Bow in the Cloud Vineyard - A Family-Run Cotswold Vineyard Near Malmesbury
A Family Vineyard Tucked Into the South Cotswolds
Bow in the Cloud is a small, three-acre vineyard planted almost entirely by hand on a pocket of land just outside the ancient market town of Malmesbury, on the northern edge of Wiltshire and within easy reach of the southern Cotswolds. The vineyard sits at the hamlet of Noah's Ark, Garsdon (postcode SN16 9NS) and is run by Sophie Willingale and her partner Ryan, with help from a loyal band of local volunteers, occasional international workawayers and an ever-growing list of farmers' market regulars.
The site is one of England's older vineyards. Planting began in 1992 and was finished a few years later by Sophie's father, Keith Willingale, who spent three years putting the rows in by hand. After Keith passed away in 2018, Sophie stepped up to take on the day-to-day running of the vineyard alongside her day job as a charity manager, with Ryan (an ex-Formula 1 engineer turned academic) lending his engineering brain to the operation. In December 2021 Sophie and Ryan bought the vineyard outright from Sophie's mother, marking a fresh chapter for the family business.
Production is tiny by industry standards - typically around 2,000 still and sparkling bottles a year - but everything is single-vintage, single-vineyard, hand-harvested and made with sympathetic, low-intervention farming. All the wines are vegan, and the team works with highly sustainable UK contract wineries (solar powered, rainwater harvested) rather than maintaining its own on-site winery.
The Noah's Ark Story: How a House Became a Vineyard Name
The Bow in the Cloud name has its roots in a Sunday Times readers' competition rather than anything to do with the weather. The hamlet itself is called Noah's Ark: the original house was built by a man named Noah hundreds of years ago and the local settlement took on the name. In 1982, Godfrey Smith, the Sunday Times columnist who lived locally, asked his readers to help rename the house at Noah's Ark - and the name stuck.
When Keith began planting the vineyard, the biblical Noah connection ran a little deeper than the address: the realisation that the biblical Noah also had a vineyard felt too neat to ignore. When the time came to name the wines, the readers of the Sunday Times stepped in again - which is how the flagship white blend became Cloud Nine, a nod both to the vineyard's name and to the lift of the Cotswold landscape.
The Bow in the Cloud team has form with high-profile fans. The late Queen Elizabeth II drank the wine, as has King Charles. The vineyard has stocked Michelin-starred restaurants, supplied celebrity parties and had its wines poured for figures as varied as Godfrey Smith and the philosopher Roger Scruton, both of whom were locals. As the team points out, you don't need to be rich or famous to enjoy a glass: the webshop is open to everyone.
The Site: Cornbrash Over Oolitic Limestone
Bow in the Cloud sits on a small pocket of cornbrash overlying oolitic limestone - a geologically privileged combination for vines. The limestone keeps the soils well-drained and warm, exactly the conditions that produce quality grapes in marginal climates. It is the same subsoil famously credited with the minerality and acidity of Champagne, and it gives Bow in the Cloud's dry still whites a similar tautness and lift.
Limestone-based vineyard soils are unusual in most wine regions, and that rarity is one of the things the Bow in the Cloud team is proudest of. The calcium-rich, well-structured ground helps the vines retain moisture during dry spells while draining freely after heavy rain, supports acidity in the berries and helps form disease-resistant skins - which, given the team's reluctance to spray, matters more than usual.
The People Behind the Vines
The vineyard's modern story is really Sophie and Ryan's. Sophie has spent the years since taking over learning how to prune, tie down, spray and harvest the vineyard herself, gaining her spray licence along the way so the team no longer relies on outside contractors. Ryan brings an engineer's eye to posts, trellising and the never-ending vineyard maintenance, and also keeps an eye out for grants and rural funding pots for robotics and carbon reduction.
