Carlton Towers Walled Garden Vineyard: English Sparkling Wine in a Yorkshire Stately Home
Hidden inside the high brick walls of one of Yorkshire's most beautiful private estates sits a small but characterful English vineyard. The Walled Garden Vineyard at Carlton Towers, near Goole in North Yorkshire, is a family-run English sparkling wine project rooted in centuries of aristocratic heritage - and in the cool, sunshine-soaked summers of the East Riding.
Planted roughly a decade ago by Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard and dedicated to the memory of Lord Gerald's late father, Miles, 17th Duke of Norfolk, the vineyard produces an award-winning Carlton Towers Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine from a blend of Colmor Auxerrois (a white Chardonnay variety) and Pinot Noir. Bottles can be tasted and bought at the on-site Stables Tearoom, ordered through the online gift shop, or enjoyed in situ at one of the vineyard's open-air Vineyard Afternoon Teas, yoga sessions and long-table banquets.
A 1,000-year-old family home in North Yorkshire
Carlton Towers itself is the private family seat of Lord and Lady Gerald Fitzalan Howard and has been hosting visitors for more than 800 years. The estate is cited in the Domesday Book of 1086 under the Viking lord Ulfkil, and continuous family ownership can be traced back to 1301. Over the centuries the house was shaped by kings, crusaders and knights who fought at Bannockburn - stories that are still told through the rooms, portraits and antique collections at the property today.
Lord and Lady Gerald moved from London to Carlton Towers in 1991, when the house had stood empty for roughly twenty years. They embarked on a long programme of restoration, transforming the building into the family home they now share with their three children, Arthur, Florence and Grace, while opening its staterooms, gardens and bedrooms to guests for weddings, retreats, private parties and corporate events.
Today, Carlton Towers is one of Yorkshire's most celebrated country-house venues - winner of multiple Best Wedding Venue awards (2017, 2018, 2019, and a Silver Award in 2023) - and a favourite location for film and television crews. The house has doubled for Windsor Castle in ITV's Victoria, hosted BBC MasterChef, featured in The Darling Buds of May, and appeared in Keeping Up With The Aristocrats, American Viscountess and Angus Ashworth: Yorkshire Heritage Hero.
The Walled Garden Vineyard
The vines and the wine
The Walled Garden Vineyard is a compact, south-facing block of vines enclosed by historic brick walls and surrounded by old English roses, heritage fruit trees and Victorian-style herbs. The plantings are split between Colmor Auxerrois (a white variety of Chardonnay) and Pinot Noir, a classic Champagne blend adapted to Yorkshire's cooler climate.
Together the two varieties produce the estate's signature Carlton Towers Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine 2022, sold at £45.00 per bottle through the online shop and at the Stables Tearoom. The wine is made exclusively for the estate and is not stocked in shops. As the team puts it, "Our wine is only available from Carlton Towers, and our wedding couples often choose to serve it to their guests." Independent taster BurgundyNick has described the wine as having a "beautiful expressive nose of brioche, strawberry, citrus and apple" with a "fresh, lively and balanced" palate - well-suited as an aperitif or paired with light summer desserts.
Vineyard experiences
The vineyard is more than a working winery - it is the social heart of the estate, used as the setting for many of Carlton Towers' most popular experiences:
- Vineyard Afternoon Tea - sandwiches, warm scone with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of desserts, served at tables of 1pm, 2pm and 3pm among the vines. £25.00 per person, with optional add-ons including a glass of Carlton Towers Sparkling Wine (£12.00) or a bottle (£65.00), Gardet Champagne, non-alcoholic sparkling, extra sandwiches or a seasonal savoury platter.
- Summer Morning Vineyard Yoga with Natalie Scattergood - gentle, restorative sessions in the open air, £20.00 per session, with yoga mats provided. A three-date summer package is available for £50.00.
- Under the Vines: A Carlton Banquet - long-table BBQ dining set between the rows of vines, with arrival at 6pm and banquet at 7pm. £70.00 per adult, £47.50 per child (under 12s).
- Heritage, Vines & Pastures: Estate Experience - an immersive three-hour morning that combines a guided historic tour, a vineyard tour with a bottle of English sparkling wine to take home, and a visit to meet the estate's Longhorn cattle and Angus herd. £95.00 per person.
