Jarrow House Vineyard (Malipion Vyd)

Jarrow House Vineyard - A Pocket-Sized Essex Sparkling Wine Producer

Tucked away on a quiet lane on the outskirts of the Essex village of Ardleigh sits one of England’s smallest commercial vineyards. Jarrow House Vineyard is a true boutique producer - a micro-vineyard of just a few acres that, in most years, presses and bottles no more than 500 bottles of traditional-method English sparkling wine. Those bottles are produced from the same trio of varieties that growers in Champagne have relied upon for centuries - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier - and they have earned praise from members of the Circle of Wine Writers for their balance, fine bubbles and toasty, bread-like complexity.

The vineyard was planted in 2009 by Robert Auld, who had previously diversified into speciality lettuce on the same fertile East Anglian land. The micro-climate of the Tendring/Ardleigh area - a drier-than-average pocket of southern England - combined with well-drained soils, makes this corner of Essex ideally suited to the cool-climate varieties needed for high-quality sparkling wine. Jarrow House now sits among a growing band of East Anglian vineyards contributing to the region’s reputation as one of the most exciting areas for fizz in the UK.

Why “Jarrow”?

The vineyard’s name is a tribute both to family and to a pivotal moment in twentieth-century British social history. The land was once part of the Land Settlement Association, an organisation established after the Jarrow March of 1936. That march - in which hundreds of unemployed shipyard workers and coal miners walked from Jarrow in the North East of England down to London - highlighted the desperate plight of communities hit by the Depression, and led to the creation of small market-garden holdings on land across the country. Jarrow House was one such holding, where ex-miners and shipyard workers earned a living through horticulture.

Robert Auld’s own grandfather was a shipbuilder from the North East, and the vineyard is named in his memory - and in honour of the men and women who marched. It is a thoughtful nod to the agricultural roots of the site, and a reminder that English wine is as much about people and place as it is about grapes.

The Wines

Jarrow House Vineyard produces a single style of wine: a traditional-method (méthode champenoise) English sparkling wine made from the first pressing of the harvest. Because of the size of the vineyard, every bottle is genuinely limited edition - once a vintage is gone, it is gone for good.

Grape varieties

Three varieties are grown:

Pinot Noir - provides structure, body and red-fruit character.
Chardonnay - lends elegance, citrus freshness and ageing potential.
Pinot Meunier - contributes roundness, supple fruit and a creamy mid-palate.

Together they create a balanced wine with fine, deep fruit flavours and a crisp, quality finish, in the words of the vineyard’s own tasting notes.

Winemaking style

The vineyard works with first-pressing juice only - the most delicate fraction of the press, prized for its purity and finesse. Grapes are taken to a local contract winery for pressing and analysis; the 2022 harvest, for example, was pressed at New Hall Wine Estate, where Jarrow House’s fruit was noted for the highest YAN (Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen) of the year - a marker associated with cleaner, fruitier fermentations.

After primary fermentation the wines spend extended time on lees, building the toasty, bready notes that typify traditional-method fizz. The vineyard’s first releases attracted the following reaction from writer Steve Pryer of the Circle of Wine Writers:

“Superb balance and freshness with depth of colour and incredibly fine bubbles. Love the hints of breadiness and toasted notes. Would stand readily alongside most highly rated Champagnes. A real credit to you.”

Current releases

Three vintages are currently on offer:

2019 Classic Cuvée Sparkling - the entry-level release from a strong East Anglian vintage.
2019 Reserve Sparkling - a longer-lees-aged version of the same vintage, released the following year.
2020 Sparkling - the most recent vintage to come on sale, available while stocks last.

Wine is sold by telephone or email order only - there is no online shop - and the vineyard offers nationwide next-day delivery, which has been particularly useful during busy periods such as the Christmas trade. Contact the vineyard directly for the current price list.

