New Hall Wine Estate: A Family-Run English Vineyard in the Crouch Valley, Essex
Tucked into the rolling clay slopes of the Crouch Valley, just south of Maldon in Essex, New Hall Wine Estate is one of England's oldest commercial vineyards and a flagship of the country's still and sparkling wine movement. Founded in 1969 by Bill and Sheila Greenwood, the estate remains in family hands, run today by the third generation, and offers a complete vineyard-to-bottle experience across 120 acres of vines, a purpose-built winery, a welcoming cellar door shop and a brand-new tasting room.
A Vineyard with a Nine-Century Pedigree
The Crouch Valley's relationship with wine is anything but new. Purleigh's winemaking history traces back to 1120, when the first three-acre vineyard was planted on the south-facing slopes by All Saints Church - less than 500 yards from where the modern estate sits today. By 1163, the quality of those Purleigh wines had reached London, and the Crown took over production, ordering barrels of the local vintage to be despatched to royal tables. Two barrels of Purleigh wine were sent to Bury St Edmunds in 1207 in readiness for King John's arrival, and Purleigh wine was reportedly drunk during the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215.
Fast-forward around 750 years, and the same slopes were cleared of self-seeding potatoes and replanted with vines. In 1969, Bill and Sheila Greenwood bought 850 Reichensteiner vines at auction for 23p each and established the first vineyard at New Hall Farm, building trellis from railway sleepers. In 1970, 2,800 Huxelrebe and Müller Thurgau vines were imported from Geisenheim in Germany and planted by hand. The first tiny New Hall vintage - 18 bottles - was fermented and bottled by Mrs Greenwood in her kitchen in 1971; by 1972 the commercial harvest had outgrown the kitchen, and the fledgling winery moved to Merrydown in Kent under Jack Ward.
Half a Century of English Winemaking
The 1970s were a formative decade. In 1976 New Hall picked up a Gold Seal at the International Wine and Spirit Competition for the 1974 Huxelrebe and a Silver Seal for the 1974 Müller Thurgau, beating entries from 90 countries. The first 2,250 Bacchus vines were planted in 1977 by Bill and his son Piers, and in 1983 the pair partnered with Kenneth McAlpine of Lamberhurst Vineyards to produce the first Traditional Method Sparkling Wine from New Hall-grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay - a breakthrough for the English wine industry.
The 2010s cemented New Hall's national reputation. The estate took the UKVA Winemaker of the Year title in 2013 (Piers Greenwood) and again in 2016; its Single Estate Bacchus won the Jack Ward Memorial Salver and two Gold medals, its Pinot Noir Rosé won the Waitrose Rosé Trophy and Dudley Quirk Memorial Trophy, and its Bacchus Fumé won gold at the Independent Wine Awards. In 2015 Piers retired and sold the business to his brother-in-law Chris Trembath, keeping it within the family. Chris's daughter Becki joined in 2016, becoming the third generation to work the vineyard.
Capacity has grown with the demand. Stainless steel tank capacity now exceeds 250,000 bottles a year, with the 2021 vintage released under the new-look "New Hall Wine Estate" branding, and the on-site winery was upgraded in 2021 with a larger press and 37,000 litres of additional tank volume. Most recently, 2024 saw the launch of the Charmat-method Railway Barn Sparkling Rosé and the start of a brand-new tasting room; 2025 brought the completion of that tasting room, a major solar installation, and the inaugural Cellar Door Social Saturdays.
The Estate, the Soils and the Microclimate
New Hall sits on heavy London clay soils south of the village of Purleigh, with 35 separate parcels of vines farmed across roughly 120 acres. The Crouch Valley's microclimate is increasingly recognised as ideal for cool-climate viticulture: low frost risk, low rainfall and big blue skies that allow the team to plan its picking schedule around fruit ripeness rather than weather windows. The estate is home to some of the oldest vines in England, including a Pinot Noir block planted over 50 years ago, and a heritage collection of Vitis vinifera registered with Plant Heritage since 1968 - a national accolade that ensures the vines remain a documented genetic resource for generations to come.
The three buildings used in the New Hall logo tell the estate's story: a Grade A listed Black Barn representing the family's agricultural heritage, the Railway Barn representing the present, and the modern Winery representing the future. The Railway Barn - once home to pigs, boar and cows - now acts as events and tasting space, while the upgraded winery handles pressing, crushing, fermenting, blending and bottling all on site.
