Lokkelebery Vineyard: A Farmer-Established English Vineyard on the Hertfordshire Hills
Nestled in the rolling hills just outside Welwyn in Hertfordshire, Lokkelebery Vineyard is one of England's newest and most exciting viticultural ventures. It sits within Lockley Farm, a working arable farm with more than 28 years of heritage in welcoming guests to its converted barns and lodges. In late spring 2022, the family who run the farm made a bold, climate-driven decision: to plant a vineyard on a field that had grown cereals for generations. Today, that vineyard is the heart of a story that reaches back to the Romans, forward to English sparkling and still wines, and straight to the cup of anyone who loves a glass of something local.
A Name Rooted in Centuries of Hertfordshire History
The vineyard is called Lokkelebery, a name far from a marketing afterthought. Historic records show Lokkelebery was one of three early names used for the manor of Lockleys, just outside Welwyn, in the early 14th century (c. 1303). At that time the estate was owned by the Valence family, and part of that original landholding is now Lockley Farm itself.
The Old English suffix "-bery" traditionally refers to a mound or hill (apt for the hilly, sloping land on which the modern vineyard sits), while its Germanic roots also carry a soft-fruit or grape connotation. For the farming family, keeping the archaic spelling was a way of honouring the heritage under their feet. On launching the name on 28 February 2022, they framed the vineyard as a way of letting the same historic terroir grow a brand-new crop.
The Dutch Herring Boat: A Logo with a Story
The official Lokkelebery logo is a historic Dutch herring boat known as a Buis, illustrated by family friend Eleanor Gardner and launched on 16 May 2022. The family's Anglo-Dutch heritage traces back to 16th-century herring traders who sailed between the Netherlands and England, preserving fish in salt and revolutionising the trade. The Buis symbolises that union of nations, the family's long history of trade (grain, wool, livestock, spices) and the new voyage they are embarking on with the vineyard.
Lockley Farm: The Working Farm Behind the Vines
Lockley Farm itself has a remarkable past. It is thought to have been a favourite hunting ground of King Henry VIII during his stays at nearby Hatfield House, and it has a close connection to the Welwyn Roman Baths. For more than 28 years the current custodians, Liz, Marinus and their family, have offered high-quality accommodation in beautifully restored barn conversions, and the farm continues to operate as a working arable enterprise, growing wheat, barley, oats and beans, keeping horses, chickens and seasonal grazing cattle, and tending roughly two miles of public footpaths.
Guests at the farm stay in properties such as The Shire Barn (a 17th-century timber-framed barn moved piece by piece from Welwyn), The Gate House (an 18th-century flint and brick barn conversion), Gamekeeper's Lodge (built in 1912), Courtyard Barn and Parkland Barn. All are currently let on a long-term basis only, with prices on application.
From Wheat to Wine: Why a Vineyard?
The field that now hosts the vineyard had been struggling as a cereal plot for years. Increasingly wet winters made drilling with heavy machinery almost impossible, while hotter, drier springs killed off seedlings before they could establish. In one recent year much of the farm was left fallow because machinery simply could not get on the land.
Vines offered a different future. As arable farmers who already work with nature, the family chose a permanent, drought-resilient, long-term crop suited to the warming climate. The vineyard also lines up neatly with the family's commitment to Countryside Stewardship, biodiversity and Red Tractor standards, all of which shape the wider farm.
The Terroir: Hertfordshire Flint and Free-Draining Soil
Lokkelebery's terroir is a free-draining mix of clay, loam, sand and chalk, dotted with Hertfordshire flints. Those flints play a quiet but vital role:
- They absorb heat by day and radiate it back into the root zone at night.
- They reflect light and warmth up into the canopy, especially important in a cool British climate.
- They break up the soil structure, helping water drain away from the vine roots. Vines famously dislike "wet feet".
- They aid ripening during véraison, when grapes soften and begin to develop sugars and signature flavours.
Planting the Vineyard: Spring 2022
Planting began on 8 May 2022, after months of careful soil preparation. A Sumo machine ploughed, pressed and rolled the field to create a fine tilth in the top 45 cm, building on the work done by a rye cover crop drilled the previous autumn. The rye's deep tap roots had aerated the soil, encouraged worms and primed the ground for the vines' deeper root systems.
A specialist German planting rig, manned by Luigi, Ewelina and Sylwester, worked a 12-hour shift on day two, placing each vine into a furrow and sweeping soil back over its roots. By the end of the second day, around 24,000 vines were in the ground, with the team's trusty 1968 Ford tractor (never off the farm in 54 years) used to press the soil around each row. The official Lokkelebery logo was launched the same week.
Four Grape Varieties, Carefully Clone-Selected
After climate analysis, soil sampling and lengthy discussions with winemakers, viticulturists Vinescapes selected the varieties and Burgundy clones best suited to the site. Each variety is grafted onto rootstock tailored to the vineyard's soil and environment:
- Pinot Noir: chiefly associated with Burgundy and Champagne. Tasting notes include strawberry, red cherry and vanilla (oak). Burgundy clones are earmarked for still rosé and, in a tropical year, potentially a red.
- Chardonnay: a green-skinned white grape. Cool-climate notes of apple and lemon, with the chance of a still Chardonnay in a warm year.
- Pinot Meunier: a red grape most famous as one of the three Champagne varieties, prized for body and richness, and increasingly popular in English sparkling wine.
- Pinot Noir Précoce: a dark-skinned, blue-black form of Pinot Noir that ripens earlier than usual, offering fruity red-berry notes.
