Hanwell Wine Estate: A 50-Year Nottinghamshire Wine Story
Hanwell Wine Estate is one of the most distinctive family-run vineyards in the East Midlands. Set in the rolling countryside where Nottinghamshire meets Leicestershire, it weaves together 50 years of grape-growing heritage with a contemporary visitor experience: tours, tastings, pairings, a working vineyard, a cellar-door shop, a campsite and a packed calendar of events. Whether you arrive for a relaxed afternoon of sparkling wine on the terrace, a private group tour, a hen-party cocktail evening, or a wedding beneath the vines, Hanwell offers a slice of modern English wine country with deep roots.
How a Nottinghamshire Wine Family Came to Be
The story of Hanwell Wine Estate is inseparable from the story of Eglantine Vineyard next door. In the late 1960s, Tony and Veronica Skuriat moved into a house in West Bridgford, South Nottinghamshire, and discovered a neglected vine in an old greenhouse. They were hooked. There was no internet in those days, so they read books and magazines, wrote to correspondents across the English-speaking wine world and, in their own words, "delved into" the science and craft of cool-climate viticulture.
In 1975 they planted their first vineyard and later moved the vines to found Eglantine Vineyard, which sits just off the Nottingham to Loughborough road on the hill between Bunny and Costock. Sceptics told them it was too far north for grapes to ripen. They proved them wrong. In the 1990s, Tony and Veronica won an innovation award for devising a method to rotate and riddle champagne bottles in bulk using a manual wooden "giro-pallet." In the early 2000s, they created the country's first-ever commercially produced Ice Wine, North Star - a dessert wine of such quality that it has since been poured at the King's Coronation Banquet at the Ritz, Piccadilly, London.
From the 1980s onwards, Tony and Veronica collected and trialled different grape varieties, amassing a collection of 250 varieties tested for disease resistance, quality, yield and ripening ability. Some of the lesser-known varieties were sent to join the UK National Collection when the vines were grubbed up. Today, that spirit of experimentation continues: 15 PIWI (fungus-resistant) varieties are being trialled across Eglantine and Hanwell to see how they perform in South Nottinghamshire conditions.
Helenka and the Birth of Hanwell
Helenka, Tony and Veronica's daughter, grew up among the vines at Eglantine. When she had children of her own, she wanted them to experience the same enriching lifestyle - but finding the perfect site for a new vineyard is a serious business. In May 2012, after meticulous planning and the help of sheep to clear the vegetation, 8,000 vines arrived from a German nursery and were planted using a semi-manual process and a laser-guided tractor. Hanwell Wine Estate was born. The first grapes were harvested in October 2015 with the help of neighbours, friends, family and volunteers. The 8,000 vines are still hand-tended by family, local employees and a dedicated volunteer team called the "Hanwell Hands."
Helenka also runs an IT career alongside the vineyard and has done so for 30 years, applying the project management, sales and strategic planning skills she honed in the technology sector to the operations of a working English wine estate. In 2025, Hanwell Wine Estate celebrated its half-century of family grape growing in Nottinghamshire with a summer of events, the launch of Hanwell Classic Magnums 2018 (over five years on the lees), and the launch of the East Midlands Wine Trail, which Helenka spearheaded with seven other East Midlands vineyard owners.
Where the Wines Come From
Hanwell's 8,000 vines are planted with the classic Champagne varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. After harvest, the grapes travel 15 minutes down the road to Eglantine's purpose-built winery, where Tony Skuriat still makes the wines using the traditional method. Each sparkling vintage takes three years from harvest to release: secondary fermentation in bottle, extended lees ageing, riddling, and finally disgorging. The results have repeatedly won international awards.
All Hanwell wines are vegan, made with natural ferments, and produced with the lightest possible environmental footprint. No pesticides have ever been used on the estate; instead, long grass and hedgerows support birds, hedgehogs and insects that keep the natural balance. The wines are sold 95% direct to consumer, making Hanwell one of the lowest food-miles grower-producers in the East Midlands.
