Bardfield Vineyard at Great Lodge: Award-Winning English Wines in the Heart of North West Essex
A Family Vineyard in the Heart of Rural Essex
Tucked away on a quiet country lane just outside the village of Great Bardfield in North West Essex, Bardfield Vineyard is one of the oldest and most distinctive English wine estates in the region. It sits within the grounds of Great Lodge, a rural estate that has been farmed by the same family for over a hundred years, and which today encompasses a working vineyard, a Grade I listed Tudor wedding barn, three stylish holiday barns and a small herd of alpacas whose wool is hand-spun into yarn.
What makes Bardfield Vineyard unusual among English vineyards is the breadth of the family business wrapped around it. Visitors come not only for the wines but for vineyard tours and ploughman's lunches in the historic barn, for English sparkling wines made by the traditional Champagne method, for weddings held in a 16th-century barn built for Anne of Cleves, and for weekends in converted farm buildings that overlook the vines themselves. It is, in every sense, a working estate where the vines are inseparable from the land, the buildings and the people who look after them.
How the Estate Came to Be
The Jordan family's connection with Great Lodge stretches back more than a century. They were tenant farmers on the estate at the end of the nineteenth century, and in the late 1940s Rebecca's grandfather Joseph Smith bought the land outright. Her father, Alan Jordan, moved to the farm in the 1980s, where he ran the arable operation alongside a growing interest in viticulture. In 1989 he planted the Bardfield Vineyard, establishing the oldest Bacchus vines that still form the backbone of the estate's white wines today.
Rebecca Jordan and her family followed in 2011 and built on what her father had begun. They opened the magnificent Anne of Cleves Barn as a wedding and events venue in 2014, and more recently converted the Great Lodge Barns into stylish holiday accommodation. One of Rebecca's children, Elizabeth, manages the social media and helps with events and weddings when she is home from university - making Great Lodge a genuinely multi-generational family business.
The Vineyard and its Wines
The vineyard itself is just over a hectare in size, but what it lacks in scale it more than makes up for in concentration of character. The oldest Bacchus vines were planted in 1989, and over the years Alan and Rebecca have added Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Meunier to the planting. These are the four varieties that give Bardfield Vineyard its distinctive range of still and sparkling wines.
Terroir: Sandy Clay Soil and the East Anglian Climate
The vines sit on sandy clay soil in a part of North West Essex that benefits from the dry, sunny East Anglian climate. The combination produces grapes full of flavour and, crucially, grapes that ripen reliably even in challenging English summers. The 2023 vintage, for example, was described by the estate as a "bumper crop" thanks to the wet summer followed by a hot September, and the resulting wines carry the generosity of that growing season.
Across the year the work on the vineyard is constant. In winter the vines are dormant and the team prune every vine by hand and repair the trellis. In spring the canes are tied onto the wires; bud burst usually arrives at the start of May. Growth accelerates dramatically through June, when flowering takes place mid-month: the flowers are self-pollinated and once they have done their work the grape clusters begin to develop. From that point on the team strips away leaves around the clusters, trims the tops and sides of the vines, and continues weeding, mowing and tucking in shoots through summer. August is when the grapes start to ripen, and as autumn approaches the team tests sugar and acid levels to decide when to harvest.
Harvest is almost always at the end of September and is done entirely by hand - wasps, badgers and birds are all keen on the ripening fruit, so timing matters. The grapes go straight from the vine down to the winemaker, where they are pressed and put into tank for fermentation. The vineyard is managed with the minimum input of sprays, in keeping with the family's wider concern for the environment.
The Bardfield Vineyard Wine Range
The Bardfield Vineyard range is built around four wines, each designed to express a different facet of the estate and its grape varieties. All four are available individually or in mixed cases from the online shop.
Bardfield Bacchus 2023 - Dry Still White
Bardfield Bacchus is a 100% Bacchus dry still white wine, priced at £14 per bottle or £77 for a six-bottle case. In the glass it shows the variety's signature character: intense aromas of elderflower and grapefruit, a fruity palate of apple, elderflower and herbaceous notes, and a crisp dry finish. The estate draws comparisons with a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc - bright, aromatic and refreshing.