The Wines
New Hall's portfolio is built around three families of wines: the Railway Barn playful sparkling range, the Barons Lane everyday drinking collection, and the Single Estate range of single-varietal wines from the best parcels, plus a small number of Limited Releases from the oldest vines. All of the wines are vegan-friendly. Current wines available from the cellar door and online include:
Sparkling Wines
- Railway Barn Sparkling Bacchus - £23. A mouth-watering tropical fizz described as "sunshine in a glass," made from the estate's flagship aromatic variety.
- Railway Barn Sparkling Rosé - £23. A cobalt-pink Charmat-method sparkling with a "Silver" from the 2024 Essex Wine Awards.
- English Classic Cuvée Brut NV - £29.50. A Traditional Method sparkling with red apple, conference pear and elderflower aromatics, savoury baked apple and hazelnut on the palate, and a creamy, vibrant finish. Essex Wine Awards Silver.
- English Rosé Brut NV - £30. Traditional Method with wild strawberry, lemon sherbet and rosewater, a fine persistent mousse and an elegant mineral finish. Essex Wine Awards Silver.
- Railway Barn Double the Fizz, Double the Fun - £46 (£43 online). A limited-release pairing of Sparkling Bacchus and Sparkling Rosé.
- Double the Fizz, Double the Fun - £59.50 (£56.50 online). A premium duo of Classic Cuvée Brut and Rosé Brut.
Barons Lane Collection
- Barons Lane White 2022 - £14.50. A crisp, dry fruit-driven white showing pear, grapefruit, lemon, honeysuckle and English hedgerow, with a slight saline minerality.
- Barons Lane Rosé 2024 - £14.75. A pale salmon rosé bursting with summer fruits, red apple, white peach and a tart, balanced finish. Available with a custom label option for weddings and gifts.
- Barons Lane Red 2021 - a multiple-award-winning smooth, velvety red full of black cherry, bramble and tomato leaf with a peppery finish.
Single Estate Collection
- Single Estate Bacchus 2023 - £17.75. Vibrant stone fruit, ripe Mirabelle plum and spring-blossom aromatics from some of the oldest Bacchus vines in the country. Featured on television and a London Wine Competition Silver winner.
- Single Estate Pinot Noir Précoce 2024 - £19. An early-ripening Pinot Noir with trademark black cherry and sweet spice, silky tannins and a well-structured finish. 2024 Essex Wine Awards Silver.
- Single Estate Pinot Noir Précoce Rosé 2025 - £18.50 (£16.65 online). White flowers and rosewater on the nose, ripe summer fruit and honeydew melon on the palate. 2026 IEWA Silver.
- Old Vine Single Estate Bacchus Fumé - £23. Sustainably nurtured for over 40 years, stone fruit and orchard fruit with oak-derived vanilla and spice. A three-generation viticulture statement.
- Winemakers' Signature 2025 - £16.75. Lychee and rosehip aromatics, opulent stone fruit, subtle spice and a smooth harmonious finish. 2026 Essex Wine Awards Gold.
- Railway Barn - Müller Thurgau 2025 - £15.50. Classically floral peach and Conference pear - a particular favourite for weddings and summer lunches.
Limited Editions and Mixed Cases
- Taste of the Estate - £54.50 (£50 online). A trio of the estate's iconics: Pinot Noir Rosé, Pinot Noir Précoce and Bacchus.
- Barons Lanes Collection and Celebration Box Family Size - online-only mixed boxes.
- Single Gift Box (£1.80), Twin Gift Bag (£2.50) and Triple Gift Bag (£3) for present-giving.
- eGift Cards from £25 to £200, redeemable online and in the cellar door.
Tours, Tastings and Experiences
New Hall's cellar door is the main entry point for visitors, open year-round Monday to Friday 9am - 4pm with additional Saturday opening through the summer. The Tasting Shed, Cellar Door shop and Winery are all wheelchair accessible with ramps, and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the shop and on the vineyard trail.
