Colemere Vineyard

Colemere Vineyard: A Small Family-Run English Wine Estate in North Shropshire

Nestled in the rolling farmland of North Shropshire, Colemere Vineyard is one of a growing number of small, family-run English wine estates quietly building a reputation for serious cool-climate winemaking. Planted by hand in May 2014 by Rob and Laura Windsor, the vineyard now produces a tightly edited range of traditional-method sparkling wines, still reds, whites and rosés, and a celebrated late-harvest dessert wine - all sold direct to the consumer through the Colemere Cellar Door online shop, a tiered Wine Club membership scheme, and an ever-growing list of independent UK stockists.

The story so far: from rabbit guards to award-winning wines

Colemere is, at heart, a family project. Rob and Laura Windsor planted their first vines by hand in May 2014, on land in the tiny Shropshire hamlet of Colemere. Their story is told in diary form: rabbit guards going on in January 2015, the change-of-the-guard moment in July 2016, the very first grapes at Colemere on 30 September 2016, and the first harvest just three weeks later on 21 October 2016.

From those early days the vineyard progressed quickly. By October 2018 Rob had completed final sugar testing, the team was picking Rondo and Regent, and the maiden Colemere Dessert Wine was on its way. The winter of 2019/2020 brought a new tasting bar, a second mobile tasting bar built during the Covid period, and finalised branding in late 2020. In 2021 the Sparkling White won a Silver at the International Wine Challenge; in 2023 the Lapwing 2021 picked up a Bronze at the same competition; and in 2024 the Sparkling Red 2019 took both a Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards and a Commended medal at the International Wine Awards. The 2022 Black Tern red and the 2019 Sparkling White added further Bronze medals at the 2026 International Wine Challenge.

Today the vineyard is also home to a much-loved team member - a dog called Boris - who joined the family in October 2019 and has been "hindering rather than helping" ever since, according to a tongue-in-cheek Instagram caption.

Where the vineyard is: North Shropshire, near Ellesmere

Colemere is a private, working vineyard based at The Old Vicarage, Colemere, Shropshire, SY12 0QL - a peaceful stretch of North Shropshire countryside close to the meres around Ellesmere. The address is also the registered correspondence address for the business, as set out in the Terms of Sale.

Because Colemere is a small, family-run estate, the vineyard itself is not generally open for casual drop-in visits. Instead the wines are distributed through the Cellar Door online shop, local collection at Moolah in Ellesmere (usually ready for pickup within one to two working days of ordering), and a network of independent stockists across the Welsh borders, the Midlands and as far afield as London.

The winemaker: Simon Day

Colemere's wines are made under the guidance of Simon Day, one of a small handful of second-generation English winemakers. Simon grew up at Three Choirs Vineyards, which his father Tom Day established in 1973 - a pioneer site often credited with helping to put English wine on the map. With more than 30 years of UK vineyard and winemaking experience, plus stints making wine abroad, Simon has made wine in several British vineyards and has overseen well over 50 new vineyard plantings since 2001 through his consultancy work.

Simon leads all aspects of production at Colemere while continuing to advise contract and consultancy clients. The winemaker's notes for each Cellar Door wine are written in his voice, and they reveal an unhurried, traditional-method approach: hand-picked fruit, extended lees ageing for the sparkling wines, French oak barriques for the reds, and a willingness to stop fermentations early when the grapes are good enough to make a serious dessert wine.

The Colemere wine range

Colemere's portfolio is intentionally small, focused on varieties that thrive in the cool Shropshire climate. It splits neatly into three families - English Sparkling Wines, English Red Wines, and English White & Rosé Wines - with a dessert wine sitting at the top of the range.

English Sparkling Wines

The sparkling wines are made in the traditional method and have been the most decorated part of the range.

2019 Sparkling White Wine - £39.00 Bronze, International Wine Challenge 2026. Made exclusively from hand-picked Seyval Blanc. A bright lemon-gold with a fine mousse, gunflint minerality, golden apple, honeysuckle, hazelnut cream and brioche. 11.5% Vol. Recommended with fresh shellfish, salmon or sweet brie.
2019 Sparkling Red Wine - £39.00 Bronze at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024 and Commended at the International Wine Awards 2024. A blend of Regent and Rondo, hand-picked from the Colemere vines. Brick red in colour with summer-pudding, blackcurrant, strawberry and redcurrant aromas, soft tannins and a long citrus finish.
2019 Sparkling Rosé Wine - £39.00 A pale-copper, brut-style sparkling rosé made from Cabernet Cortis, with cassis, mint leaf and toasty bread notes. Pair with mildly spiced dishes, grilled mackerel or Mediterranean plates.
2020 Sparkling Rosé Wine - £39.00 A more complex vintage of the Cabernet Cortis rosé, with rose petal, dried apricot, baked apple, cranberry fruit cake and ginger spice on the nose and two years on lees giving extra depth on the palate.