- Harmony in the Vineyard: Afternoon Tea & Tunes - afternoon tea with live music drifting through the vines. £50.00 per person.
- Vineyard Weddings and Private Hire - the walled garden can be hired for outdoor ceremonies, drinks receptions and intimate dinners, with a stretch tent providing shade or shelter. Prices are quoted on application via the vineyard pricing brochure.
Estate life: farming, cattle and bees
Carlton Towers is a working agricultural estate as well as a heritage attraction. The 250-acre parkland is home to a herd of English Longhorn cattle and a prized Aberdeen Angus herd, both managed under regenerative farming principles that work in alignment with natural processes. The cattle play a central role in the Heritage, Vines & Pastures experience, where visitors learn how the herd shapes the character of the land.
Beehives are dotted across the estate's wildflower meadows, producing a delicate, floral Carlton Towers Honey that is harvested in partnership with Yorkshire apiarist Cristina of MI Honey. The honey is sold in small (8oz) and large (12oz) jars from £5.50 in the online shop and at the Stables, and is used in the kitchens wherever possible.
The beekeeping partnership with MI Honey has also spawned a popular Beekeeping Experience Day, a hands-on half-day workshop with Cristina that runs throughout the summer. The session starts with a talk and refreshments in the Stables Tearoom, moves out to the hives on the parkland for a practical demonstration, and finishes back at the Old Servants' Quarters in the Cooks Kitchen with a light lunch platter. All bee suits and equipment are provided; wellington boots are recommended. Price: £100.00 per person, 10am - 2pm.
Inside the house: tours, teas and dining
Open House and Historic Tours
When Carlton Towers is not hosting a private wedding, the public has two ways to step inside. Carlton Towers Unlocked: Open House is a self-guided day where guests can roam freely through the staterooms, upstairs, downstairs and the rooms in between, exploring the family history that has lived in these walls since 1614. Tickets cost £10.00 per person (under 3s free) and are available on the door or in advance online.
For a more in-depth visit, the Historic Tea & Tour is a guided two-hour tour that takes visitors through the Venetian State Room, the Picture Gallery, the Armoury and the unusual Priest's Hiding Hole bedroom, followed by a homemade scone with Yorkshire tea in the Staterooms. Tickets are £25.00 per person. Both events run regularly across the spring, summer and autumn.
The Stables Tearoom
The original stable block, set in the grounds of the house and gazing up at its Gothic façade, is now home to The Stables - a quintessentially English tearoom with views straight out over the Walled Garden Vineyard. Open Friday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm, it serves:
- Brunch and light lunches, freshly prepared on site, with an "al fresco" terrace in the summer months.
- Afternoon tea, prepared fresh to order with 48 hours' notice, inside or on the rose-filled terrace.
- Coffee, home baking and sweet treats, plus doggie biscuits for four-legged visitors.
The Stables is also available for private hire for family celebrations and small meetings, with full catering or dry-hire options. Afternoon tea vouchers and gift cards can be bought from the online shop.
Sunday Lunch and the Sparkling Stateroom Dinner
Sunday lunch at Carlton Towers is a three-course affair prepared by the in-house chefs and served in the historic staterooms, with a roast that draws on fresh, local Yorkshire produce. Sittings are at 12.30pm. Tickets are £45.00 per adult and £25.00 per child, with vouchers available to buy as gifts.
The Sparkling Stateroom Dinner is the more glamorous evening alternative: a refined three-course dinner served across the three adjoining opulent staterooms - the Venetian Drawing Room, the Card Room and the Picture Gallery - with grand ceilings, ambient lighting and a glass of Carlton Towers Rosé Sparkling Wine included in the £64.00 ticket price.
Wellness retreats at Carlton Towers
The Signature Retreat: Reconnect, Restore & Regenerate
In 2026, Carlton Towers launched its first dedicated wellness retreat, billed as "Bridgerton meets Breathwork" - an intimate, three-day, two-night experience limited to a maximum of 20 guests. Led by retreat facilitator Mariska Gunter, it weaves together:
- A heart-opening cacao ceremony and opening circle
- Guided Shinrin-Yoku (forest bathing) and birdwatching in the 250-acre estate
- Chakra balancing and reiki sound baths
- Rise & Shine yoga and breathwork
- A historic tour of the house
- The signature Lavender Martini demo and a long-table Dine in the Vines dinner
- Evening firepit sharing circles under the stars
Upcoming dates include 21 - 23 September 2026, with 2027 dates to be announced. Prices start from £950.00 per person (single occupancy) or £750.00 per person (double occupancy), all-inclusive.