The Hanwell and Eglantine Range
Across the two estates, around a dozen wines are available through the cellar-door and online shop:
- Hanwell 'Classic' 2018 - pale gold traditional-method sparkling from the classic Champagne trio, aged 15 months on the lees; hand-numbered bottles. £32.95 per bottle.
- Hanwell 'Classic' 2017 - the previous vintage, now in its last few cases. £39.00.
- Hanwell 'Classic' Magnum 2018 - the magnum-format prestige release, more than five years on the lees. £74.95.
- Hanwell 'Blush' Rosé 2018 - a dry traditional-method sparkling rosé with notes of red currant, cherry and shortcrust pastry. £35.95.
- Hanwell 'Romance' Rosé 2021 - a still dry rosé with raspberry, redcurrant and crisp red apple. £18.00.
- Hanwell Golden Age Chardonnay - a smooth, buttery, unoaked white.
- Eglantine Sparkling Dry White - a traditional-method fizz with bruised apple and elderflower notes. £31.95.
- Eglantine Pinot Sparkling 2018 - red-fruit traditional-method sparkling. £31.95.
- Eglantine R&R Red - a smoky, fruity red with hedgerow-fruit notes. £22.00.
- Eglantine Cherry Wine - rich, morello-cherry still wine. £17.50.
- Eglantine Cherry Fizz - the sparkling cherry wine. £26.00.
- Eglantine Mead - a smooth, sweet honey wine. £17.50.
- North Star Dessert Wine - the multi-award-winning flagship ice-style dessert wine served at the King's Coronation. £41.95.
By-the-glass service is also available at the café bar - a 125 ml glass of Hanwell Sparkling is £7.75.
Vineyard Tours and Tasting Experiences
Whatever your group size or interest, Hanwell has a tour or tasting designed for you. All vineyard experiences are led by knowledgeable hosts (several of the team hold the WSET wine qualification) and end with a tutored flight of family-made wines.
The Vineyard Experience - Guided Tour & Wine Tasting
The signature experience. Lasting 1.5 hours, the Vineyard Experience begins with the family story in the Stable Yard (or the heated barn in colder months), followed by a guided stroll down the gently sloping meadow path into the vineyard itself. There, you'll sit among the vines for an introduction to the vineyard year before returning for a tutored tasting of six family-made wines. Tasters are hand-poured at roughly 30 ml each (15 ml for North Star), and the wine selection rotates with current stock. £30.00 per person, available Fridays and Saturdays plus selected Sundays - booking essential.
Sip & Stroll - Self-Guided Trail and Tasting
For a more relaxed visit, the Sip & Stroll experience lets you wander the vineyard and nature trail at your own pace using a free leaflet, then settle at a tasting-room table (or the sun-drenched terrace) with a flight of six wines and tasting notes. One person £19.00, two people £38.00. Available every Friday and Saturday afternoon in summer plus Saturdays in March, April, October, November and December.
Cheese & Wine Pairing
Hanwell has partnered with Long Clawson Dairy, an award-winning cheesemaker just six miles from the vineyard, to create a relaxed self-paced pairing flight. Discover how creaminess, acidity, saltiness and texture interact across four family-made wines and a curated cheese selection. £25.00 per person. Friday and Saturday afternoons, 1 May to 30 September (pre-booking recommended), and pre-booked Saturdays from 1 October to 24 December.
Chocolate & Wine Pairing
A collaboration with Cathy's Chocolates and Cakes (chocolatier to Sat Bains for 13 years) brings four artisan chocolates together with four Hanwell wines in a series of perfectly balanced pairings. Explore how sweetness, acidity, tannin and texture interact - at your own pace, no formal structure. £22.00 per person. Saturday afternoons, 1 April to 30 September.
Celebration Vineyard Experience
Designed for anniversaries, birthdays, hen parties and stag dos, the Celebration Vineyard Experience is a private, flexible event that begins with a complimentary welcome glass of family-grown fizz and works through a tutored tasting of six family-made wines. £300 includes the first eight guests; additional guests are £28 each. Lasts around 1.5 hours, with optional add-ons from the café kitchen. Available all year round at a time to suit you (daylight required for the vineyard walk).