They are supported by Sandy, the local volunteer who turns up with a strimmer every year and generally keeps the place upright, by Mark, who has been steadily pruning the vineyard, and by a long list of friends, neighbours and seasonal helpers who turn out for the harvest. The team's two small children - Reuben and the toddler born a little later - already spend time among the vines, and one of Sophie's stated ambitions is for the next generation to grow up loving the vineyard as much as Keith did.
The vineyard has had a string of high-profile helpers over the years. Tim Wildman MW has picked the Schonburger for his Lost in a Field Pet Nat, and Harriet Gleed, an RAU student who got in touch looking for summer work experience, ended up as a long-term fixture at markets, in the vineyard and at events.
The Wines
Bow in the Cloud grows Bacchus, Schonburger and Seyval Blanc on the original three acres, with newer plantings of Pinot Noir, Ortega and Cabaret Noir gradually coming into production. The team holds what they believe is one of the largest remaining plantings of Schonburger in the world - around one acre - and accepts that the variety is, in their words, “a pain to grow”. It is typically limited to about 1,000 bottles per harvest and only made in good years.
The range is split into still whites, sparkling wines and a rotating selection of mixed cases and gift packs. Vintages change from year to year as production is so small, and new releases are added to the webshop throughout the year.
Still Whites
- 2024 Schonburger (£16.50) - A dry/off-dry white from rare German-origin Schonburger grapes, with floral aromas, lychee, yellow peach and subtle spice. Pairs well with Thai green curry, Vietnamese summer rolls, mildly spiced crab cakes or a simple Sunday roast chicken. 5 g/L sugar, 11% ABV. Most recent award: WineGB Bronze 2023. View product.
- 2023 Cloud Nine Field Blend (£16.50) - The flagship still white, made primarily from Bacchus with Schonburger, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir, with 20% fermented in old French oak for six months. White peach, jasmine and herbal verbena on the nose, with a long mineral finish. Pairs with grilled sea bass, scallops, soft Cotswold cheeses or a summery asparagus and Parmesan tart. 11% ABV, WineGB Bronze. View product.
- 2025 Bacchus (£15.00, pre-order) - The latest release from the vineyard's oldest vines, fermented on its own indigenous yeast for the first time. Elderflower, English hedgerow, ripe kiwi, passionfruit and zesty lime; generous, textured palate with a citrus line through the finish. Pairs with mussels, prawn linguine, crab and avocado salad, chicken and asparagus, smoked salmon or goat's cheese. 11.5% ABV. Delivery begins around 12 June. View product.
Sparkling Wines
- 2021 Cloud Nine Sparkling Wine (£30.00) - Traditional-method white fizz made from Seyval Blanc, aged three years on the lees. Bright green apple, ripe pear and lifted citrus, lively bubbles, fresh acidity. Pairs with goat's cheese, oysters and sushi, or simply good friends. Brut quality, 8 g/L dosage, 11% ABV. Now in green bottles with no gold foil wrap. View product.
- 2021 Sparkling Rosé (£27.00, sold out - back late summer 2026) - Award-winning traditional-method rosé, Seyval Blanc blended with Pinot Noir for complexity and a pale pink colour. Cherry, red apple and white blossom on the nose, refreshing palate and creamy mousse. 12 months on the lees, 11% ABV. View product.
Mixed Cases and Gift Options
- Two-bottle pack - 2021 Cloud Nine Sparkling & 2024 Schonburger (£46.50). View product.
- Four-bottle pack - one of everything (£74.10) - one each of Schonburger, Bacchus, Cloud Nine Field Blend and 2021 white sparkling, ideal as a postal gift. View product.
- Case of 6: 2024 Schonburger (£89.10, 10% discount). View product.
- Case of 6: 2023 Cloud Nine Field Blend (£89.10, 10% discount). View product.
- Case of 6: 2025 Bacchus (£81.00, 10% discount, pre-order). View product.
- Case of 6: 2021 White Sparkling (£162.00, 10% discount). View product.