Anne of Cleves 2023 - Medium Dry Still White
The estate's flagship white takes its name from the historic barn it shares with. Anne of Cleves 2023 is also 100% Bacchus, but is vinified as a medium dry style, with citrus, elderflower and grapefruit on the nose and a softer, more rounded palate. The 2023 vintage won a Silver Medal at the WineGB East Anglia Awards 2024, and the wine is made from organically grown grapes. It sells for £14 per bottle or £77 for a six-bottle case.
Bardfield Rose 2023 - Off-Dry Rosé
Bardfield Rose is an off-dry rosé made from a unique blend, predominantly Pinot Noir, with Pinot Meunier, Seyval Blanc and Bacchus rounding out the cuvée. It sells for £14 per bottle (six-bottle cases are available within the mixed crates) and is intended as an easy, food-friendly English rosé.
Sparkling Brut 2021 - Traditional Method Sparkling
For its sparkling wine, Bardfield Vineyard blends Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Seyval Blanc and Bacchus, then ferments the wine in bottle using the traditional Champagne method. The 2021 Sparkling Brut carries aromas of pear and ripe apricots, with crisp apple and floral notes on the palate. It sells for £26 per bottle or £143 for a six-bottle case.
Mixed Cases and Gifts
Two mixed crates make sensible gifts or cellar-stocking options. Mixed Wine Crate - option 1 (£77) contains two bottles each of Bardfield Bacchus 2023, Anne of Cleves 2023 and Bardfield Rose 2023. Mixed Wine Crate - option 2 (£90) swaps one of the stills for the 2021 Sparkling Brut, giving two Bacchus, two Anne of Cleves, two Rose and two Sparkling Brut.
Vineyard Tours, Tastings and Lunches
Between May and September the estate opens mid-week for guided vineyard tours and wine tastings, hosted in the Grade I listed Anne of Cleves Barn. The full experience is designed to give visitors a rounded picture of how the wines are made - not just what they taste like - and is structured as a tour of the estate and Bardfield Vineyard, a tasting of four wines, and a ploughman's lunch served in the barn.
The Tour Format
Each tour begins at 11am, meeting outside the barn by the fire pit. Guests are then taken on a personally guided walk through the Great Lodge estate and the Bardfield Vineyard, during which the team explains the work that goes into running the vineyard across the seasons and how it leads to the production of the award-winning wines. The tasting that follows covers four of the estate's wines and includes an introduction to the wider English wine industry. After the tasting a ploughman's lunch is served - guests can choose between Ham, Cheese or a vegan Hummus ploughman's - followed by local ice cream. The estate closes at 5pm, and visitors are asked to allow 2 hours 30 minutes for the full experience.
2026 Tour Dates and Prices
The 2026 Thursday tour dates are confirmed as 30th April, 4th June, 2nd July, 6th August and 3rd September 2026. Tickets for individual dates are £40 per person, and tickets for the remaining 2026 dates can be booked directly through the shop:
- Vineyard Tour, Tasting & Lunch - 6th August 2026 - £40
- Vineyard Tour, Tasting & Lunch - 3rd September 2026 - £40
For those who want flexibility, the 2026 Vineyard Tour, Wine Tasting & Lunch Voucher for 2 is priced at £80 and can be redeemed against any of the selected Thursday tours in the 2026 season. Booking is essential.
Self-Guided Trails and Group Visits
For visitors who prefer to explore at their own pace, self-guided trails with information sheets can be collected from the vineyard shop during opening hours. Tickets are £3 for adults and free for under-16s, and the ticket price is redeemable against purchases in the shop. Group visits are also available by appointment and can be combined with a ploughman's lunch or afternoon tea - contact the estate directly for group prices and availability.
Weddings at the Anne of Cleves Barn
Although the vines and the wines are the headline attraction for most day visitors, weddings have been the engine of the wider Great Lodge business since 2014. The Anne of Cleves Barn is a magnificent Grade I listed brick and tile Tudor barn built when the estate was owned by Anne of Cleves, the fourth wife of King Henry VIII, following the annulment of their marriage in 1540. It is one of the most unusual wedding venues in Essex.