Private Group Vineyard Experience
For groups of 8 - 20+ - WI, U3A, Rotary, networking events, coach trips, wine circles - the Private Group Vineyard Experience runs Monday to Thursday at suggested start times of 10:45 am, 1 pm, 3:15 pm, 5:30 pm or 7 pm. The £300 deposit covers up to 12 guests; additional guests are £25 each. The full experience covers the family story (20 minutes), a 170-metre walk into the vineyard (20 minutes) and a 45-minute tutored tasting of six wines.
Twilight Vineyard Cocktails
A 75-minute cocktail-making class held from 7 pm on selected evenings, where you'll shake, stir and sip three handcrafted cocktails each featuring Hanwell wines. The bar stays open until 11 pm, so you can carry the evening on after the pour. £38.00 per person.
Bubbles and Babies
A daytime wine tasting designed for parents and carers with babies aged 1 month to 2 years. Six family-made wines are served in modest 30 ml pours, with mocktails and a soft-drink taste challenge for non-drinkers. Ample buggy space, baby-change facilities and lots of feeding breaks. 2 pm start, relaxed finish about 4 pm. £30.00 per person.
Sparkling Vineyard Picnic for 2
A pre-ordered picnic basket containing a bottle of Hanwell Classic traditional-method sparkling, Long Clawson cheeses, olives and Mediterranean treats, enjoyed among the vines or on the terrace. £75.00 for two.
Gift Vouchers and Experience Packages
Looking for a present? Experience Gifts include instant e-vouchers (delivered to your inbox in minutes) and postal vouchers (add £4.95 for postal delivery; order by 15 December for Christmas delivery).
- Copper Vineyard Experience (1 person) - £30.00, 1¾ hours.
- Bronze Vineyard Experience (2 people) - £60.00, 1¾ hours.
- Silver Vineyard Experience (2 people + £20 to spend on wine) - £80.00, 1¾ hours.
- Gold Vineyard Experience (2 people + welcome glass + bottle of fizz + local cheese board) - £125.00, 2½ hours.
- Platinum Vineyard Experience (2 people + welcome glass + bottle of fizz + cheese board + adopted vine + adoption certificate) - £140.00, 2½ hours.
- Adopt-a-Vine (2 people + bottle of fizz + adopted vine + adoption certificate) - £99.00, 1¾ hours.
- Sparkling Vineyard Picnic eVoucher for 2 - £75.00.
- Monetary eVouchers - £10, £25, £50, £100, £250.
Visit the Estate: The Café Bar and Stable Yard
Hanwell's Café Bar sits at the heart of the visitor experience, with seating on the terrace, inside the Tasting Room and in the cosy, heated Barn with its wide rolling countryside views. It serves a small seasonal food menu (cheese and Mediterranean platters, houmous and breadsticks, olives, tortilla chips, afternoon tea) alongside Hanwell wines by the glass, local beer and cider, coffee and mocktails.
Summer opening (April to September) is Friday and Saturday 12 - 3:30 pm, often later. Winter opening (October to Christmas) is Saturday 12 - 3:30 pm. The estate closes for the colder months from Saturday 19 December 2026, reopening Saturday 4 April 2027. Outside standard hours, the bar opens for pre-organised events and booked vineyard tours.
Food and drink pre-orders are encouraged: order by the Tuesday before your visit and the team will have everything ready. The Hanwell Café Bar is family-friendly and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome both indoors and on the terrace (dogs can even join vineyard tours and tastings).
Events and What's On
Hanwell runs a busy events calendar year-round, with vineyard tours and tastings (March to November), Twilight Cocktail Making, Bubbles with Babies, the self-guided Sip and Stroll, the annual 5K Wine Run (next running August 2027), English Wine Week, the September to October Grape Harvest, August Blackberry Picking, market stalls, the Celebration Tour and Group Vineyard Tours.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
- Blackberry Picking - Friday 7 August 2026, 12 pm - 4 pm. Free, family friendly, dogs on leads welcome.
- 5K Wine Run - held 6, 7, 12 and 13 June 2026 in aid of the MS Society; next running scheduled for August 2027.
