Mowbarton Estate (Mudgley Farm)

Mowbarton Estate: Boutique Somerset Vineyard & Luxury Self-Catering on the Isle of Wedmore

Perched on the south-facing slopes of the Isle of Wedmore, with an unrivalled panorama across the mystical Vale of Avalon to Glastonbury Tor, Mowbarton Estate is one of Somerset's most distinctive boutique vineyards. Twelve acres of pasture and vines, planted in 2014, produce a highly regarded traditional-method English sparkling wine and a still Pinot Blanc-led white, while the wider farm also offers two beautifully appointed self-catering retreats that put you quite literally in the middle of the vines.

The Setting: Miles from Nowhere, Yet Close to Everywhere

Mowbarton sits on Mudgley Hill, just outside the village of Wedmore and within walking distance of Roger Wilkins Cider Barn - a landmark so local that it is the spot most often cited when anyone asks where Mowbarton is. The farm lies on the Isle of Wedmore, the elevated ridge that rises above the Somerset Levels and looks out towards Glastonbury Tor, the Bristol Channel and the low-lying wetlands of the Avalon Marshes. As the team at Mowbarton themselves put it: 'miles from nowhere, yet close to everywhere'.

Despite the deeply rural feel, the M5 motorway is only around twenty minutes away, making the estate an easy escape from Bristol, Bath, the Midlands or London. Wells and Glastonbury, two of Somerset's most historic towns, are both equidistant from the property. Cheddar Gorge and Wookey Hole are within fifteen minutes' drive, and the north Somerset coast at Burnham-on-Sea and Weston-super-Mare lies about ten miles to the north.

The site's south-facing aspect and the gentle breezes that sweep up from the Bristol Channel create exactly the kind of cool-climate conditions that produce classic English sparkling wine. Indeed, the monks of Glastonbury once grew vines on these very slopes, and the Mowbarton team are happy to point out that the medieval winemakers of the Abbey knew a thing or two about site selection.

The Wines

Mowbarton produces two wines, both made entirely from estate-grown fruit. The range is small, considered and entirely single-vineyard, allowing the character of this particular corner of Somerset to shine through in every bottle.

Mowbarton Estate Somerset Brut Sparkling

The flagship wine is a traditional-method English sparkling wine - the kind that quietly demonstrates why some of the finest bottles of fizz on the planet now come from these islands rather than only from across the Channel. It is a blend of three of the seven grape varieties permitted for Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Meunier.

The wine is made by the méthode champenoise - secondary fermentation in bottle, followed by riddling and disgorgement - and matured on lees to develop its signature toasty complexity. The base wines are made at Bagborough, with riddling and dosage carried out at Furleigh Estate in neighbouring Dorset.

Master of Wine Neil Tully's tasting note has become the wine's calling card: 'With a pale gold colour and fine sustained mousse, this wine achieves an attractive balance of soft, cooked apple / tarte tatin flavours with a fresh, slightly grassy character.' That balance of soft orchard fruit and bracing English acidity has earned Mowbarton Estate a string of devoted customers, including a mother-of-the-bride who wrote: 'Mowbarton Estate sparkling wine was the most delicious choice - all the liveliness of a champagne without the dryness.'

The wine has been poured at notable weddings, anniversaries, family reunions, street parties and festivals across the UK - as far afield as Scotland and London. It is presented under a gold-foil cork and is intended as a serious celebration bottle. It can be ordered directly from the estate's online shop, with free postage to the BA, BS and TA postcodes and a flat £8.95 charge for the rest of mainland Britain.

Mowbarton Estate Cuvee Pinot (Still White)

Launched in August 2023, the Cuvee Pinot is Mowbarton's first still wine. It is made predominantly from Pinot Blanc, harvested after the record-breaking summer of 2022 - a year in which vineyard temperatures reportedly reached 33°C. The result is a wine with remarkable body, balanced by the aromatic top notes that have made the sparkling so popular.