A Wedding Venue with Room to Breathe
The barn is available for only 25 weddings and receptions between 1st April and 31st October each year, and the family prides itself on never running more than one wedding a weekend. Couples have the whole of Friday to set up the barn, the day itself, and until midday on Sunday to leave - there is no production-line feel. The barn itself is licensed for wedding ceremonies and can seat up to 150 guests for the ceremony and wedding breakfast, with up to 200 guests in the evening.
Ceremony Spaces and Grounds
Inside the barn, round tables and 150 folding wooden outside ceremony chairs are provided, but couples are free to bring their own linen, china and cutlery and to use their own suppliers. Outside, the walled garden and extensive grounds are for the exclusive use of the couple on their wedding day. Outdoor ceremonies can take place beside the lake in a handcrafted green oak wedding pavilion, and guests are invited to wander through the gardens, help feed the alpacas and visit the vineyard. A meandering path takes visitors through the estate's new woodland and up a spiral path to the top of the mound, which overlooks the garden and the surrounding countryside.
Food, Drink and Suppliers
Great Lodge deliberately does not require couples to use specified caterers or suppliers, although recommendations are available on request. The estate can supply award-winning wine from the vineyard, but couples are equally free to bring their own - and crucially no corkage is charged. A cash bar can be run by the venue at no extra charge. For anyone planning an event, the current hire charges and up-to-date availability are available on request from the estate.
Booking the Barn
Venue hire is paid in three stages: 20% on confirmation of booking, a further 30% twelve months before the booked date, and the remaining balance one month before. No refunds are made on booking fees or payments in the event of cancellation. Booking enquiries can be made using the Booking Conditions & Form. The barn is not available for hire on Sundays. Currently the estate has one wedding space remaining for October 2026, with several dates also open in 2027, and offer prices available on request.
Stay in the Great Lodge Barns
The same courtyard of timber-framed farm buildings that supports weddings has also been converted into three stylish self-catering or bed-and-breakfast units - The Rose Barn, The Cart Lodge and The Stables. Between 1st April and 31st October the rooms are only available to wedding guests on a Saturday night; outside the wedding season (and on other nights during the season) they are available to anyone looking for a quiet rural escape.
The Rose Barn - Bridal Suite
The Rose Barn has a spacious sitting room with sofas, a dining area and a galley kitchen. On one side is the bridal suite with a four-poster bed and a luxurious bathroom complete with chandelier-lit free-standing bath; on the other is a second bedroom with shower en-suite. For brides getting ready at Great Lodge the room is used as a dressing room. Prices are £300 Fri - Sun and £200 Mon - Thu.
The Cart Lodge
The Cart Lodge offers a double ensuite room with tea-making facilities (from £60 Mon - Thu, £120 Fri - Sun) and a two-bedroom suite with adjoining kitchen/breakfast room that sleeps four (from £140 Mon - Thu, £300 Fri - Sun). The two-bedroom suite has a minimum two-night stay.
The Stables
The Stables has a double bedroom with shower en-suite and a large family room with twin beds, a set of bunk beds and a shower en-suite, both adjoining a kitchen/breakfast room. There is also a small enclosed courtyard to the rear of the family room. Sleeps six, minimum two-night stay, from £160 Mon - Thu or £300 Fri - Sun.
Dogs are welcome but should be discussed with the estate prior to booking. Transport links in this part of North Essex are limited, so the estate strongly recommends that guests bring their own car. Grocery baskets can be arranged by special request on booking.
Great Lodge Alpacas and the Wool Shed
As if a vineyard and a wedding barn were not enough, Great Lodge is also home to a small Huacaya alpaca herd whose fleeces are spun into yarn and sold in the shop. The herd began in May 2012 when the family bought three alpacas - Lulu, Alberto and Apricot - from Melford Green Alpacas. Lulu was already pregnant, and her son Louis was born the following year. The family has since welcomed a further six crias: Lulu's Betty in 2015, Apricot's Stevie in 2015, Jemima in 2017 and Peaches in 2020, and Jemima's own daughter Tasmin in 2020, who was named after her mother for the tenacity that saw her survive a premature birth.
From Alpaca to Skein
Alpaca wool is strong, shiny and smooth, heavier and warmer than sheep's wool and free from lanolin - which makes it naturally hypoallergenic. The fleece from the body of the alpaca, called the blanket, is spun to produce 100% alpaca wool; the fleece from the neck and legs is blended with 30% Est a laine Merino fleece. The fleece is spun at a small mill in Derbyshire, and each animal's fleece is processed individually so that the yarn keeps its natural colour - visitors can identify the alpaca their wool came from.