Breath of the Land Retreat with Dr Patrick MacManaway
For a deeper, more elemental experience, Carlton Towers hosts the Breath of the Land Retreat with Dr Patrick MacManaway - a Scottish dowser, geomancer and healer - alongside Mariska Gunter. Running 4 - 8 July 2027, this four-day residential retreat explores animism, elemental consciousness, landscape bathing and Dance 5 Rhythms against the backdrop of the estate's ancient woodland. Prices are £1,196 per person (double occupancy) and £1,500 per person (single occupancy).
The Retreat Venue
Outside its own retreat programme, Carlton Towers hires the entire house out to retreat leaders and wellness brands, providing 16 state bedrooms and suites, three characterful state rooms, exclusive access to 250 acres of woods and parkland, the Walled Garden Vineyard with stretch tent, a 12-acre lake, yoga equipment for 20, host support and a local network of breathwork, yoga and reiki practitioners. It is well connected by rail - direct trains from London take roughly two hours.
Workshops and craft experiences
Throughout the year, the Cooks Kitchen at Carlton Towers hosts hands-on workshops with local artisans:
- An Introduction to Sourdough with Luke's Bakery - a half-day masterclass for all abilities. £150.00 per person, including lunch and a starter to take home. Dates include 12 September and 28 November 2026, plus 6 February and 13 March 2027.
- Patisserie Workshop & Afternoon Tea with Nataliia Richardson - a full-day French patisserie masterclass with the former Great British Bake Off contestant, finishing with afternoon tea in the vineyard. £175.00 per person.
- Beginner Terrarium Workshop - build your own self-sustaining eco-system using specialist substrate and recycled hand-blown glass. £75.00 per person, includes a cream tea.
- Creative Dahlias Workshop with Gathered at Dusk - learn how to grow and arrange seasonal British dahlias. £80.00 per person, all materials and a bowl included.
- Reindeer Willow Weaving Workshop - full-day sculpture workshop creating a willow reindeer (approx. 127cm tall) using random-weave techniques. £125.00 per person, includes lunch.
- Children's Woodland Adventure Sessions with The Woodland Adventure Company - the Elf Rocket Adventure (ages 2 - 6) and the Bow & Arrow Adventure (ages 7 - 11). £25.00 per child, finishing with hot chocolate and toasted marshmallows.
Weddings at Carlton Towers
Weddings are the bedrock of the Carlton Towers calendar. The house operates as an exclusive-use venue, with couples invited to take over the entire house, gardens and 16 bedrooms for their celebration. Pricing is bespoke and tailored to each couple, with a downloadable 2027 - 2028 Price Guide providing indicative costs. As an example, a summer weekend wedding for 60 guests starts from £14,200 and includes exclusive hire of the stately home, a Prosecco welcome drink, three canapés per guest, a three-course wedding breakfast, a Champagne toast, half a bottle of wine per guest, an evening hot grazing buffet and a complimentary bridal Tower Suite.
Couples are free to use the in-house catering and coordination team, or to bring their own suppliers. The most popular ceremony spots include the Picture Gallery, the front lawn, and - increasingly - the Walled Garden Vineyard, which can host an intimate outdoor ceremony beneath a stretch tent if the British weather turns.
Family events and what's on
Beyond weddings and retreats, Carlton Towers runs a packed What's On calendar that mixes large outdoor shows, intimate seasonal dinners, family-friendly events and the regular tearoom and vineyard programme. Highlights coming up include:
- Yorkshire Day at Carlton Towers - a full day of sheepdog demos, Punch & Judy, market stalls, food court and live entertainment in support of Brabners. Tickets £10.00 adults / £5.00 children.
- Spectacle of Equitation - a world-class equine show by Steelehorse blending Iberian horsemanship, fire stunts and theatrical storytelling, with a Hobby Horse Arena for children. Adult £17.50, child £5.00, family ticket £45.00.
