Humbleyard Vineyard: Crafting English Sparkling and Still Wines in the Heart of Norfolk
Nestled on the south-facing slopes of rural Norfolk, close to the village of Mulbarton, Humbleyard Vineyard is one of the quietly compelling stories of England's modern wine movement. What began in 2010 as a personal passion project has grown into an eight-acre estate of roughly 10,000 vines, producing English still and sparkling wines that have earned medals at the East Anglian Vineyards Association (EAVA) competition and, perhaps more importantly, a loyal following of local drinkers.
humbleyardenglishwine.co.uk carries the full current range, with direct purchases handled via the buy wines option. The Paddock Farm Shop in Mulbarton and a network of independent stockists across the county also stock Humbleyard.
Site and Setting: A Patch of Norfolk with a Thousand-Year Story
The vineyard draws its name from a remarkable slice of Anglo-Saxon history. Beyond the crest of the slopes, framed by a line of ancient oaks, lies the valley where the Humbleyard Hundred - the local legislative and taxation court of its day - met on a monthly basis a thousand years ago. It is a fittingly English setting for a project that takes the long view, both historically and agriculturally.
Owner Robert Preston chose the site for the same reason his family had successfully grown early-ripening soft fruit on the same land for thirty-five years beforehand: the slopes face south, the soil is warm and well drained, and the location is largely protected from frost. Those characteristics, ideal for strawberries and raspberries, have proved equally well suited to classic and contemporary grape varieties alike.
Planting and Varieties
The first vines went into the ground in 2010, with further plantings in 2011 and 2012. Today the vineyard spans roughly eight acres and is home to nine different grape varieties planted in equal proportion - a deliberate strategy that staggers flowering and ripening across the summer and autumn, reducing the risk of crop loss should the weather turn.
The white varieties are:
- Solaris - an early-ripening, frost-tolerant German variety giving citrus and stone-fruit character.
- Chardonnay - the heart of traditional-method sparkling blends.
- Reichensteiner - a reliable, early-ripening German cross that adds freshness to blends.
- Sauvignon Blanc - bringing kiwi and gooseberry aromatics to the white cuvée.
- Bacchus - the increasingly fashionable English signature grape.
The red varieties are:
- Rondo - an early-ripening, dark ruby grape that shines in rosé.
- Pinot Meunier - a classic Champagne variety.
- Pinot Noir - the backbone of fine English sparkling wine.
- Cabernet Cortis - a more recently developed, disease-resistant variety that brings structure and colour to the rosé.
Vineyard Life Through the Seasons
Managing a vineyard on this scale is intensely hands-on. The vines are trained on a double-guyot system, pruned back to two canes each winter and tied down to the trellis. Through summer, the upwardly trained canopy needs constant tying in, while excess leaves and shoots are removed by hand to maximise airflow and sunlight. Careful canopy management is essential to keep fungal and insect threats at bay; the reward for all this effort is fruit that hits the perfect balance of sugars and acids at harvest time.
Harvest falls in September and October, and the team follow a distinctly continental tradition: daily picnics in the vineyard accompany the picking, with plenty of the previous year's wine to keep spirits up.
The Wines
Humbleyard's range is split between two highly respected makers: the sparkling wines are produced under the guidance of Dermot Sugrue at Wiston Estate Winery in West Sussex, while the still wines are made at Shawsgate Winery in Framlingham, Suffolk, by the well-respected winemaker Rob Capp.
Sparkling Wines
The two non-vintage sparkling wines are blends of the 2012 and 2013 harvests, made in the traditional method with secondary fermentation and a minimum of 36 months on the lees.
- Brut Rosé - 11% abv. A unique blend of classic Pinot Noir and the relatively unusual Cabernet Cortis, with a quality mousse, an attractive rose colour, and light rose petal and summer fruit aromas. Clean and dry with good length and hints of butterscotch. Best served chilled. Gold medal, 2018 EAVA competition.
- White Cuvée - 11% abv. A delicious Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay blend with a fine, delicate mousse, light citrus and nutty aromas, well balanced with good length. Characteristic Sauvignon Blanc notes of kiwi and gooseberry on the palate. Bronze medal, 2018 EAVA competition.