- The Mixed Case of 6 Still Wines (£83.70, sold out) - 2 × 2024 Schonburger, 2 × 2023 Cloud Nine, 2 × 2022 Bacchus. View product.
- The Mixed Starter Case of 6 (a bit of everything!) (£103.95, sold out) - 2 × 2021 Rosé Sparkling, 1 × 2022 Schonburger, 2 × 2022 Bacchus, 1 × 2023 Cloud Nine. View product.
- The 12 Bottle Selection Case (£198.45, sold out) - 3 × 2021 Sparkling Rosé, 3 × 2022 Bacchus, 3 × 2022 Schonburger, 3 × 2023 Cloud Nine (10% saving). View product.
For gifts, the digital Gift Card starts at £20 (also available at £28.50, £40 and £60) and can be redeemed against any wines or tours. A £20 voucher covers a tour and tasting for one, while a £30 voucher covers the tour with a cheeseboard. A simple coloured single-bottle gift bag (£1.20) finishes the parcel nicely.
Tours and Tastings
Bow in the Cloud runs friendly, informal Vineyard Tour and Tastings on selected Sunday afternoons from spring to autumn. The experience starts with a wander through the vines - somewhere between thirty minutes and an hour, depending on the group - followed by a tasting back at the shelter of three still wines and a sparkling wine, all made from the vineyard's own grapes. There is no quiz at the end and no right or wrong way to taste; the team simply wants you to enjoy what's in the glass.
The standard tour costs £20 per person. Add a cheeseboard of local cheeses from Brinkworth Dairy for £30 per person (the team asks for a few days' notice so they can source suitable alternatives for anyone with allergies). Children under 12 are free but cannot partake in the tasting, and the vineyard has no specific child facilities. Dogs are welcome on a lead. Tours run in small groups, with cancellation and reschedule terms clearly laid out at the time of booking.
The published 2025 tour dates were:
- Sunday 12 July, 2:00pm
- Sunday 2 August, 2:00pm
- Sunday 16 August, 2:00pm
- Sunday 22 August, 2:00pm
- Sunday 6 September, 2:00pm
- Sunday 13 September, 2:00pm
Dates are added to through the season, and for group bookings of ten or more the team can be contacted directly. Tickets are booked through the Tour and Tasting booking.
Making a Day of It
For visitors who want to build a longer visit around the tasting, the team has a handy list of local recommendations:
- Lunch nearby: The Rose & Crown at Lea, the Horse & Groom at Charlton (the vineyard's own pre- or post-tour favourite) and The Potting Shed at Crudwell.
- Things to see: Malmesbury Abbey and the historic town centre, Abbey House Gardens beside it, and Westonbirt Arboretum a short drive away.
- Staying over: The Old Bell and The Kings Arms in Malmesbury - both characterful and within walking distance of the town.
Events and Open Days
Bow in the Cloud is usually closed to the public, so visitors should contact the team in advance before turning up. From time to time the vineyard opens its gates for special events, and announcements are shared on the Bow in the Cloud Facebook and Instagram. Past events have included:
- Carnival Open Vineyard Day - an annual August open day during Malmesbury Carnival, with tours every half hour between 11am and 3pm, £5pp on the door (50% donated to the carnival charity), and free entry for under-16s.
- English Wine Week Tour & Tasting - special Saturday tours and tastings during English Wine Week in late May, with small-group sizes and ticketed entry.
- Get Involved Days - volunteer days in the vineyard, typically in spring, when many hands make light work of tying down pruned vines. Helpers can come for a half day or a whole day.
The team also hosts occasional private events - a retirement party for an NFU employee has been one of the more memorable recent gatherings.
Sustainability and Ethos
The Bow in the Cloud philosophy is to work with the land rather than against it. The team farms without insecticides, hand-picks every bunch and uses highly sustainable UK contract wineries powered by solar energy and harvested rainwater. Bottles are sourced closer to home to reduce transport emissions, labels have been simplified (the gold foil wrap around sparkling-wine necks has been dropped as not environmentally friendly) and screw-tops are used wherever possible. The vineyard uses a small amount of fungicide to keep the super-rare Schonburger functional, but no pesticides at all.
