Dunleavy Vineyards: Award-Winning English Wines from the Heart of the Yeo Valley
Dunleavy Vineyards: Award-Winning English Wines from the Heart of the Yeo Valley
Nestled in the picturesque Yeo Valley in Somerset, just a short drive outside Bristol, Dunleavy Vineyards is one of England's most distinctive boutique wineries. Combining a deep passion for viticulture, sustainable agricultural practices and the very latest growing techniques, this family-run operation has earned a loyal following for its multi-award winning rosé and sparkling wines. Made from hand-tended Regent and Seyval blanc grapes, Dunleavy's wines capture both the character of the Somerset landscape and the creative spirit of nearby Bristol.
The Story Behind Dunleavy Vineyards
Dunleavy Vineyards is the vision of owner and manager Ingrid Bates. With a background in biology and a brief stint working in the media, Ingrid's viticultural journey began more than twenty years ago when she took a job maintaining a local vineyard. It was there that she discovered her true calling. She began planning, saving and researching, and in 2008, at just 28 years old, she planted her own vineyard in the rolling Somerset countryside.
Several years of hard graft followed before Dunleavy Vineyards released its first wines in 2013. The winery has gone from strength to strength since, and today its bottles can be found in some of the finest independent shops and restaurants across the United Kingdom.
The vineyard's evolution continues. In Autumn 2021, Ingrid launched a successful crowdfunding campaign to raise funds to buy a new field on the outskirts of Bristol. This expansion will allow the team to grow more grapes without the use of chemicals, helping them meet the increasing demand for their wines while staying true to their sustainable principles.
The Vineyard and Grape Varieties
Dunleavy's flagship site is located in Wrington, in the heart of the Yeo Valley, approximately 30 minutes from central Bristol and just off the A38 near the junction of Mill Lane and Nates Lane. The vineyard sits on land shaped by the gentle Somerset topography and is bordered by working farmland, with neighbouring farmer Marshall Clements' sheep and cattle a familiar sight and sound among the rows.
Two grape varieties are at the core of the Dunleavy range:
- Regent - A red German hybrid known for its deep colour and resistance to disease, used in both the still rosé and the sparkling red.
- Seyval blanc - A white French hybrid prized in cool-climate winemaking, providing the backbone for Dunleavy's elegant sparkling whites.
Both varieties are well suited to the British climate and benefit from the relatively mild, damp conditions of the West Country. The vineyard follows sustainable practices, and the new site near Bath Soft Cheese is being farmed entirely without chemicals.
The Wines
Dunleavy produces a small but carefully considered range of wines. Each is hand-picked and pressed in Somerset, with minimal intervention in the winery and a clear emphasis on letting the fruit speak for itself. All wines are suitable for vegans and produced with low sulphur.
Still Rosé
The Dunleavy Rosé is a vibrant, salmon-pink wine with strawberry overtones, a light body and a precise, dry finish. It is crafted from 85% Regent and 15% Seyval blanc, with an ABV of 11.5%.
- Rosé (2024) - £16.95 per bottle
- Rosé (2022) - £16.95 per bottle (currently out of stock - join the waitlist)
The 2024 vintage features a soundscape label created in collaboration with Synergy Sound, while the 2022 vintage showcases Bristol's vibrant music scene with portraits of five local musicians by photographer Pete Axford and designer Jodie Newman.
Sparkling Wines
Dunleavy's sparkling wines are made using the traditional method and aged on the lees for at least eight months. They are all bottled as Extra Brut, allowing the fruit to take centre stage.
- Sparkling Rosé (2023) - £31.95. Flavours of crushed soft fruit and summer pudding. A blend of Seyval blanc and Regent. 12% ABV.
- Sparkling White (2023) - £31.95. Only 1,000 bottles produced from the 2023 Seyval blanc harvest. Hand-picked, pressed in Somerset, bottled in 2024 and aged on the lees for eight months. Deliciously fresh and fruity with a delicate fizz and 12% ABV.
- Sparkling Red (2022) - £31.95. Flavours of crushed berries and stone fruits. 100% Regent, 12% ABV. (Currently out of stock - join the waitlist)
- Sparkling White (2021) - £31.95. Only 750 bottles produced. IEWA silver award-winning, with photolabel artwork by Martin Parr. 100% Seyval blanc, 12.5% ABV. (Currently out of stock - join the waitlist)
Gift Boxes
For those looking to present a gift, Dunleavy offers a Wooden Gift Box for £5.50. These beautifully crafted wooden boxes come complete with a sliding lid and hessian carry handle, and the team is happy to include a handwritten note on request. Simply add the gift box to your order and include your message at checkout. Gift boxes are not available for click and collect.