English Red Wines

Colemere's still reds are bottled under the Black Tern label, named after the black tern - a rare migrant bird occasionally seen around the meres. They are dark, intense and offer plum and cranberry aromas, with food-pairing suggestions of salmon, game dishes, soft cheeses and "roaring fires on Sundays in the colder months".

2021 Black Tern Red Wine - £21.00 A blend of Regent and Rondo, deep garnet in colour, with dark plum, earthy cherry and a hint of spice. 11% Vol.
2022 Black Tern Red Wine - £21.00 Bronze, International Wine Challenge 2026. Cabernet Cortis, Regent and Rondo. Deep ruby with a purple rim; cedar wood, leather, cassis and dark cherry on the nose; fine tannins with savoury charred-wood notes. An old-world style reminiscent of right-bank Bordeaux.
2023 Black Tern Red Wine - £21.00 Regent and Rondo, matured in French oak barriques. Pronounced blackcurrant and plum with dried rose petal, cranberry and sweet spice; silky tannins showing dark cherry and tobacco, with a long sweet-spice finish. 12% Vol.

English White & Rosé Wines

The still whites and rosés are crisp, light, dry and refreshing, with citrus and elderflower notes - the team suggests enjoying them "on a warm summer's afternoon" or after a long walk with friends and family.

2022 Lapwing White Wine - £21.00 A pure-Solaris white. Very pale lemon yellow, with honeydew melon, elderflower and a hint of Riesling-like kerosene. Crisp lemon citrus on a long finish. 11.5% Vol.
2024 Curlew English Rosé Wine - £21.00 A pale-rosé, Provençal-style Cabernet Cortis rosé with lavender, rose, raspberry and red cherry on the nose and a herbaceous finish. 12.5% Vol.

The Dessert Wine

2018 Ruddy Duck (Dessert Wine) - £21.00 Currently sold out, with a waiting list the usual side effect of a tiny allocation. Made from Solaris grapes left on the vine for a late harvest; the fruit came in at over 14% potential alcohol and fermentation was stopped early to retain sweetness. Pours pale gold with nectarine, melon and greengage on the nose and a "clean, long finish - sweet but not cloying". 37.5cl bottle, 13.5% Vol.

The Colemere Wine Club

Because the wines are made in very small volumes, the most reliable way to secure a case of Colemere each year is to join the Colemere Wine Club. There are three membership tiers, all renewed annually:

Still Colemere Wine Club Subscription - 6 x Still Wine, £95.00 per year (case cost £90). Choose your own selection of six still wines (red, white or rosé).
Vineyard Selection Wine Club - 4 x Still & 2 x Sparkling Wine, £135.00 per year (case cost £130). A seasonal selection hand-picked by the team, usually including 2 sparkling and 4 still wines, with a 35cl bottle of Late Harvest dessert wine included where stock allows.
Sparkling Colemere Wine Club Subscription - 6 x Sparkling Wine, £185.00 per year. Choose your own selection of six sparkling wines.

Every member receives a preferential discounted rate, a unique membership number giving 20% off all further purchases during the year, priority notification of any future vineyard events, an invitation to help with the harvest and attend the harvest lunch in the vineyard, and three seasonal newsletters. Cases are dispatched shortly after the renewal anniversary date, with free tasting notes included.

Members can manage or cancel their subscription at any time by emailing hello@colemere.co.uk.

Gift vouchers, gift boxes and merchandise

If a full case feels like too much commitment, Colemere sells gift vouchers in four denominations - £10, £25, £50 and £100 - each with the option of a personalised message. They can be redeemed against any of the wines, subscriptions or merchandise on the Cellar Door.

Alongside the wine, the shop stocks a small but well-considered range of branded merchandise and gifting accessories:

Sparkling Wine Stopper - £7.50. A re-sealable stopper to keep the fizz in opened bottles.
Colemere Tote Bag - £6.00. Recycled-yarn tote with webbed handles, exclusive WBC design.
Waiter's Friend Bottle Opener - £7.50. A Murano double-lever corkscrew favoured by sommeliers.
Double Wine Bottle Gift Box - £2.50. Brown kraft presentation box for two standard bottles.
Triple Wine Bottle Gift Box - £3.50 (currently sold out). Brown kraft presentation box for three bottles.
Limited Edition Postcards - £5.00. A pack of 10 postcards featuring the artwork from Colemere's wine labels, printed on FSC-managed card with vegetable-based inks.

Where to buy: stockists across the UK

For anyone who prefers to pick up Colemere in person, the wines are stocked by a growing list of independent retailers and restaurants:

Shops

The Lost Barn, Malpas
Tanners, Shrewsbury
Moolah, Ellesmere (also the local pick-up point for Cellar Door orders)
Vermeulens, Ellesmere
Oteley Farm Shop, Ellesmere
Hanmer Village Store, Whitchurch
Moor Farm Shop, Baschurch
Maynard's Farm Shop
Ruyton XI Towns Village Store
The Naughty Grape, London

Restaurants, delis and hotels

Events, tours and tastings

Rob and Laura have publicly stepped back from hosting ticketed events for the 2026 season.