Friday Tour & Tasting Experience
The flagship experience is the Friday Tour & Tasting, an interactive two-hour session starting at 11.30am. Run by New Hall's senior team and winemakers, it begins in the winery with an insight into the art and alchemy of English wine production, before moving to the Tasting Shed for a guided, generous tasting of the estate's wines. The session finishes with the chance to purchase favourites from the Cellar Door shop. Summer 2026 dates are fully booked; 2027 dates will be released at the end of November. A bowl of salted nibbles is served during the tasting; guests with allergies are asked to notify in advance.
Soulful Sundowner Crouch Valley Tour & Tasting
A new addition for summer 2026, this 3pm - 5pm Friday tour and tasting is hosted by Wine Ambassador Paul Laurie and showcases New Hall wines alongside guest wines from the wider Crouch Valley. Spaces are limited and early booking is recommended: book online.
Cellar Door Social Saturdays
Every Saturday from Easter Weekend (4 April 2026) to 19 September 2026, the Tasting Shed opens from 11am to 5pm with last wine orders at 4pm. BYO picnic, choose a pre-selected self-guided wine flight, and soak up the views across the vines. Local food pop-ups include Fays Pizza (30 May, 20 & 27 June, 11 & 25 July, 1 & 15 August, 5 September) and 1942 Street Food (25 April, 20 June, 18 July, 8 & 22 August, 12 September). No booking required.
Soulful Sundowner 'Beats & Eats'
A free evening event on Friday 14 August 2026, 6pm - 9pm. No booking required - simply turn up, enjoy soulful DJ sets, tuck into food from Canatelz, and relax with Crouch Valley wines by the glass from the bar. The Cellar Door shop stays open for take-home sales.
Wine Dinners with Paul Laurie
Paul Laurie, New Hall's first Wine Ambassador, hosts a series of four-course tasting dinners with his brother, Chef Christopher Laurie. Each course of locally grown Essex produce is paired with a glass of New Hall wine. Upcoming dates for your diary are Saturday 19 September 2026 and the Christmas Special on Thursday 17 December 2026, with arrivals from 6pm and the first course served at 7pm. A vegetarian menu is available. Bookings are taken via paul@newhallwines.co.uk.
Corporate Wine Experiences
New Hall designs tailor-made away days for 25 - 30 guests. The full package includes a glass of fizz in the vineyard on arrival, a mini-vineyard masterclass with Estate Manager Andy, a Classic Cuvée tasting and dosage demo in the Sparkling Wine Cellar, a tour of the winery, an immersive tasting masterclass with Paul Laurie, an interactive wine quiz, locally sourced sharing platters, a set lunch at The Purleigh Bell, and branded gift bags. Mid-week availability year-round; bookings via Lucy at newhall@newhallwines.co.uk.
Own Your Own Vineyard
One of New Hall's most distinctive offerings is its vine leasing scheme. By leasing a row of 80 - 90 established vines for a year, you become a Vineyard Owner producing around 240 bottles of your own wine, made by the New Hall winemaking team in your chosen style - English Dry, Medium/Dry, Medium, Rosé, Red, White or Rosé Traditional Method Sparkling, or White or Rosé Charmat Method Sparkling. Leaseholders receive a 10% Owners' Membership discount in the Cellar Door shop. Leases for 2026/27 are open; email Christine at office@newhallwines.co.uk for an information pack.
Weddings and Events
New Hall produces a wide range of award-winning still and sparkling wines for weddings and events, with a specially reduced rate for orders of 24 bottles or more. A custom-label option allows you to design and print your own personalised bottle for wedding favours. The team won Most Unique Drink Provider at the Quirky Wedding Awards in November 2024, judged on inclusivity, accessibility, sustainability, customer service and uniqueness. To plan a tasting, contact Lucy and Anna via the wedding enquiry form.
Sustainability
Looking after the long-term health of the vineyard is nothing new at New Hall - but the past two years have brought a step-change in sustainability. A 2025 solar installation saw 218 panels and 157 kWh of battery storage added to the estate, expected to generate 100,457 kWh of clean energy annually - around 77% of the winery's electricity use. The system is forecast to prevent 25 tonnes of CO₂ emissions every year, the equivalent of planting more than 4,000 trees over its 25-year lifespan. A DEFRA-supported concreting project at the rear of the winery is also preventing water run-off into the nearby watercourse. In the vineyard, Estate Manager Andy Hares - trained in French organic vineyards - has introduced a low-chemical intervention policy, mechanical weed control, diverse cover crops, almost five acres of wildflower meadow, and a partnership with the RSPB's Operation Turtle Dove. New Hall is also partnered with Recorked to recycle used wine corks, and the estate has switched all still wines to screwcap closures to reduce cork waste.