- Bubbles and Babies - recurring daytime wine tasting for parents with babies 1 month - 2 years. £30 per ticket.
- Twilight Vineyard Cocktails - recurring summer evening cocktail-making, £38 per ticket.
- Grape Harvest - September to October; sign up to the email list to be notified of dates.
- Market stalls - regular appearances at Ruddington Market, Sherwood Market, East Bridgford Village Show, Sutton Bonnington Show, Waltham on the Wolds Charter Fair, East Midlands Food Festival (3 - 4 October), ChocFest (14 - 15 November), Bingham Christmas Market (27 November), Ruddington Christmas Market (5 December) and One Kegworth Christmas Market (6 December).
Stay on the Estate: Hanwell Sunset Retreat Paddock
If a vineyard visit isn't enough, the Hanwell Sunset Retreat Paddock is a simple grass camping paddock with wide, sweeping countryside views, open from May to September every Friday and Saturday plus Sundays in August. Pitch a tent, park a motorhome or caravan, and combine a stay with vineyard tours, tastings, café-bar lunches and Twilight Cocktail Making. The site welcomes children and well-behaved dogs on leads; BBQs and fires are not permitted.
Pricing is per person: adults from £14 per night, children £5 per night, with optional electric hook-up at £15 per night. To book multiple nights, add one night to the basket, then continue shopping and return to add additional nights, adjusting quantities at checkout.
Venue Hire, Weddings and Vow Renewals
Hanwell Wine Estate offers several spaces for hire across its 35-acre estate:
- The Rural Antics Barn - a modern, rustic event space seating up to 24 boardroom-style, 30 for dinner, or 50 theatre-style, with wall-mounted screen, Wi-Fi and ample parking.
- The Tasting Room and Bar - seating 26 indoors café-style, opening onto a 50 m² terrace.
- The Lodge - an intimate self-contained space for up to 16 seated, or 30 combined with the terrace.
- Outdoor Spaces - the 2.5-acre Grass Paddock, the Small Stock Proof Paddock, the Terrace with Pergola, and a 2.5 km off-road cross-country running track.
Hourly hire starts from £18 for outdoor space, £20 for The Lodge, and £25 for the Barn or Tasting Room. Late-evening hire (Friday and Saturday 10 pm - midnight) is £50 - £70 per hour. Catering options include a Mediterranean-style vegetarian buffet, local cheese board, quiche and sandwiches, afternoon tea and a staffed and stocked bar. Damage deposits range from £50 (outdoor) to £250 (indoor); cancellation terms vary from 60+ days (full refund) to 15 days or less (non-refundable).
Weddings
The estate hosts intimate alfresco weddings and large marquee or tipi weddings on 35 acres of vineyard, fields, woodland and lake. Tailored packages are available; email the team to view the vineyard and discuss your day.
Vow Renewals
Hanwell also offers vow renewal ceremonies - from a simple, intimate celebration to an elaborate day or evening event with a sparkling wine reception, vineyard tour and tasting, or buffet.
The Vineyard and Nature Trail
Even outside the formal tour programme, you can stretch your legs on the free self-guided Vineyard and Nature Trail - a less-than-1 km, 30-minute stroll around the vineyard and lake. The estate has never used pesticides: hedgerows are allowed to grow high and grasses left long for birds, hedgehogs and insects. In return, the wildlife keeps the natural balance.
The trail leaflet lists the staggering array of flora and fauna spotted on site, from barn owls, tawny owls, kestrels, hobbies, sparrowhawks and kingfishers to brown hares, badgers, muntjac and roe deer, brown long-eared bats, otters, weasels, common and great crested newts, and grass snakes. Wildflowers include cowslip, primrose, foxglove, knapweed, hawthorn, honeysuckle, gorse and broom. A 2.5 km cross-country running track, tractor-mown from May to September, is available to campers and event organisers.
The Team
Helenka leads the business alongside a dedicated core team:
- Margaret - vineyard and winery team, caring for the vines from bud-burst to harvest for over a decade.
- Karen - events host, hand-labelling wines and serving in the vineyard.
