contacting the vineyard directly.
Plan Your Visit
Babu's Vineyard is open by appointment only, Thursday to Saturday, and closed Sunday to Wednesday. This is a working family vineyard, so all visits - whether to the cellar door, for a tour and tasting, or to pick grapes at harvest - should be arranged in advance by email at info@babusvineyard.co.uk or by phone on 01603 880142 / 07747 475818.
Whether you arrive for a guided walk through the vines, a tasting of four wines by the pond, or simply to pick up a bottle of the Gold-winning Solaris 2024, you will be welcomed as a guest of the family - which, in the truest sense, is what a Babu's visit has always been.