Packaged in a convenient screwcap bottle - perfect for keeping ready in the fridge - the Cuvee Pinot was born of the same gold-label 'memory of that blazing summer' branding and is presented as excellent value for money. A newer release has also been produced from the outstanding 2025 vintage - the longest period of sustained high temperatures the vineyard has experienced since the original 2014 planting.

The Vineyard

Mowbarton is a true boutique operation. The vineyard sits across the lane from the Barn, just a couple of hundred yards from the cellar door, and comprises around an acre of vines - Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. The first harvest, in 2016, yielded a modest 220 bottles. By 2017 the team was up to around 1,700 bottles, and the 2018 harvest yielded even more. The 2025 harvest has now been safely gathered in, thanks to a 'huge thank you to all our hard-working harvesters - friends and family alike'.

Visitors who arrive at the right moment may see the team pruning, tucking in the new season's growth, leaf-cutting in high summer or hand-picking in October. The vineyard is also home to a small flock of sheep who share the field, doing their bit for weed control, and to the dazzling starling murmurations that pass overhead on winter evenings en route to the roost at nearby Ham Wall.

Stay at Mowbarton Barn

For larger groups, the estate offers the Mowbarton Barn - a beautifully spacious, stone-built conversion sleeping nine in four bedrooms. Set in its own walled garden, the Barn has two oak-beamed sitting rooms (one with a log-burning stove), a magnificent sunroom that opens onto one of two charming terraces, a study with a single sofa bed, and a large farmhouse kitchen with a range cooker, American-style fridge-freezer and dishwasher. Downstairs there is also a cloakroom and a double utility; upstairs are four bedrooms - Hayloft (king with en suite), Tractor Shed (linked beds, en suite), The Byre (double) and the cheekily named Pigsty! (adult-friendly bunks).

The welcome pack on arrival is a love letter to local food miles: home-made bread, Cheddar cheese, Rose Farm pickle, a flagon of Roger Wilkins cider and Somerset milk and butter, sourced wherever possible from Wedmore's village shops. Outside, the walled garden offers a barbecue, outdoor table and chairs, sun-loungers and two terraced areas, while across the lane Teasel Meadow provides a picnic spot with views to die for.

Mowbarton Barn Rates 2025

• 3 January to 27 March: £650 per week (£170 per night, three-night minimum)
• 28 March to 22 May: £780 per week (£250 per night)
• 23 May to 3 July: £1,000 per week (£295 per night)
• 4 July to 28 August: £1,500 per week (full week only)
• 29 August to 31 October: £900 per week (£295 per night)
• 1 November to 18 December: £680 per week (£250 per night)
• 19 December to 2 January 2026: £1,600 per week (full week only)

Mowbarton Barn Rates 2026

• 3 January to 26 March: £650 per week (£200 per night)
• 27 March to 22 May: £780 per week (£250 per night)
• 23 May to 3 July: £1,000 per week (£295 per night)
• 3 July to 28 August: £1,500 per week (full week only)
• 28 August to 30 October: £900 per week (£295 per night)
• 30 October to 18 December: £680 per week (£250 per night)
• 18 December to 2 January 2027: £1,600 per week (full week only)

Changeover day is usually Friday or Monday, but the team are happy to be flexible in the low season. Note that the Barn is not suitable for wheelchair users, very young toddlers or those with limited mobility, owing to internal steps; it is strictly non-smoking and pets are not accepted. Covered parking for up to three cars is provided, with secure bike storage and full oil-fired central heating included. Bed linen, towels and a starter basket of logs are all provided.

Check availability and book through the Mowbarton Barn Calendar.