Two Yarn Weights
The wool is available in 100g skeins in two blends: 100% Alpaca and 70% Alpaca and 30% Merino Wool. The 100% alpaca yarn is beautifully soft but less elastic than wool or wool blend, so the estate recommends hand-washing garments made from it. Any Double Knit, 4-Ply or Aran knitting pattern can be used with the yarn, but the team recommends checking tension carefully before starting.
Meeting the Herd
The alpacas are calm and a little timid and do not spit at people (though they will spit at each other). They live as a matriarchy under Lulu, and the older girls will eat out of your hand - although none of them enjoy being patted and they are not halter trained. Visitors who let the team know in advance may be able to help feed the alpacas during a visit.
Keep Growing: Therapeutic Horticulture at Great Lodge
In addition to the commercial vineyard and wedding business, the estate hosts Keep Growing, a therapeutic horticulture project run in partnership with MIND West Essex. The project supports adults with mental health issues through gardening and working in the vineyard, with the aim of reducing loneliness and isolation, helping people learn new skills in a structured and supportive environment, improving confidence and self-esteem, managing stress and anxiety, and meeting new people.
Keep Growing meets every Tuesday morning and there is no charge. Application forms can be downloaded or filled out online via MIND West Essex, and Rebecca and the team are happy to help with the forms - call 01371 811398, 01371 810776 or 07961 078 522.
Visit Bardfield Vineyard
Bardfield Vineyard at Great Lodge is in the village of Great Bardfield, just outside Braintree in North West Essex. The full address is Great Lodge, Braintree Road, Great Bardfield, Essex CM7 4QD.
Shop Opening Times
The vineyard shop is open weekdays 10am - 4pm. Visitors can taste the wines before they buy, browse the alpaca wool, and pick up information sheets for the self-guided vineyard trails. The office phone line (01371 811398) is open from 8am until 1pm on weekdays.
The Garden and Grounds
The shop sits within the wider walled garden, which includes a kitchen garden, a white garden and long herbaceous borders. Beyond the garden, a non-native woodland of trees and shrubs leads to a native wood planted in 2013 with over 2,000 trees and shrubs. Visitors can climb the spiral path up the mound to a vantage point overlooking the garden and woodland.
Events and What's On
The estate runs a small but high-quality programme of events each year. The headline public event in 2026 was the Great Lodge Summer Picnic on Monday 25th May 2026, when visitors brought their own picnics to enjoy in the walled garden while 12th Note Jazz provided live music from 1pm to 5pm. Advance tickets were £6 for adults (which included wine tasting) or £8 on the door, with under-18s free and dogs on leads welcome. A paying bar was available - guests were asked not to bring their own alcohol.
The vineyard tour and tasting dates in 2026 - 30th April, 4th June, 2nd July, 6th August and 3rd September - are also open to the public, and tickets for the remaining dates can be booked through the shop. The full calendar of upcoming events throughout the year is published by Great Lodge.
Why Bardfield Vineyard is Worth a Visit
What sets Bardfield Vineyard apart from many English vineyards is that it is not just a vineyard. It is a working rural estate with deep family roots, where the wines - the Bacchus, the medium-dry Anne of Cleves, the Pinot-led rosé, the traditional-method Sparkling Brut - are made from grapes grown on sandy clay in the dry, sunny East Anglian climate, and where visitors can taste them in a Tudor barn built for one of Henry VIII's queens, walk through a vineyard planted in 1989, stay overnight in a converted timber-framed barn, feed alpacas whose fleeces have been spun into yarn, and even volunteer on a therapeutic horticulture project that runs every Tuesday morning.
For wine lovers, the four-wine range is a clear and well-priced expression of what the Essex climate can do with cool-climate varieties. For visitors, the combination of tour, tasting and ploughman's lunch - served in a Grade I listed barn - is one of the most distinctive vineyard experiences in the region. And for anyone planning a wedding that has to feel like no one else's, the Anne of Cleves Barn, with its 25-weddings-a-year exclusivity, no-corkage policy and the option to use the estate's own wines, is in a class of its own.