In their own words: "Due to our children growing up too quickly for our liking, we have decided to not host any events in the vineyard for 2026. Instead we will be spending this precious time with our girls. If you would like to know about events we may host in 2027 please drop us an email to hello@colemere.co.uk."

Wine Club members continue to receive priority notification of any future events, and the annual harvest lunch and harvest help-day remain a perk for subscribers.

Food pairings from the kitchen

A useful set of food-and-wine pairing notes from Millie Edwards covers:

English Sparkling White pairings Fresh oysters, shrimp cocktail, lobster with lemon butter, Brie, goat's cheese, aged Cheddar, green salads with citrus dressing, smoked salmon, grilled chicken with lemon and herbs, lemon-basil pasta, sushi, Thai and Vietnamese dishes.
English Sparkling Red pairings Charcuterie and pâté, grilled steak and BBQ ribs, mushroom risotto, roasted root vegetables, aged Cheddar, Brie and goat's cheese, dark chocolate, chocolate-covered strawberries, Thai green curry and fresh sushi.
English Dessert Wine pairings Blue cheese (Stilton, Roquefort), Brie or Camembert, fresh goat's cheese, lemon tart, apple pie, poached pears, mixed berry compote, dark and milk chocolate, chocolate fondue, Thai green curry, foie gras, tarte tatin, almond and hazelnut cakes, baklava and pecan pie.
Vintage vs non-vintage An explainer on why Colemere's single-vintage sparkling wines reflect one specific year's weather, while non-vintage wines blend multiple years for a consistent house style.

Behind the scenes in the vineyard

A growing library of vineyard notes offers a transparent look at what goes into growing the fruit, covering the importance of winter pruning, summer cutting back, the use of a refractometer to measure Brix sugar levels at harvest, and the way that the balance of sun and rain shapes each vintage in "Sun, Rain, and the Story of Each Vintage". A late-November vineyard update documents the winding down into winter dormancy, while a Black Friday announcement from November 2025 offered a price reduction on all wines plus an extra 20% off at checkout with the code BLACKFRIDAY2025.

Beyond the vineyard: holiday homes in Wales

In a neat diversification, the Colemere team also lists two pet-friendly holiday cottages managed by local agents - handy for visitors planning a Shropshire or Pembrokeshire break with a case of Colemere in tow:

The Coach House, Abersoch Five bedrooms, sleeps 14, pets welcome, changeover Monday, 140ft from Abersoch high street and 0.2 miles from the beach. Book via Abersoch Quality Homes.
Tan y Craig, Solva, Pembrokeshire Four bedrooms, sleeps 8 - 9, pets welcome, set over three floors with a private rooftop terrace, a stone's throw from Solva Harbour and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. Book via Welsh Cottages.

All booking enquiries for the cottages are directed to the managing agents rather than to the vineyard itself.

Ordering, delivery and the small print

Online orders are placed through the Cellar Door and processed securely via Shopify with SSL encryption. Accepted payment methods include Visa, Mastercard, Maestro, Visa Electron, Visa Delta, Solo and American Express.

A few practical points worth knowing:

All prices are in UK Sterling and inclusive of VAT.
Delivery to UK mainland addresses is currently £10 per case (up to 12 bottles); customers outside the mainland should contact the team for a quote.
At present delivery is only within the United Kingdom; export enquiries should be sent to friends@colemere.co.uk.
Orders are usually dispatched within three working days, with delivery Monday - Friday between 9am and 5pm. At peak times (Christmas, Easter etc.) the team warn that delivery may take longer.
Local collection from Moolah in Ellesmere is free, with orders usually ready within one to two working days.
Customers have a 14-day right to cancel provided bottles are unopened and seals unbroken. Damaged, incorrect or short deliveries must be reported in writing within 48 hours of receipt, and non-receipt within 40 days of the order date.
The team can only sell alcohol to customers aged 18 or over; the checkout requires an age confirmation before the order can be completed.

How to follow Colemere online

For news from the vineyard, harvest updates, new release announcements and the occasional Boris-the-dog cameo, Colemere is active on:

Final thoughts

Colemere Vineyard is a perfect case study in modern English wine: a small, hand-planted site, a winemaker with deep family roots in the UK industry, and a tight range of varietals that genuinely suit the Shropshire climate. The medals - Silver and multiple Bronzes at the International Wine Challenge, plus Decanter recognition for the Sparkling Red - speak to the quality in the bottle, while the Wine Club is the most reliable way for fans to secure an annual allocation of these tiny-production wines.

Whether drawn in by the award-winning 2019 Sparkling White, the increasingly collectable Black Tern reds, the floral Curlew Rosé or the cult Ruddy Duck dessert wine, the easiest starting point is the Colemere Cellar Door.