Stay at Mowbarton Shepherd's Hut

For couples (or anyone wanting a quiet bolt-hole), the Shepherd's Hut offers 'glamping at its finest'. Built by Blackdown Shepherd Huts to a traditional design, the Hut sits on its own raised, grassy area on the edge of a former farmyard, sharing nearly two acres with the vineyard shed and tractor store. Despite the compact footprint, it manages a fully equipped kitchen area with sink, two-ring hob, microwave and small fridge, a proper bathroom with loo, hand basin and shower cubicle, and a log-burning stove for those cosy evenings in.

The clever centrepiece is a polished oak table and bench that converts into a 'superbly comfortable double bed' - 'the most comfortable we've ever slept in', according to one pair of guests. Outside is a secluded paved terrace with table, chairs, sun-loungers and a barbecue, while a chiminea and small storage shed add the practical touches. Above the Hut, Teasel Meadow offers a perfect picnic spot with views over the Somerset Levels, and a public footpath leads down to Wedmore, about thirty minutes' walk away.

The Hut is double-glazed and fully insulated with sheep's wool, with an electric radiator as a back-up if winter nights turn especially cold. Pets are not accepted and the Hut is non-smoking; steps up to the terrace make it unsuitable for wheelchair users or those who walk with difficulty. As with the Barn, the welcome pack leans local: home-made rolls, Cheddar, Rose Farm pickle and Wilkins cider.

Shepherd's Hut Rates 2025

• 3 January to 23 March: £170 for two nights / £195 for three nights
• 24 March to 27 June: £180 for two nights / £220 for three nights
• 28 June to 5 September: £210 for two nights / £260 for three nights
• 6 September to 24 October: £180 for two nights / £220 for three nights
• 25 October to 12 December: £170 for two nights / £195 for three nights
• 13 December to 5 January 2026: £270 for three nights (minimum stay)

Longer stays are available on request. Book via the Shepherd's Hut Calendar.

Vineyard Visits and Tours

Mowbarton Estate welcomes visitors to the vineyard by appointment, and over the years has opened for occasional tours and tastings as part of Somerset-wide events. Most recently the estate took part in the Somerset Food Trail Festival, a countywide farm-to-fork showcase, opening the vineyard in mid-July with guided tours and a chance to taste both the sparkling and the Cuvee Pinot against the backdrop of Glastonbury Tor. Past entry has been £5 per person, which included a glass of Mowbarton.

Private visits can be arranged on request.

Wedmore and the Isle of Wedmore

The village of Wedmore is less than two miles from Mowbarton. Historically part of King Alfred's Royal Estate (yes, the cakes he burned were 'just down the road'), Wedmore today is a thriving, beautifully preserved village with three pubs - The Swan, the George Inn and the New Inn - plus a clutch of independent shops that make a supermarket visit almost unnecessary.

• Wedmore Village Store - stocks almost everything and is open all hours.
• Hector's Farm Shop - butcher and farm shop.
• The Somerset Sausage Company - local pork and hog roasts, delivered.
• Somerset Sausage Company.
• The Swan - bar snacks and full meals, and a noted stockist of Mowbarton Estate sparkling.
• George Inn - refurbished village pub with courtyard garden.
• Pumpkin - deli serving locally produced meals, snacks and coffee.
• Table 8 - lively Indian restaurant with takeaway.
• Bluebird Café - community café by day, lively bar with live music two nights a week.

Wedmore is also famous for its 'mother of the bride' shops, with associated dress shops, shoe shops, hairdressers, gift shops, jewellery and antiques all clustered around the village centre.

Slightly further afield, the Michelin Guide's Queen of Cups in Glastonbury brings Middle Eastern and Mediterranean flavours to local Somerset produce, while the much-praised Sheppey Inn in Godney sits down on the Levels below Mowbarton.

Days Out from Mowbarton

It would be hard to find a better base for exploring Somerset. A short list of the Mowbarton team's favourites:

History and Heritage

• Glastonbury Tor - visible from one of the Barn's bedrooms.
• Glastonbury Abbey - the legendary burial place of King Arthur.
• Wells Cathedral and the Bishop's Palace - with its famous bell-ringing swans.
• Wells Festival of Literature - a long-standing Mowbarton favourite.
• Barrington Court, Lytes Cary and Montacute House - National Trust gems.