How to Buy Jarrow House Vineyard Sparkling

Because production is tiny, Jarrow House wine is not widely distributed. There are two main routes to a bottle:

Direct from the vineyard

Orders can be placed by calling 07932 735116 or by emailing jarrowhousevineyard@hotmail.com. A secondary contact number, 07802 462387, is also available. The team is happy to provide up-to-date prices, confirm stock and arrange delivery.

Stockists across Essex

The vineyard maintains a small but well-chosen list of independent stockists, mostly along the Tendring and Colne valleys. Jarrow House sparkling can be found at:

It is worth phoning ahead before visiting, as allocations at each outlet are limited and small bottles go fast.

Visiting the Vineyard

Jarrow House Vineyard is a working micro-vineyard rather than a visitor centre, and the site itself is not generally open to the public for drop-in visits. There is no cellar-door shop, formal tasting room, tour programme or ticketed experience. Sales are handled directly by phone or email, and through the listed stockists.

If you would like to arrange a group visit, a private tasting or to discuss the wines in person, contact the vineyard in advance to enquire. Given the size of the operation, bespoke visits may be possible by arrangement.

News from the Vineyard

Each season at Jarrow House is documented in the vineyard’s news updates. Recent highlights include:

October 2023 - Bumper harvest. The 2023 harvest was completed and described as a bumper crop across UK vineyards. As is normal for traditional-method sparkling, the 2023 fruit will spend at least two years on lees before release.
May 2023 - New Frinton display. Jarrow House 2019 sparkling began appearing on display at Frinton-on-Sea Kitchen and Bathrooms and at Parker’s Garden Company.
December 2022 - Christmas delivery. Despite national postal strikes, the vineyard offered nationwide next-day delivery in the run-up to Christmas.
November 2022 - The Tendering Showcase. Jarrow House exhibited its 2019 sparkling at the Palace of Westminster at an event hosted by MPs Giles Watling and Sir Bernard Jenkin, complete with a behind-the-scenes tour of Westminster and drinks on the Terrace.
October 2022 - 2022 harvest. A sunny, blustery picking day delivered record yields, with the resulting juice showing the highest YAN (Yeast Assimilable Nitrogen) of any batch processed at the winery that year - a marker associated with clean, fruity fermentations.
August 2022 - Recovery after frost. After losing around 50% of the previous year’s crop to frost, near-perfect conditions in 2022 produced an excellent fruit set.

The Vineyard in the Local Drinks Scene

Jarrow House is part of a small constellation of independent Essex producers making a name for the county. Through its stockists - many of which also stock other regional drinks - the vineyard sits alongside East Coast Distillery’s Tides & Fortune gin and the wines of Prettyfields Vineyard (via Skylark Social). For visitors exploring the Tendring peninsula and the Colne Valley, picking up a bottle of Jarrow House sparkling makes for a very local tasting flight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Jarrow House Vineyard?

The vineyard is on Harwich Road, just outside the village of Ardleigh in north-east Essex. The postcode is CO7 7LT, and it can be located on Google Maps here.

How much does the wine cost?

Prices vary by vintage. For the latest price list, contact the vineyard directly on 07932 735116 or 07802 462387, or email jarrowhousevineyard@hotmail.com.

Can I buy online?

There is no online shop. Orders are taken by phone or email, and the vineyard offers nationwide next-day delivery when stocks allow.

Does Jarrow House Vineyard run tours or tastings?

Jarrow House does not currently offer scheduled public tours or ticketed tastings. Enquiries about private visits can be made via the contact details above.

Is the wine vegan or organic?

This is not specified, but the winemaking style - first-pressing only, made at a local contract winery - is consistent with modern low-intervention English sparkling. Contact the vineyard for up-to-date information on fining and certification.

Contact Jarrow House Vineyard

Address: Jarrow House Vineyard, Harwich Road, Ardleigh, Essex, CO7 7LT
Phone: 07932 735116 / 07802 462387
Email: jarrowhousevineyard@hotmail.com
Website: jarrowhousevineyard.wordpress.com