Grove Estate Vineyard: A Family-Run English Wine Producer in the Heart of Staffordshire
Introduction to Grove Estate Vineyard
Tucked away in the rolling countryside just outside the historic market town of Eccleshall, Grove Estate Vineyard is a small, award-winning, family-run English wine producer that has quietly built a passionate local following since its first commercial release in 2016. With three generations of the Grove family actively involved in the business and a strict single-estate, low-volume ethos, Grove Estate represents everything that is most exciting about the modern English wine scene: hand-crafted wines, locally-grown fruit, and a deep sense of place.
The Family Behind Grove Estate
Grove Estate is very much a family affair. The vineyard is owned by Rob and Liz Grove, with three generations actively involved in the day-to-day operations. Liz, the Managing Director, was born in Staffordshire and raised in Eccleshall. Before turning her hand to winemaking, she held management positions in telecoms and luxury retail beauty, and that experience of selling high-end products has been invaluable in shaping the brand's positioning. Rob, the Finance Director, is a Chartered Accountant with, by his own admission, very little gardening experience, although his parents do keep ten Seyval Blanc vines at their home on the Isle of Wight. Liz's daughter Holly, the Marketing Manager, has been extensively involved in the branding of the products and establishing the estate's online presence - the distinctive visual identity seen across the Grove Estate wine range was developed by her and has been rolled out across every variety the vineyard produces.
The team self-deprecatingly note that they have all "learnt on the job with help and special thanks to Halfpenny Green, Google and YouTube". The result is a working vineyard in which every step, from winter pruning to harvest, is incredibly manual, with very little machinery involved. The family are always looking for volunteers, especially at harvest time each October.
A Single Estate in Eccleshall
Grove Estate is a Single Estate producer, meaning every bottle bearing the Grove Estate name is made solely from grapes grown on the property. The vineyard sits at Lower Heamies Farm, Chebsey, less than two miles from the centre of Eccleshall - a wonderful market town in Staffordshire situated seven miles north-west of Stafford and six miles west of Stone. Eccleshall is itself twinned with Sancerre in France, one of the most famous white wine appellations in the world, and the climate and aspect of the English Staffordshire site share more of an affinity with northern France than with the traditional image of an English vineyard.
The story of the vineyard begins in 2009, when Lower Heamies Farm was re-developed into barn conversions. The original owners of Shire Barn also bought an adjoining acre of land with a south-facing slope and perfect soil for fruit growth. With advice and guidance from Halfpenny Green Vineyards in Bobbington, South Staffordshire, they planted and built the infrastructure of the vineyard in 2010 under the original name "Heamies Vineyard". In all, 1,000 vines were planted, consisting of three varieties. Vines are not harvested for wine production until the third year, so the first true harvest came in 2013. The original owners kept the vineyard as a hobby, selling to family and friends without venturing into a commercial operation.
Fast forward to May 2015, when Liz and Rob Grove purchased Shire Barn and, without any prior viticultural experience, made the decision to retain the vineyard. The registered name was changed in 2016 to Grove Estate, and the business was incorporated as Grove Estate (Wine) Limited in the same year. Since taking over and with the vines maturing, the Groves have seen the total yield grow by approximately 10% per annum. The current release is capped at between 2,000 and 3,000 bottles a year - and, as the family proudly point out, "when it's gone, it's gone." They continue to sell out year on year.
Soil and Climate
The site is blessed with a 6.7 pH soil, a moderate amount of organic matter, and ideal levels of phosphorus and potassium - perfect for the cultivation of fruit crops. The climate in Eccleshall is warm and temperate, with a great deal of rainfall. The temperature averages 9.4°C and rainfall averages 721 mm. These conditions are well suited to the cool-climate hybrid grape varieties planted at the estate.
The Grape Varieties
Grove Estate currently grows three varieties of grapes: two white varieties, Phoenix and Seyval Blanc, and one red, Rondo. All are German hybrid grapes that have been created and used extensively in the UK due to their cold-climate adaptability and resistance to mildew, which is why they were chosen for this Staffordshire site.
Phoenix
Phoenix has characteristics similar to Bacchus and is sometimes compared to Sauvignon Blanc. At Grove Estate, the 100% Phoenix Still White is the current wine that most closely resembles those benchmark varieties, with a crisp, aromatic profile.
Seyval Blanc
Seyval Blanc is well suited to oak aging and can be used for either still or sparkling wines. The wine produced is often crisp with a relatively high acidity level, and the flavours can be quite neutral, which lends itself well to blending. Grove Estate has blended their Phoenix and Seyval Blanc from the 2015 harvest to produce their first sparkling white wine.
Rondo
Rondo produces wines with very good colour and style, with overtones of classic red varieties. It blends well with other varieties and can be likened to a cross between Tempranillo and Syrah. The Rondo grapes have been used as a single variety from the 2015 harvest (now sold out) and again as a single variety from the 2016 harvest, as well as in the blend for the 2016 Sparkling Rose.
The Wines
Grove Estate produces a tight, award-winning range of six wines spanning white, rosé and red, in both still and sparkling styles. The current release - the 2022 and 2023 vintages - is highlighted below. The wines are produced by Halfpenny Green Wines in Bobbington, South Staffordshire, calling on their years of experience in producing successful English wines and keeping the wine miles to a minimum.
