Melbury Vale Vineyard: A Family-Run English Winery in the Heart of Dorset
A Family-Run Dorset Vineyard Tucked into the Stirkel Valley
Just off the A350, about a mile and a half south of the historic hilltop town of Shaftesbury, on Foots Hill at Cann Bridge, sits Melbury Vale Vineyard - a small, family-owned English winery working a south-facing slope of the Stirkel Valley, a quiet, rolling fold of north Dorset long associated with milling. The vineyard was hand-planted in 2006 by Clare and Glynn with the help of friends and family, and a sustainable winery cut into the hillside followed in 2013 once the first wines had begun to win awards. Today the same hands tend the vines, run the cellar, distil brandy on site and bottle everything from traditional-method sparkling reds to aromatised vermouth-style aperitifs, fruit liqueurs, English wine brandy and a still Dorset cider.
Their ethos is rooted firmly in place: the vineyards, the small cider orchard, the winery and two cedar-clad holiday lodges all share the same rolling, south-facing ground, with views up to Melbury Hill, down to the river in the valley below and, on a clear night, a famously dark sky that makes stargazing almost inevitable. Everything is vegan friendly, made in small batches and sold direct from the cellar door or through a small, carefully chosen network of local farm shops, village stores, Dorset pubs and restaurants.
History: From Derelict Farmland to Award-Winning Winery
Melbury Vale farm was purchased in December 2003 by sister and brother Clare and Glynn as 28 acres of derelict farmland and former farm buildings, once part of Barfoot Farm near Melbury Mill and Cann Mill. They set about converting the older buildings and restoring the land to agricultural use with determination, hard work and the help and support of friends and family, transforming it into a thriving rural business.
The vineyard was hand-planted in 2006 by volunteers from the family and local community, and the first wines produced there went on to win a silver medal. It was that early success that gave Clare the conviction to commission an on-site winery. The completed winery was nominated for a design award for the way it nestles into the rolling terrain and won government rural development funding for its sustainable features, including a wildflower meadow roof and rainwater harvesting. Today Clare runs the winery, vineyard and distillery as winemaker and distiller, with the business now over twenty years on from its first planting and around thirteen years on from the first winery vintage.
The Setting: Stirkel Valley, Dark Skies and Rolling Hills
Melbury Vale sits on the edge of the Dorset Dark Skies area, and the views from the vineyard are half the experience in themselves. Looking south, the green sweep of the Melbury hillside rises opposite; looking north, the Stirkel River runs along the valley floor beneath the lodges. The team regularly points visitors to the sunrises and sunsets over the ridge, the wide range of wildlife that passes through - from deer in the woods to owls and bats after dark - and the night sky, which on a still evening is genuinely breathtaking.
For visitors, the location is also remarkably accessible. From the A303, take the A350 south to Shaftesbury and continue past Ivy Cross Roundabout. From the east (Salisbury), travel the A30 west towards Shaftesbury and join the same A350 stretch at the Royal Chase Hotel roundabout. From the south (Blandford), simply travel the A350 north towards Shaftesbury and, about a mile and a half south of the town, turn onto Foots Hill opposite the sign to Cann Mill. The vineyard entrance is less than a hundred yards on the right-hand side.
The Sustainable Winery Building
The on-site winery was completed and in production for the 2013 vintage. It is built into the hillside and uses the slope cleverly, with a number of sustainable design features including the wildflower meadow roof and rainwater harvesting. It was constructed by a local building firm, but part of the fit-out was undertaken through a Prisoner Rehabilitation scheme that Clare helped to set up, originally to help manage the vineyard. For those who took part, employment references and work portfolios were provided on their return to work.
Enquiries for new vineyards planted in the area have been numerous, with thousands of new vines already planted locally in response to the winery appearing and more still being planted nearby today. The team also distils brandy from their own wine and makes liqueurs and aromatised wines - the unique, ready-to-drink blends for any occasion that now form a significant part of the cellar door range.
The Wines
Melbury Vale produces a full range of still and sparkling wines from grapes grown on site and on sister vineyards the team co-manages around Dorset. All of the wines are vegan friendly and, where labelled, single vineyard or single variety. Prices below reflect current online shop pricing.