- Auto Italia Car Day and Classic Car Days with EYTCC - Italian and British classic car displays on the front lawn, with BBQ, woodfired pizza and an on-site bar.
- Carlton After Dark: Halloween Ball - a gothic-themed three-course dinner and DJ in the Card Room. £75.00 per person; overnight rooms from £170.
- Little Monsters Halloween Disco - children's games, dancing, pizza and treats. £12.00 per child, £6.00 per adult.
- Flat Cap Criminals Murder Mystery - a 1920s Birmingham-set immersive evening from Third Wheel Events. £75.00 per person, includes three-course dinner.
- Wedding Fair (October) and Wedding Showcase with Folletti Fleurs (January) - free entry and parking for couples planning a Carlton Towers wedding.
- Exclusive Stately Stays - overnight escapes including a guided History Tour, three-course dinner with a glass of Carlton Towers Rosé Sparkling Wine and cooked breakfast. Deluxe Double £400.00 per couple, Suite £450.00 per couple.
Gift ideas and the online shop
The online gift shop stocks a tight, well-curated range of Carlton Towers experiences and produce:
- Carlton Towers Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine 2022 - £45.00 per bottle
- Carlton Towers Honey - from £5.50 (small 8oz jar or large 12oz jar)
- Stables Afternoon Tea Voucher - from £25.00 (for one or two)
- Vineyard Afternoon Tea Voucher - from £25.00 (for one or two)
- Sunday Lunch Voucher - from £25.00 (adult, child or family options)
- House Tour Experience Voucher - from £25.00 (for one or two)
- Dining Experience Voucher - £64.00
- Exclusive Stately Stay Voucher - from £400.00 (Deluxe Double or Suite)
- Gift Vouchers - £25.00, £50.00 and £100.00 denominations, available by post or collection
Staying at Carlton Towers
There are three ways to sleep at the estate. The main house has 16 individually designed state bedrooms, most named after family members past and present, with unusual rooms like the Old School Room and Priest's Hiding Hole. A short tree-lined walk through the grounds leads to the Stapleton rooms - four en-suite doubles - and two self-catering Parkgate Cottages with private south-facing terraces. Each cottage has parking and is included in the housekeeping service, making them ideal for families attending weddings or events at the house.
The Batchelors' Wing, Nursery Wing and the imposing Clock Tower all add to the sense of grandeur for guests. Bookings can be made online via the Guestline booking engine, or as part of an Exclusive Stately Stay package.
Sustainability and community
Carlton Towers' Sustainability Policy commits the estate to reducing energy use, eliminating single-use plastics, sourcing ingredients locally and seasonally, catering to exact numbers to cut food waste, and offering digital tickets and invitations rather than printed ones. The in-house chefs work closely with British and Yorkshire suppliers, use honey from the estate's own beehives, and increasingly offer vegan options. Outdoor events are encouraged where possible to reduce environmental impact, and the estate runs a biomass boiler in the tearoom and uses fresh jug water in place of plastic bottles for conferences.
The estate is also developing a volunteer programme welcoming local people to support house tours, the vineyard, gardens, parkland and youth activities.
Visit Carlton Towers
Carlton Towers is at Carlton, North Yorkshire, DN14 9LZ (alternative satnav postcode: DN14 9LW, indicating the front gates). What3words for the front gates: promising.straying.upstairs.
- Sales office: Monday to Friday, 9am - 5:30pm. Viewings by appointment only.
- The Stables Tearoom: Friday to Sunday, 10am - 4pm.
- Phone: 01405 861662
- Email: info@carltontowers.co.uk
- Sales enquiries: sales@carltontowers.co.uk
- Volunteering: volunteer@carltontowers.co.uk
Getting there is straightforward: the Arriva 401 bus stops at the main gates, Selby station and Goole station are 15 minutes by taxi, and York is 40 minutes away. The house itself dates from 1614 and has steps at the main entrance and up to the bedrooms, so guests with mobility issues are encouraged to call ahead. Dogs are welcome on the grounds and at the Stables Tearoom, with assistance dogs welcome at all events.
The estate is active on Instagram, Facebook, X / Twitter, LinkedIn and TikTok, sharing vineyard releases, retreat announcements and behind-the-scenes stories from one of Yorkshire's most unusual wine estates.