Sparkling Wines
The Grove Estate sparkling wines are made in the traditional method, with a double fermentation, and are Brut in nature.
- 2023 Rose Sparkling - the latest release, a traditional-method sparkling rosé crafted from the estate's red Rondo grapes.
- 2022 White Sparkling - a traditional-method sparkling white made from a blend of Phoenix and Seyval Blanc.
- 2022 Red Sparkling - a traditional-method sparkling red, a relatively rare style in English wine.
Still Wines
- 2023 White Still - 100% Phoenix, with a flavour profile similar to Bacchus or Sauvignon Blanc.
- 2023 Rose Still - a blend of all three varieties, providing a light, refreshing summer drink.
- 2023 Red Still - a single-varietal Rondo that has matured as the vines have aged and is now a well-bodied wine suitable for all occasions.
All Grove Estate wines are produced from grapes grown at Lower Heamies, less than two miles from the centre of Eccleshall, protecting the family's stated aim of being a truly local producer. The full range can be purchased through the Grove Estate online shop. Specific bottle prices can be obtained by contacting the estate directly.
A Year at Grove Estate
The Grove team share a detailed account of the annual cycle on the estate. A seasonal journal titled "A Year at Grove Estate" walks through the work that goes into producing their wines:
- January: Winter pruning begins while the vines are dormant. Grove Estate have used cane pruning across all varieties to date, with plans to experiment with spur pruning on the Phoenix vines.
- March: Tying down the new growth. All 1,000 vines have to be tied to the main guide wire to support the new growth and keep the fruit off the floor.
- April - May: Tucking in the new growth into the higher guide wires - without this, by June the vineyard would be a jungle.
- June: Summer pruning to remove excess height; the vines quickly reach 6 or 7 feet and the tops need to be removed.
- July - August: Spraying with fertiliser and pesticide (the Groves openly note they are not organic) and applying weed killer to reduce competition at ground level.
- August - September: De-leafing to remove the canopy surrounding the fruit, exposing it to more sunshine to increase sugar levels - though this also risks displaying the fruit to birds and insects.
- October: Harvest. Friends and family gather for the annual harvest, the most manual of all processes. Reds (Rondo) are typically ready first in early October, with the whites following a little later in the month. The whites are then transported to Halfpenny Green for winemaking, ending the vineyard's active season for two months.
Tours and Tastings
For visitors who would like to learn more about the vineyard, Grove Estate runs a Summer Tour & Tasting experience for groups of between two and eight people. The price is £50 per person, of which £20 is redeemable against any purchases made on the day.
The experience lasts approximately three hours in total: the tour of the vineyard takes about an hour, and the tasting a further two hours. During the tour, the Groves explain how they found themselves running a vineyard, the grapes they grow, how they blend the grapes to make their wines, and the jobs they perform throughout the year. Guests will be able to taste at least four of the estate's wines during the tasting. To book a tour or buy a gift voucher, visitors can call 07817913904 or get in touch through the Grove Estate contact page.
Christmas Tastings
During the festive season, Grove Estate hosts a series of intimate Christmas Tasting evenings. The 2025 edition was scheduled for 3rd, 5th, 10th and 12th December (Wednesdays and Fridays), starting at 7pm and finishing around 10pm. The price is £60 per person, with £20 redeemable against any wine or gifts purchased on the night. Each evening is limited to a maximum of 10 guests.
The format is a social, room-to-room tasting of all six Grove Estate wines (served as full measures), finishing the night with an English sparkling cocktail sat round the fire. To book a place, the team asks guests to email tours@groveestatevineyard.co.uk or call 07817913904. These evenings are particularly popular, so early booking is recommended.
Weddings and Private Events
For those planning weddings or other significant occasions, Grove Estate offers a delicious range of still and sparkling wines to add some local Staffordshire magic to a special day. The estate offers quantity discounts for customers buying in bulk for weddings and events, and is happy to arrange a tasting for the bridal party or event organisers. Quotations and tasting arrangements can be arranged through the Grove Estate contact page.
Recognition and Local Profile
Grove Estate has earned a notable reputation both within Staffordshire and further afield. The wines were selected for the wine flight at the Donna Louise charity night held at the World of Wedgwood, where the food was prepared by two Michelin-starred chefs, Niall Keating and Simon Hulston. The family were delighted that the chefs felt the wines matched the standard of the food on offer. The estate continues to be a proud ambassador for Eccleshall and Staffordshire, and the local support has been central to the success of the business since the very first release.
Visiting Grove Estate Vineyard
Grove Estate Vineyard is located at:
- Shire Barn
- Lower Heamies Farm
- Chebsey
- Staffordshire
- ST21 6ND
Tour and tasting bookings, shop enquiries, and wedding and event quotations can be made through the Grove Estate contact page, by emailing tours@groveestatevineyard.co.uk, or by calling 07817913904. Grove Estate Vineyard is also active on Facebook, and the full range of wines is available through the Grove Estate online shop.
Useful Links
Grove Estate is a wonderful example of how a small, family-run vineyard, with careful varietal selection, traditional-method sparkling winemaking and a steadfast commitment to local production, can produce exceptional English wines. With limited annual releases of 2,000 - 3,000 bottles, the wines are highly sought-after and sell out year on year - a testament to the quality being produced in this quiet corner of Staffordshire.