These four varieties position Lokkelebery perfectly for the English sparkling wine market, with the option of still wines in warmer vintages.
Looking After the Vines: Sustainability in Practice
From the moment the vines went into the ground, the team has taken a slow-and-steady, sustainability-first approach.
2-Bud Pruning and Patience
In their first proper winter (2022/23), the team carried out a deliberately aggressive 2-bud pruning. Cutting almost all growth from the vine down to just two tiny buds felt extreme, but it forced the young plants to put their energy into root development rather than fruit. The pruning motto is "if you are unsure, leave more": better slightly spiky and healthy than neatly pruned and riddled with trunk disease.
Clover Corridors and Wildflower Strips
Every other row of the vineyard is sown with a rich clover mix, while the alternate rows get a grippy, shallow-rooted grass mix. The clover fixes nitrogen back into the soil (replacing what the vines take out), and the grasses prevent erosion and protect soil structure during tractor work. Wildflower buffer strips ring the vineyard and continue across the farm, supporting pollinators and tying into Countryside Stewardship commitments.
Hedgerows and Wind Breaks
Run up to Christmas 2023, the team planted 1,440 native hedge plants, including dogwood, hazel and hawthorn, alongside the vineyard. In line with stewardship guidance, each hedge includes cultivated native trees at regular intervals. The hedges act as wildlife corridors and create a modest wind break for the vines, raising temperatures at the top of the slope.
Passive Frost Protection
During the December 2022 cold snap, vineyard sensors recorded lows of minus 12.8 °C. The vines were safely dormant by then, but a spring frost can wipe out an entire crop, so the team is exploring passive frost protection methods such as late pruning to delay bud burst.
The First Fruits and the Road to the First Bottle
During the autumn 2022 health check, the team discovered a few small bunches of grapes (mostly Pinot Noir) growing inside the grow tubes. Sweet, ripe and entirely unplanned, they offered a tiny but thrilling preview of the wines to come. By autumn 2024, the team was hopeful of a first small harvest, with the long-term target of around 30,000 bottles a year once the vineyard is in full production.
Visiting and Volunteering
Lokkelebery is one of the most accessible young vineyards in the country. The team runs a busy programme of open days, tours and volunteering mornings, all advertised on social media.
Vineyard Tours
From the very first baby vineyard tours on 3 and 4 September 2022, which welcomed over 110 visitors across the weekend, guided walks have been at the heart of the experience. Tours typically last around 45 minutes and cover everything from planting and growing through to producing the future Lokkelebery wine, followed by homemade cake beside the vines. Tickets are released via Eventbrite and have, in the past, been sold as an add-on to larger events such as VineyART.
Volunteering Mornings
Volunteering at Lokkelebery is a unique way to be part of the vineyard's story. Sessions run seasonally on Wednesday mornings from 9am to 12pm, with tasks ranging from shoot selection, pruning and tying on to weeding and tucking in. The first ever volunteer day was 2 July 2022, when a small team shoot-selected nearly 6,000 Pinot Noir vines in a single morning. New sessions are published via the Lokkelebery Volunteering Eventbrite.
VineyART: Art, Craft and Sparkling Wine by the Vines
On 3 and 4 June 2023 the vineyard hosted VineyART, a unique art and craft celebration beside the vines. Highlights included:
- Work from local artists and craftspeople: landscapes, sculpture, jewellery and wine-barrel creations.
- Live music, including an exclusive performance on a historic Dutch organ (Saturday only).
- The Lokkelebery Art and Vineyard Exhibition telling the story of the vineyard's connection to art.
- A complimentary glass of sparkling wine (18+) included with every ticket.
- A pop-up café from This Blondie Bakes.
- The first sale of exclusive Lokkelebery merchandise.
- Optional add-on vineyard tours (~45 minutes, 16+).
Visitors were invited to pre-book early-bird tickets online; the event sold out ahead of the day.
Stay on the Farm: Self-Catering in Converted Barns
Travelling from further afield? Lockley Farm's barn conversions are a natural base for a vineyard visit. While the current properties are offered only as long-term rentals, the surrounding area offers plenty of inspiration for a day trip:
- Stately homes and churches: Hatfield House, Knebworth House, St Albans Cathedral, Hertford Castle and Woburn Abbey.
- Museums: the Welwyn Roman Baths, Shaw's Corner, the RAF Museum and IWM Duxford.
- Zoos and wildlife parks: Whipsnade Zoo, Woburn Safari Park, Paradise Wildlife Park and ZSL London Zoo.
- Food and drink: Church Farm, Ardeley and The Farm Butchery, Codicote, the latter selling beef from cattle that have grazed on Lockley Farm itself.
Welwyn North station is just three miles away by car, with fast trains reaching King's Cross in around 20 minutes; the A1(M) is five minutes' drive and the M25 ten minutes, making the farm an easy escape from London.
Contact
- Phone: (+44) 1438 718641
- Email: [email protected]
- Address: Lockley Farm, Welwyn, Hertfordshire AL6 0BL, UK
The vineyard is active on Facebook and Instagram.
The Story So Far and What Comes Next
Lokkelebery may be a young vineyard, but it is already a richly told one. From a heritage name revived from the 14th century, to a vineyard manager called Hannah leading tours beside the vines, to a Dutch herring boat that ties an Anglo-Dutch family to a new English wine venture, the project has more texture than many estates twice its age. As the vines grow into maturity and the first bottles of Lokkelebery sparkling, rosé and still white are released, the team's slow-and-steady, farmer-first approach looks set to deliver something genuinely special for English wine lovers and for Hertfordshire's fast-rising reputation as the next great English wine county.