English Wine Project (Atkinson Wines) - Derbyshire Vineyard & Winery Guide
English Wine Project: A Derbyshire Winemaker Championing English and Welsh Wine
Tucked away in the historic grounds of Renishaw Hall in north Derbyshire and with a working winery at the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site in Darley Abbey, the English Wine Project is one of the most distinctive small producers on the English wine map. Founded in 2011 by ex-British Army officer Kieron Atkinson, the business farms a single-estate vineyard, makes an award-winning range of still and sparkling wines, runs popular vineyard and winery tours, and operates a consultancy that helps new and existing UK vineyards get off the ground.
Under the Renishaw Hall Wines label, the winery releases traditional-method sparkling cuvées, aromatic still whites, an easy-drinking red, a delicate rosé and a natural-method "Pét-Nat" Col Fondo, all grown, picked and crafted in-house. Add in a wine club, gift vouchers, vineyard sponsorship packages and group experiences, and the English Wine Project is a destination for anyone interested in the modern English wine story.
Where to find the vineyard and winery
The business operates from two locations:
- Vineyard: Renishaw Hall Wines, Renishaw Park, Chesterfield, S21 3WB.
- Winery / click and collect: The English Wine Project: Winery, Darley Abbey Mills, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1DZ.
Ample parking is available on site at the winery for visitors arriving by car. Visitors can simply drive or walk in to buy the full range of award-winning wines and quality ciders, and may catch a glimpse of sparkling wine going through its various processes in the production space.
The Story Behind the English Wine Project
The English Wine Project was founded in 2011 by Kieron Atkinson, who left the British Army after nine years of active service to start a new career in English wine. Kieron completed the only UK wine production course and went on to become Technical Advisor for the UK branch of the Rothschilds before taking on the historic vineyard at Renishaw Hall in north Derbyshire in June of that same year.
In 2013, Kieron took on the lease of Welcombe Hills vineyard near Stratford-upon-Avon, looking after it for two years and producing more medal-winning wines from grapes grown in the Avon Valley. Up to 2018, he ran a successful bottling business that put more than three million bottles of beverages on the market, while continuing to make his own wines and advising new and existing vineyards on site establishment.
Today, the company is run by a small team:
- Kieron Atkinson, English Wine Expert. Plumpton graduate and experienced wine producer, vineyard manager and award-winning consultant winemaker with over a decade of practical experience.
- Jane, Marketing Consultant. Over 15 years' experience promoting wine, tourism, food and drink for global clients.
- Sara, Graphic Designer. Over a decade focusing on brand development, design for print and website design.
The Wines: Renishaw Hall Wines Range
The full collection can be bought online from the wine shop, with free delivery on all UK orders over £100 and a free click-and-collect service from the Darley Abbey Mills winery. The 2017 White Sparkling Cuvée is currently out of stock.
Sparkling wines
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée Pink Sparkling 2023, £33.00. A single-estate, 100% Pinot Noir sparkling rosé with four years on the lees. Coral-pink hue, aromas of strawberries and cream, English apples, fresh red cherries and rhubarb crumble, with a soft creamy mousse, racy acidity and 11 g/L dosage. ABV 12%. Decanter Commended 2015 and 2017, MVA Gold.
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée White Sparkling 2023, £33.00. Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc blend with a light straw hue, fine bubbles and a delicate mousse. Flavours of apple tart, lemon zest, hazelnut, pastry dough and a creamy mouthfeel from lees ageing. ABV 12%.
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée White Sparkling 2017, £49.95. Five years on the lees. Won Gold at the Regional Wine GB Awards 2023, plus trophies for best overall wine in the region, best sparkling, best East Midlands wine and best older vintage. (Currently out of stock.)
Still wines
- Mills & Hills Bacchus 2021, £19.95. Single-varietal Bacchus fermented in stainless steel, with six months on fine lees and malolactic fermentation. Gooseberry, elderflower, lime zest and white peach, with a creamy mouthfeel. ABV 11.5%.
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden White 2023, £19.95. A blend of hand-picked Madeleine Angevine, Solaris and Bacchus, slowly fermented at 14 °C and matured on fine lees for six months. Stone fruit, peach, apple and lemon zest with a silky mouthfeel.
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden Rosé 2023, £19.95. A delicate rosé made from Rondo and Pinot Noir, gently pressed for minimal skin contact. Red apple, summer fruits, cranberry and red currant with great balance.
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden Red 2023, £21.95. A light, fruit-forward English red matured in stainless steel. Hedgerow jam and blackcurrant on the nose, red fruit and blackberries on the palate. Best served lightly chilled: "ideal for 6 pm on a Friday evening", as the producer puts it.
Natural and unusual styles
- Col Fondo, Riderless Charger, £25.00. A Pét-Nat style "riderless" natural wine made from Crouch Valley Bacchus, blended with Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir and spontaneously fermented. Unfined, unfiltered and undisgorged, so expect gentle bubbles and a light haze. Aromas of pear, apple, lemon and elderflower; flavours of hedgerow, peach, lemon and apple. ABV 10.5%. Best stored upright, served chilled, and poured carefully to leave the sediment behind.
Mixed cases and gift sets
- Mixed Case (6 bottles), £120.00. Four still wines and two sparkling wines, the easiest way to sample the full Renishaw Hall Wines portfolio. Free delivery included on UK orders over £100.