There are no bougies burning against spring frosts. If the birds, badgers and deer take a share of the grapes some years, the team accepts it as part of the deal. As Sophie and Ryan put it: "We grow grapes in harmony with the wildlife - sometimes that means the birds, badgers and deer eat the grapes, but that's OK."
All of the wines are vegan.
Where to Buy Bow in the Cloud Wines
Beyond the online shop, Bow in the Cloud wines are stocked by a small group of independent shops, pubs and farmers' markets around the Cotswolds. Stockists include:
Shops
- The Wild Food Co., 22 High Street, Malmesbury SN16 9AU - 01666 824 443
- Phoenix Wines, 59 Cricklade Street, Cirencester GL7 1HY
- Moreton Wine Merchants, 2 High Street, Moreton-in-Marsh GL56 0AP
Pubs
- The Royal Oak, High Street, Ramsden, Oxfordshire OX7 3AU
- The Whole Hog, 8 Market Cross, Malmesbury SN16 9AS
Farmers' Markets
- Stroud Market - first Saturday of the month, May onwards, The Shambles, High Street, Stroud GL5 1AP (01453 755 788)
- Cirencester Market - second Saturday of the month, May onwards, Market Place, Cirencester GL7 2PB (note: the team hadn't made it to Cirencester in the most recent year, so worth checking ahead)
- Oaksey Farmers' Market
Visiting Bow in the Cloud
The vineyard sits in the hamlet of Noah's Ark, Garsdon, just outside Malmesbury in Wiltshire (SN16 9NS). Look for the house with the large lamppost; visitors can also drive directly into the vineyard by driving past the next house and taking a tight right turn into an unmarked field. Parking is on site and the what3words reference is ///attablant.claqueur.reployant.
The vineyard is generally not open to the public outside of advertised tour and tasting dates, so it is best to book before visiting. Tours can be booked through the Tour and Tasting booking; for larger groups (10+) or private events, contact Sophie and Ryan directly.
If you'd rather not drive after a tasting - a sensible idea - local taxis include S.A. Taxi, Malmesbury (07515 868691) and Cirencester Taxis 247 (07735 602648). For groups, the team is happy to advise on transport options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book in advance to visit?
Yes. The vineyard is not usually open to the public, so any visit should be booked in advance through one of the scheduled Tour and Tasting experiences or advertised events.
Are the wines vegan?
Yes, every wine Bow in the Cloud makes is vegan.
Are tours and tastings child-friendly?
Children under 12 are welcome free of charge but cannot take part in the wine tasting and the vineyard has no specific child facilities. Visitors should bring anything their children need for refreshments.
Can I bring my dog?
Well-behaved dogs are welcome on a lead, provided owners clean up after them.
What is the cancellation policy?
Changes and cancellations must be made in writing via email at least seven days before the tour. Reservations are non-refundable but the team will try to reschedule within three months, or convert the payment to credit against the online shop.
How can I get in touch?
By phone on 07913 901023 or 01666 823040, by post at Bow in the Cloud, Noah's Ark, Garsdon, Malmesbury, Wiltshire, SN16 9NS, or via Facebook and Instagram.
Recent Updates from the Vineyard
Sophie has kept a running record of vineyard updates since taking on the business, documenting everything from a bumper 2025 harvest to frost years, family milestones and the realities of running a three-acre vineyard alongside full-time work. Recent updates include a long-overdue October 2025 note reflecting on an unusually hot English summer, an earlier-than-usual harvest with great yields and perfect ripeness, the release of the 2021 white sparkling aged three years on the lees (in line with vintage Champagne rules), and a first foray into working with Tim Wildman MW, whose Lost in a Field Pet Nat took some of the Schonburger grapes.