Sparkling Wines
- Opulence (Sparkling Wine) - £35.00 per bottle. A rare treat and the winery's flagship, this is a traditional-method English red sparkling wine made from Dorset-grown Triomphe d'Alsace grapes. Ruby red in the glass, light, dry and full of berry fruit flavours, topped off with a pale pink mousse. 11.25% ABV.
- Grace (Sparkling Wine) - £30.00 per bottle. A single-variety, single-vineyard traditional-method white sparkling from 500 Seyval Blanc vines on site at Melbury Vale. Pale gold with fine bubbles, a crisp and lively nose of fresh citrus and ripe pear, and on the palate bright green apple, elderflower and Meyer lemon. 12% ABV.
- Decadence (Sparkling Wine) - £30.00 per bottle. A pale coral-pink traditional-method sparkling from Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir, with aromas of fresh summer berries and meadow flowers and a palate of ripe strawberry, watermelon and lime zest. 12.5% ABV.
Still Wines
- Elegance (Still Wine) - £13.50 per bottle. A dry English white from grapes grown at a property the winery co-manages locally: about 80% Bacchus (the so-called "Sauvignon Blanc of the UK") and 20% Reichensteiner. Grapefruit and elderflower on the nose, pink grapefruit, white peach and fresh herbs on the palate. 10.5% ABV.
- Virtue (Still Wine) - £13.50 per bottle. A dry rosé from about 80% Dornfelder and 20% Reichensteiner, with confectionery strawberry aromas and bright red summer berries on the palate. 11% ABV.
- Exuberance (Still Wine) - £13.50 per bottle. A still red blend of Triomphe d'Alsace and Dornfelder from the famously warm 2018 "harvest of a lifetime". Black cherry and dried herbs on the nose, spiced plum, bramble and a savoury finish. Unfiltered. 10% ABV.
- The Signature - Batch #02 (Still Wine) - £15.00 per bottle. A limited vintage of just a few hundred bottles, the second batch in six years. A rose-red expression of summer berries and wild cherry. 11.5% ABV.
Cider, Aromatised Wines, Liqueurs and Brandy
Beyond the wines themselves, Melbury Vale makes a range of infused, fortified and distilled products on site - all designed to be enjoyed on their own over ice, as a long drink with soda or tonic, or in a simple cocktail at home.
Zig-Zag Zider (Still Cider)
Zig-Zag Zider is the winery's dry, still, artisan cider, fruity and light, made from the small cider orchard on site. The team recommends serving it lightly chilled for a refreshing, thirst-quenching drink. Retail price from £4 per 50cl bottle.
Aromatised Wines
- Dawn - £19.50 per 75cl. A white aromatised wine blended with English wine brandy, elderflower, peach and lemon - the winery's answer to Pimm's, served over ice or topped with fizz. 14.5% ABV.
- Dusk - £19.50 per 75cl. A rosé aromatised wine blended with English wine brandy, cherry, plum and almond - a glorious pink sunset with rich, exotic aromas. 14.5% ABV.
- Midnight - £19.50 per 75cl. A red aromatised wine blended with brandy, cherry, chocolate and blackcurrant - "Black Forest gateau in a glass", ideal after dinner with strong cheese or chocolate. 14.5% ABV.
- Mist - Vermouth - £19.50 per 75cl. The 2022 addition to the range. White wine blended with English wine brandy, citrus lime, sage and mint, designed to be sipped chilled or mixed with gin for a "Gin Mist" aperitif. 14.5% ABV.
Fruit Liqueurs
A small range of house liqueurs made from the winery's English wine brandy and high-quality fruit syrups, available in 20cl bottles for £15.00 each. Flavours include Elderflower, Peach, Cherry, Blackcurrant and Chocolate - all beautifully sweet, smooth and rich, perfect over ice or poured generously into hot drinks and desserts.
Twilight (Apple Liqueur)
Twilight is a 75cl bottle of dark, rich golden apple liqueur made from home-grown, pressed Dorset cloudy cider apple juice blended with English wine brandy - naturally sweet, indulgently rich and warming, at 18.5% ABV. Retail price £22.00 per 75cl bottle.
Purity - English Grape Wine Brandy
Purity is a white English grape wine brandy at 38% ABV, pure, clear, smooth and warming. Sip it straight, infuse it with clementine for a Spanish orange grove feel, or add ginger essence for a winter warmer. Retail price £15.00 per 20cl bottle.