Natural Wonders

• Cheddar Gorge - fifteen minutes from Mowbarton.
• Wookey Hole - even closer.
• Somerset Wildlife Trust reserves - bird watching at its best, much of it within five minutes' drive.
• Somerset Birdwatching Holidays - guided excursions for twitchers and novices alike.
• The Strawberry Line - traffic-free cycling through the levels.
• Wedmore Bike Hire - hybrid and electric bikes, with delivery to Mowbarton on request.

Gardens

• Hestercombe - celebrated landscape garden.
• East Lambrook Manor Gardens - the original English cottage garden.
• Hauser & Wirth Somerset - gallery and gardens at Bruton.
• Kilver Court Designer Village - shopping and gardens rolled into one.

Family Days

• Mendip Ski Centre - around 25 minutes' drive.
• Weston Windsport - blokarting on the coast.
• Puxton Park - a full day's worth of family activities.
• Noah's Ark Zoo Farm - about fifty minutes away.

Bigger Days Out

• Longleat, Stonehenge and Bath - all about an hour away.
• Fleet Air Arm Museum at Yeovilton - twenty miles away.
• Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm - around thirty minutes' drive (for those who can get a ticket).

Buying Mowbarton Estate Wine

Both wines can be ordered directly from the estate via the online shop. Postage and packing is free in postcodes BA4, 5, 6, 7, 16; BS24, 25, 26, 27, 28; TA6, 7, 8, 9, with a flat £8.95 charge for the rest of mainland UK. For the lucky locals, that means Mowbarton Estate can be on the doorstep within a couple of days - and, of course, the same wines are always available at the source, with a vineyard tour attached, for those who can collect in person.

The sparkling is the wine that has built Mowbarton's reputation, but the still Cuvee Pinot is rapidly earning its own devoted following. Both are excellent value, both are authentically Somerset, and both arrive with a story - of an acre of vines tended by hand, of grapes ripened under a record-breaking sun, of base wines made by hand at Bagborough and turned into sparkling at Furleigh. Few bottles on any table carry so much sense of place.

Reviews and Reputation

The Barn and Shepherd's Hut pages carry extensive guest review archives that underline why so many visitors return year after year. One group, writing in October 2023, called the Barn 'a beautiful spacious house' with 'wonderful hosts' and 'a lovely time'. Another in December 2023 summed it up as 'amazing, beautiful, pretty, memorable, charming and comfortable'. A family who visited in August 2024 said, after a full week, 'it seems this house is our home now'.

Shepherd's Hut guests are equally effusive. A September 2024 reviewer wrote: 'A perfect way to spend a birthday, especially the tour of your vineyard and the tasting of your wine.' An August 2024 guest captured the romance: 'Stars, red wine and a roaring fire. Hard to beat.' Repeat visitors are common - one couple has now stayed twelve times.

Contact

The estate is run with the kind of personal touch that means there is always someone on the end of the phone or the inbox. Bookings, vineyard visits and wine orders can all be arranged by phone, email or post:

• Telephone: 07919 100455
• Email: info@mowbartonestate.co.uk
• Address: Mudgley Farm, Mudgley, Wedmore, BS28 4TX

Mowbarton Estate is active on Facebook, and the team writes about seasonal news, harvest reports, festival appearances and vineyard developments through a regularly updated online journal.

Whether you come for a few nights in the Shepherd's Hut, a week with the extended family in the Barn, a tour of the vineyard or simply a bottle of something special to take home, Mowbarton Estate is one of those rare English places that manages to feel both beautifully tucked away and right at the centre of things. The view of Glastonbury Tor from the vines, the welcome at the door and the wine in the glass all say the same thing: this is Somerset at its very best.