Wine and Music: A Bristol Collaboration
One of the most distinctive things about Dunleavy Vineyards is its deep connection to the cultural life of nearby Bristol. The 2022 still rosé labels were used to celebrate the city's vibrant music scene, featuring photographs by Pete Axford of five Bristol-based musicians:
- Stevie Toddler - a bassist, singer and bandleader based in Bristol
- Harriet Riley - a percussionist and composer
- Alex Garden - a fiddle player, guitarist and producer
- MĀDŁY - a multilingual singer, MC and poet
- Georgie Ward - a musician and producer who works with piano and analogue synthesisers
Each musician chose a piece of music to pair with the rosé, creating a unique music and wine pairing experience.
The Soundscape Label
For the 2024 rosé, Dunleavy teamed up with Synergy Sound's Angela Groves and Paul Fisher to create an audio soundscape of the vineyard across the growing season. The composition moves from winter through spring, summer and finally autumn - the order deliberately chosen because harvest signals the end of the year for the team. Once the grapes are safely picked and in the winery tanks, the slate is wiped clean and preparations begin for the next season.
Listeners can pick out people harvesting grapes, the neighbouring farmer calling in livestock, planes taking off from Bristol Airport, hedgecutters, haymaking tractors, the snip-snip of winter pruning, and of course the vineyard dog Fly barking. The accompanying bird list is extensive, with identified species ranging from blackbirds and fieldfares in winter to swallows, yellowhammers and song thrushes in summer, and robins and wood pigeons in autumn. RSPB volunteer Pete Allen provided birding advice for the project.
Award-Winning English Wine
Dunleavy Vineyards has earned recognition across the English wine industry. The Sparkling White (2021) took silver at the IEWA awards, and the winery's overall reputation for quality has seen its wines stocked in some of the finest independent shops and restaurants across the UK. By championing hybrid grape varieties that thrive in the British climate, Dunleavy is part of a new wave of producers proving that England can produce world-class wines - both still and sparkling.
Visiting the Vineyard: Tours and Tastings
For those who want to see where the magic happens, Dunleavy Vineyards offers guided tours during the summer months. In 2026, tours will be held on the first Sunday of each month from May to September. The tours start at 2pm and cost £20 per person.
The experience begins at the Wrington vineyard, where visitors hear the story behind Dunleavy and taste the wines where they are grown. Please note that there are no permanent buildings on site, so a couple of event shelters will be available in case of rain. Visitors are advised to come prepared for the weather and wear suitable footwear for walking in the vineyard.
Wines are available to purchase on the day, and guests are very welcome to bring along their own snacks or nibbles to enjoy during the tasting. After booking, you will receive a small PDF ticket - which can also be used as a gift - along with further details about the day. Please arrive five to ten minutes before your tour start time.
The vineyard is approximately 30 minutes from central Bristol, just off the A38, near the junction of Mill Lane and Nates Lane.
Tickets can be booked through the Dunleavy shop.
Delivery and Ordering
Dunleavy offers a flexible delivery service throughout the UK. Standard delivery is £9.75 for one to five bottles, with free delivery on any order of six or more bottles. Orders are mixed and matched across the still and sparkling range.
For customers in BS (Bristol) postcodes, free local delivery is available with no minimum order in most cases - simply text or email the team to check eligibility. Non-mainland UK orders (Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland and offshore) should be arranged by email so that correct postage can be quoted. Standard delivery takes three to five working days, and a signature may be required, so providing a work address can be helpful.
All transactions are cleared in the UK in GBP (Sterling). Payment is accepted via Visa, Mastercard, Visa Electron and Maestro (Switch) through PayPal's secure server. Customers retain all statutory rights, including a seven-working-day cooling-off period for wine orders, provided goods remain unused and unopened.
Stockists
The cheapest way to buy Dunleavy wine is directly from the winery, but the wines are also stocked in some of the finest restaurants and shops in Bristol, Somerset and across the UK. Stockist details are available from hello@dunleavyvineyards.co.uk.
There is also an exclusive Dunleavy and Bath Soft Cheese hamper available directly from the Bath Soft Cheese website, celebrating the new vineyard partnership and showcasing the best of local Somerset produce.
Why Dunleavy Vineyards Stands Out
In a fast-growing English wine industry, Dunleavy Vineyards has carved out a distinctive identity. The combination of cool-climate hybrid grapes, sustainable vineyard management, and creative collaborations with Bristol's music and sound communities gives the winery a character that few others can match. From the Synergy Sound soundscape label to the portraits of Bristol musicians, every bottle tells a story about place, people and craft.
For those seeking a genuinely hand-made English wine that reflects its terroir, the team at Dunleavy Vineyards offers an approachable, transparent and consistently excellent portfolio. Whether the occasion calls for a fresh salmon-pink rosé for a summer afternoon, a sophisticated extra-brut sparkling wine for a celebration, or a guided tour through the rows of Regent and Seyval blanc, Dunleavy has something to offer.