Vineyard and Winery Tours
Melbury Vale runs a regular programme of vineyard and winery tours open to the general public. Tours start at 10.30 a.m. on Saturdays from March through to October, and the £35.00 per person fee includes the vineyard walk, time in the vat room to see production, wine tastings and a light Dorset lunch - a ham and cheese board with fresh bread, salad and chutneys, with vegetarian and vegan options available.
Bookings are taken for a minimum of four people. With limited indoor capacity (18), all tours and events must be booked in advance, no later than 72 hours before attending, and the team recommends booking at least one to two weeks ahead as places often fill quickly. The full tour typically runs from 10.30 a.m. to around 1.00 - 1.30 p.m., so guests should allow roughly three hours.
For those with a gift voucher, bookings are made via Voucher Bookings; vouchers are emailed with no delivery charge when "Local Pickup" is selected at checkout, and the team asks guests to check the expiry date to be sure they do not miss out.
Private group tours are also available for clubs, societies and gatherings of friends, for groups of between 12 and 18 people. Dates, food and format are all tailored to the group - simply phone or email the winery to arrange.
Cedar Holiday Lodge and Glamping Weekends
For those who want to stay longer, the winery offers two cedar-clad holiday lodges tucked beneath the vineyard, each sleeping up to six people and finished with a living sedum roof, large timber deck overlooking the Stirkel River and Melbury Hill, three bedrooms, two shower bathrooms, an open-plan fully fitted kitchen / dining / living area with log burner, Wi-Fi and Netflix, and parking for two cars. The lodges are available for weekly short-term holiday lets, and outside the high season they can be booked for up to 90 days at a time for anyone staying in the area - house hunters, parents of children at a local school, those on a temporary work posting or anyone needing a short interim stay. Bills for metered electricity and water are pay-as-you-go. The lodge cannot be used as a permanent residence and a registered address must be provided at booking.
The team also runs weekend glamping packages from spring through to autumn for couples, and the whole glamping area can be exclusively booked for a private party of up to six.
Where to Buy
Melbury Vale wines, cider, liqueurs and brandy are available direct from the winery, from the team's online shop, and from a growing list of carefully chosen local outlets. The online shop ships and also offers local collection from the winery, with the option to gift-box or gift-bag orders in advance if you email the team first.
Hotels, Pubs and Restaurants
- The Pig on the Beach, Studland, Dorset
- The Bell Inn, Wylye
- The Carriers Arms, Wylye
- Baroque, Lyme Regis
Shops
- The Chettle Village Store
- Fontmell Magna Village Shop and Post Office, Fontmell Magna
- The Udder Farm Shop, East Stour
Wine Merchants
- Tolchards Wine Merchants, Newton Abbot (telephone 01626 33342)
- Under The Bonnet (wholesale)
Award-Winning Producer with a Community Heart
Melbury Vale has long been an active part of the north Dorset community. The team has supported local charities including Julia's House children's hospice, supplying raffle prizes of vineyard and winery tour vouchers, and in November 2018 attended the Dorset Tourism Awards at The Lighthouse, Poole, where their Elegance and Exuberance wines were served at the awards dinner. In 2023, the winery marked its tenth anniversary and a potentially bumper harvest, with winemaker Clare interviewed on This Is Alfred Radio about the double celebration.
The winery has also been a catalyst for the wider local industry: thousands of new vines have been planted in the surrounding area in response to Melbury Vale appearing, and more are still going in nearby today.
Temporary Closure in 2026
Melbury Vale is currently closed in 2026 after suffering damage from the winter storms. The team is awaiting the completion of insurance claims before restoration works can begin, and as a result the winery is unable to operate, host tours, run tastings, fulfil cellar-door sales or arrange local collection of online orders at present. The team has apologised for the inconvenience and will share news of reopening once restoration is under way.
Plan Your Visit
When the winery is open, visits are by prior appointment. For tours, tastings, group events, glamping weekends or simply to ask which outlets currently hold a particular wine, the team is best reached by email at info@mvwinery.co.uk or by phone on 01747 854206 (mobile 07730 955593). The address is Melbury Vale Vineyard, Foots Hill, Cann, Shaftesbury, Dorset SP7 0BW. Tour vouchers and gift vouchers are available from the online shop at any time, even during the current closure.