Vineyard Tours at Renishaw Hall
Public guided vineyard tours run on selected dates from spring through to the beginning of October, with two daily slots at 12 noon and 2 pm. The vineyard sits in the beautiful grounds of Renishaw Hall, just outside Chesterfield.
- Price: £25.00 per person (children go free).
- Meeting point: Renishaw Hall Visitors Centre. Visitors are asked to arrive a few minutes early.
- What to expect: A walk through the walled-garden vineyard followed by a tutored tasting of award-winning wines.
- Accessibility: There is a short walk to the vineyard. Any access requirements should be advised when booking.
- Cancellation policy: No refund if a booking is cancelled within 7 days of a public tour, though the team will try to move guests to an alternative date. Tours run whatever the weather, so dressing appropriately is recommended.
Tours can be booked through the Vineyard Tours at Renishaw Hall booking page, with additional information on the Vineyard Tours page.
Group vineyard tours
Group tours are available for a minimum of 12 people and can cater for groups of up to 50. Prices start from £300 per group (excluding catering). Optional extras from the Café at Renishaw Hall include a hot two-course lunch, sandwiches, full afternoon tea or simply coffee and cake in the exclusive group dining area. Cancellations within 14 days are non-refundable, with a 25% admin fee between 14 and 28 days. Bookings are taken by email at office@englishwineproject.co.uk via the Group Tours page.
Winery Tours & Tastings at Darley Abbey Mills
The Darley Abbey Mills winery near Derby is the production heart of the English Wine Project. Public winery tastings take visitors behind the scenes to see sparkling wine going through its various processes, followed by a tutored tasting of the award-winning range, plus some cider tasting thrown in.
- Winery Tasting at Darley Abbey Mills, £25.00. Tour dates and times can be selected from a drop-down booking menu. Maximum group size 24.
- Private Group Winery Tours from £300 per group. A great way to spend a few hours with friends or a private party, learning the process of winemaking and finishing with a tutored tasting of the award-winning wines. Minimum 6 people. Bookings are taken by email at office@englishwineproject.co.uk.
The winery is inside the UNESCO Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site, with ample on-site parking. Current tour availability is published on the Winery page.
Sponsor a Vine & Sponsor a Barrel
For a unique gift or a year of personal connection to the vineyard, the English Wine Project offers two sponsorship packages that help maintain one of the oldest vineyards in England.
- Sponsor a Vine, £45.00. A 12-month sponsorship that helps maintain the historic walled-garden vineyard. Sponsors receive a free bottle of wine and a free place on one of the vineyard tours, with the bottle presented during the tour. Buy Sponsor a Vine.
- Sponsor a Barrel, £55.00. A perfect complement to the tour experience for anyone who wants a deeper connection to a specific barrel of wine. Buy Sponsor a Barrel.
Gift Vouchers
Gift vouchers are available in any denomination from £10.00 to £100.00. Once purchased, the voucher is emailed to the buyer or recipient, can be personalised with a name and message, and is valid for 12 months. Vouchers can be redeemed against any product or experience, including vineyard tours, winery tours and wine from the shop, though all bookings need to be made at the same time using one voucher.
- General Gift Vouchers, £10.00 to £100.00.
- Vineyard Tour Gift Vouchers, £25.00 to £100.00.
- Winery Tour Gift Vouchers, £25.00 to £100.00.
Wine Club Membership
The English Wine Project Wine Club is a great way to support a local, award-winning producer while enjoying member-only perks. Membership is activated by purchasing one case (two sparkling and four still wines) for £110, and benefits last 12 months from the date of purchase:
- Free delivery on the case (worth £10).
- One free vineyard tour for one person, transferable as a gift (worth £25).
- A members'-only tasting event of the new-season wines.
- Members' e-shots with special offers and the latest news.
Total saving: £58. Membership can be cancelled at any time by emailing kieron@englishwineproject.co.uk.
Beyond the Bottle: Consultancy & Services
The English Wine Project is more than a producer: it is a trusted consultancy that helps other UK vineyards and wineries thrive. The business has produced over 300,000 bottles of wine since 2011 across a wide range of grape varieties and methods, including Frizzante, Pét-Nat and traditional-method sparkling wines. Accolades include the Decanter World Wine Awards, Wine GB awards and IWSC, and the team has produced wines for major retailers including Waitrose.
- Marketing. Branding, web design, point of sale and copywriting for wine businesses.
- Winemaking. Consultation, process improvement, product development and winemaking mentoring, including recent projects for Renishaw Hall Vineyard and Galleywood Vineyard.
- Vineyard Establishment. Initial consultation, planning, supplier selection and project management, from feasibility study and vine selection through to trellis, wires and GPS planting. Recent projects include Renishaw Hall Vineyard and Harbour Hills Vineyard.
- Wine brokerage. Grape and wine brokerage services for trade customers.
Each service has its own page: Services, Winemaking, Vineyard Establishment and Grapes & Wine Brokerage.
Visit and Contact
- Email: office@englishwineproject.co.uk
- Contact page: englishwineproject.co.uk/contact
- Vineyard: Renishaw Park, Chesterfield S21 3WB.
- Winery: Darley Abbey Mills, Darley Abbey, Derby DE22 1DZ.
News, new releases and tasting dates are shared on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and the Forever Thirsty YouTube channel, where Oz Clarke, Charlie and Kieron host special online tastings of Renishaw Hall Wines and other great English wines.