The first vintage sparkling wine, the Prestige Cuvée 2014, is made from the classic Champagne trio of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, aged for four years on the lees at Wiston Estate. Its sister wine, the Vantage Rose 2014, is made from the same Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes, presenting an appealing blush colour, fine bubbles, a delicately floral nose and a crisp, nutty palate.
Still Wines
- Rose 2014 (PDO) - 10% abv. A medium-dry rosé that carries the prestigious Protected Designation of Origin status, made from red Rondo and white Reichensteiner grapes. Aromas and flavours of red summer fruits are followed by a delicate hint of butterscotch on the palate. Top Silver medal, 2014 EAVA competition.
- Rondo Rose 2018 - A full-bodied, medium-dry rosé full of berry flavour, made from 90% Rondo and 10% Reichensteiner. A popular wine in the Humbleyard line-up.
- Bacchus 2022 - 11.5% abv. Medium-dry, made from 100% Bacchus grapes ripened in the glorious summer of 2022. Delicate aromas of ripe stone fruit, white peach and nectarine on the nose and palate. The East Anglian region is recognised for growing superb Bacchus grapes, an increasingly respected variety with quintessentially English flavour, often compared with Sauvignon Blanc and floral Muscadet.
High Spirit No.1
From the rosé comes something altogether different: High Spirit No.1, a 30% abv spirit triple-distilled from Humbleyard's own rosé wine. A vibrant cherry pink in the glass, it offers full rich flavours and the kick of a spirit, with mellow notes of summer berries and hints of caramel and spice on the palate. The makers describe it as the "spirit of rose" - equally enjoyable straight, over ice, or as the base for a sophisticated cocktail.
Buying Humbleyard Wines
Wines are available to buy direct, with delivery available within Norfolk. The vineyard notes that, due to very high levels of courier damage, they no longer offer delivery outside the county.
The flagship local stockist is Paddock Farm Shop, Mulbarton, Norwich NR14 8JT - a ten-minute walk from the vineyard itself, should you wish to wander down to the vines afterwards. The farm shop is open Monday to Saturday, 9am - 5pm, and stocks the full Humbleyard range alongside fruit and vegetables, apple juice from the farm's own orchards, farm honey, PYO plums, and superb fresh fish on Thursdays.
Other Norfolk stockists include:
- Jarrold, Norwich
- Renowine, Wymondham
- Groveland Farm Shop, Roughton
- Wymondham and Aylsham Garden Centres (wymondhamgardencentre.co.uk)
- Hirsts Farm Shop, Ormesby
- Rising Lodge Farm Shop, Knights Hill, Kings Lynn
- Old Hall Farm Shop, Woodton (oldhallfarm.co.uk)
- The English Whisky Company, Roudham
- The Norfolk Deli at Hunstanton (norfolk-deli.co.uk)
Mixed cases can also be arranged for delivery within Norfolk.
Gift Vouchers
For those searching for a thoughtful present, Humbleyard offers £25 wine gift vouchers redeemable in the shop or available to be posted out. Festive gift vouchers are a popular choice for Norfolk wine lovers.
Visit, Contact and Follow
The vineyard itself is not generally open for casual drop-ins, but visitors to the farm shop are encouraged to ask for directions and a map to walk down to the vines (the team note that there may be times when the vineyard has to be closed).
For enquiries, the team can be reached by:
- Email: info@humbleyardenglishwine.co.uk
- Telephone: 01508 571000 or 01508 578892
- Twitter: @humbleyard
A contact form is also available for written messages. Response times are typically within 24 hours.
A Quiet Contributor to the English Wine Story
East Anglia has emerged as one of the most exciting regions in the English wine boom, and Humbleyard is a quietly confident contributor to that story. By combining carefully chosen grape varieties, traditional-method sparkling production under the guidance of Dermot Sugrue, and high-quality still winemaking at Shawsgate, the estate has turned an eight-acre Norfolk field into a range of wines that hold their own on a national stage - as the EAVA medals attest.
Whether you are intrigued by the silt and chalk of a south-facing Norfolk slope, drawn to a delicate Pinot-led sparkling, or simply seeking a beautifully local bottle to put on the table, Humbleyard stands as a quietly accomplished English producer.