- Darren - estate manager (gardens, plumbing, trellis, machinery).
- Sue (catering) and Sue (vineyard team), Jane, Lauren, Helena, Alison, David, Pam - covering catering, food service, assistant winemaking, vineyard work, tour hosting and bar service.
The wider Hanwell Hands volunteer team helps with pruning, bud rubbing, tucking in, de-leafing, the grape harvest, market stalls, the cellar-door shop and hand-labelling bottles.
Charitable Giving
Hanwell has donated to a remarkable list of local and national charities, including the MS Society (the chosen charity of the 5K Wine Run), Rainbows Hospice, Macmillan, Children in Need, Guide Dogs, the Teenage Cancer Trust, Cancer Research UK, Alzheimer's Research, the Air Ambulance, Nottingham Breast Cancer Research Centre, Hospice UK, PASIC Children's Cancer Charity, and many local schools and village halls. As of 23 September 2025, the total figure reached £8,957.
How to Find Hanwell Wine Estate
Hanwell sits on the A606 Nottingham - Melton Mowbray road at Hickling Pastures, postcode LE14 3QG. From the A46/A606 "Widmerpool" roundabout, head towards Melton Mowbray along the A606 Melton Road; the vineyard is about 500 metres on the right after the Hickling Pastures village sign, directly opposite Peapod nursery. By car the estate is roughly 20 minutes from Nottingham, 25 minutes from Nottingham Castle, 35 minutes from Leicester, 40 minutes from Sherwood Forest, 20 minutes from Trent Bridge and Melton Mowbray, and 15 minutes from Long Clawson Dairy. The what3words reference is worry.weeds.respected.
By public transport, the NottsBus On Demand Z7 Central Rushcliffe service (and Route 19 between Nottingham and Melton Mowbray) stops within a short walk. By train, Nottingham (25 minutes), Loughborough (20 minutes) and Melton Mowbray (20 minutes) stations are the nearest. East Midlands Airport is 30 minutes away by taxi.
For those combining a wine visit with a longer stay, the surrounding area offers plenty - from spa days at Ragdale Hall and Eden Hall to attractions at Trent Bridge, Sherwood Forest, Nottingham Castle, Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre, Long Clawson Dairy and the town of Melton Mowbray, home of the pork pie. Local pubs within a short drive include The Plough at Hickling, The Tap and Run at Upper Broughton, The Plough at Normanton, Perkins Bar & Bistro in Plumtree, The Crown at Old Dalby, The Air Hostess at Tollerton and The Martin's Arms at Colston Bassett. Accommodation ranges from Premier Inn Melton Mowbray, Travelodge Nottingham Riverside, Best Western Sysonby Knoll and Langar Hall Country House Hotel to Manor Farm House and Elms Farm B&B.
Accessibility and Family-Friendly Notes
Hanwell is committed to accessibility and is listed on Euan's Guide. The vineyard itself has uneven ground and is unsuitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs, but the Tasting Room, café bar and toilets (including accessible and baby-change facilities) are accessible. The team operates a "Challenge 25" policy - bring photo ID if you're lucky enough to look under 25 and want to taste or buy wine.
Well-behaved dogs are welcome everywhere indoors and out, including in the Tasting Room Café Bar and on vineyard tours, provided they are kept on a lead. Children are welcome at most experiences (the vineyard experience, cocktail-making and Celebration events are 18+; the cheese pairing and the chocolate pairing are family friendly).
Contact and Booking
The team can be reached by email at hello@hanwellwine.co.uk or by phone on 01949 81393 (a short number - leave a message if there's no answer). Postal address: Hanwell Wine Estate, Melton Road, Hickling Pastures, Melton Mowbray LE14 3QG. Trade enquiries have a dedicated Trade Programme with low minimum order quantities (12 bottles) and marketing support. Job applications go to jobs@hanwellwine.co.uk.
With 50 years of grape growing behind it, an award-winning cellar, a warm welcome from the Skuriat family, and a vineyard that runs as a living classroom for sustainability, Hanwell Wine Estate is one of the most rewarding places in the East Midlands to taste modern English wine.