The Team
Owner Chris Trembath, son-in-law of Bill and Sheila Greenwood, leads the business with his daughter Becki, who joined in 2016 as the third generation of the family on the estate. Vineyard Manager Andy Hares, who trained in Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion, oversees 122 acres of vines with five permanent staff, two part-time colleagues and a 20-strong team of seasonal pickers. Commercial Manager Lucy Winward, with a First Class BSc in Viticulture and Oenology and WSET Level 3, runs the commercial side. Head Winemaker Jacques Huysamer joined in August 2023 from a Stellenbosch background and was promoted to Head Winemaker in early 2026, with Assistant Winemaker Sophia Joubert joining from harvests in South Africa, the USA, Australia and France. Christine Rethman takes over as Cellar Door Manager from July 2026, with 37 years' experience in the wine trade. Sales & Operations Assistant Jana Miklosova has been with New Hall since 2006, Warehouse Supervisor James Roberts anchors the on-site bottling, and Wine Ambassador Paul Laurie - WSET Level 3 and one of the most recognisable faces of Essex wine - leads tastings, dinners and Cellar Door Saturday events.
Visiting New Hall
New Hall Wine Estate is in Purleigh, Essex, just south of Maldon and under an hour from London by train. The closest station is North Fambridge on the Greater Anglia line from London Liverpool Street (around 45 minutes), and a pre-booked Happicabs taxi completes the last leg. The estate has its own private courtyard car park between the Office and Cellar Door Shop, with an overflow car park behind the Winery.
Cellar Door Opening Hours
- Spring & Summer (Easter Weekend - Mid September): Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday 11am - 5pm; Sunday Closed.
- Autumn & Winter (Mid September - Easter Weekend): Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm; Saturday & Sunday Closed.
- Closed on Bank Holidays.
Dogs on leads are welcome in the Cellar Door shop and on the vineyard trail, and accessible parking, ramps and an accessible toilet are available on site.
Where to Stay
Three options sit within walking distance of the vineyard:
- Novoli Farm Campsite - a two-minute walk with electric and non-electric pitches, plus a luxury Shepherd's Hut with hot tub.
- Hill Top Glamping - three Shepherd's Huts with kitchens and private hot tubs, also a two-minute walk from the vines.
- Airbnb Bungalows in Southminster - purpose-built self-contained bungalows sleeping up to 19, ideal for larger groups.
For a hotel base, options in the area include Le Bouchon Brasserie & Hotel in Maldon (which serves New Hall wines), Staycations Maldon, and 7 Church Street, a spacious four-bedroom holiday home in the heart of Maldon.
Local Attractions
The Crouch Valley is a remarkable wine and food destination in its own right, with neighbouring vineyards including Clayhill Vineyard and Crouch Ridge Vineyard both within a short drive. Five minutes away by car, Maldon Oysters sells the famous Essex Gold oysters on Fresh Fish Fridays. Twenty-five minutes away, the Tiptree Jam Museum and Tearoom sits next to the Wilkin & Sons jam factory. For something more active, the National Trust's Northey Island walk is ten minutes away, the Topsail Thames barges depart from Heybridge Basin (15 minutes), and Southend Pier stretches 1.33 miles out into the Thames Estuary (45 minutes). Mountain bikers can tackle the 387-acre Hadleigh Olympic Cycle Trails (35 minutes).
Contact
- Address: New Hall Wine Estate, Chelmsford Road, Purleigh, Essex CM3 6PN
- Telephone: 01621 828 343
- Commercial enquiries: newhall@newhallwines.co.uk (Lucy)
- Cellar Door & Leasing enquiries: office@newhallwines.co.uk (Anna / Christine)
- Accounts: accounts@newhallwines.co.uk (Becki)
- Wine dinners & ambassador enquiries: paul@newhallwines.co.uk (Paul Laurie)
New Hall is active on Instagram and Facebook, where the team shares harvest reports, news and event announcements: @newhallwines on Instagram and New Hall Vineyards on Facebook.