Renishaw Hall Vineyard & The English Wine Project: Award-Winning Wines in the Heart of Derbyshire
Nestled in the historic grounds of Renishaw Hall in north Derbyshire, Renishaw Hall Vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards in England and the flagship site of The English Wine Project. Founded in 2011 by former British Army officer Kieron Atkinson, the project has grown into a multi-award-winning English wine producer, with its own modern winery at the UNESCO-listed Derwent Valley Mills in Darley Abbey, near Derby. Together, the vineyard and winery produce a small but polished portfolio of still and sparkling wines, run a busy calendar of vineyard and winery tours, and offer a popular sponsorship and wine-club programme.
The English Wine Project: From Battlefield to Bottling Line
The English Wine Project was established in 2011 with a clear mission: to champion and help improve the quality and recognition of English and Welsh wine. Its founder, Kieron Atkinson, left the British Army after nine years of active service and retrained in winemaking, completing the only UK wine production course and going on to become Technical Advisor for the UK branch of the Rothschilds. By June 2011 he had taken on the lease of the historic vineyard at Renishaw Hall and had begun producing the medal-winning wines for which the estate is now known.
In 2013 Kieron also took on the lease of Welcombe Hills vineyard near Stratford-upon-Avon, producing more medal-winning wines from grapes grown in the Avon Valley. Up to 2018 he ran a successful contract bottling business (bottling over 3 million bottles of beverages) while continuing to make his own wines and advise new and existing vineyards on the establishment of new sites. Since then the focus has been firmly on Renishaw Hall and on the purpose-built English Wine Project: Winery at Darley Abbey Mills.
Today the business falls into three complementary areas:
- Marketing - branding, web design, point-of-sale and copywriting for wine producers.
- Winemaking - consultation, process improvement, product development and mentoring.
- Vineyard Establishment - feasibility studies, planning, supplier sourcing and project management for new and existing UK vineyards.
Since 2011, the English Wine Project's consultancy arm has produced more than 300,000 bottles of wine, working with a widening range of grape varieties and styles, from Frizzante and Pét-Nat through to traditional-method sparkling and a full suite of still whites, reds and rosés. Accolades include recognition at the Decanter World Wine Awards, Wine GB Awards and the IWSC, with wines selected for major retailers including Waitrose.
The Renishaw Hall Vineyard
The vineyard sits in the beautiful grounds of Renishaw Hall, on the Sitwell family's historic Renishaw Estate near Chesterfield, postcode S21 3WB. One of the oldest vineyards in England, the walled-garden site gives the still white and rosé ranges their name. Grapes are hand-picked at the optimum time for balance and phenolic ripeness, before being transported to the winery at Darley Abbey for vinification.
Cool-climate varietals are at home on this Derbyshire site. Across the still and sparkling ranges you will find Chardonnay, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, Solaris, Rondo and Crouch Valley Bacchus, a roll-call of varieties that thrive in English conditions and form the backbone of some of the most decorated English wines of recent years.
The Winery at Darley Abbey Mills
The English Wine Project: Winery is based at Darley Abbey Mills, near Derby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Derwent Valley Mills complex. The full address is:
The English Wine Project: Winery
Darley Abbey Mills
Darley Abbey
Derby
DE22 1DZ
Ample parking is available on site, and visitors are welcome to drop in to click-and-collect wines, browse the cellar range, or take a peek through the glass at the sparkling wines going through all their stages of production. The winery is also the home of the public Winery Tastings and of all private group winery experiences.
The Wines
The Renishaw Hall / English Wine Project range covers traditional-method sparkling wines, still whites, rosés, reds and an unfashionably unfussy Pét-Nat. Free delivery is offered on all orders over £100, and a free click-and-collect service is available directly from the Darley Abbey winery.
Sparkling Wines
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée White Sparkling 2023 - £33.00. A blend of Chardonnay and Seyval Blanc from the single-vineyard walled-garden estate. Fine small bubbles, light mousse and a pale straw hue; aromas of lemon zest, apple, elderflower and citrus; a palate of lemon pie, fresh apple, biscuit, custard cream and doughnut. Drinking beautifully now and set to improve for a further 10 years. 12% ABV.
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée White Sparkling 2017 - £49.95 (Out of stock). The award-winning older vintage: with five years of lees ageing it shows sumptuous toasty notes, hazelnut and pastry dough alongside apple tart and lemon zest. Winner of the Wine GB Regional Awards 2023 - Gold Medal, plus trophies for Best Overall Wine in the Region, Best Sparkling Wine in the Region, Best Wine in the East Midlands and Best Older Vintage Wine.
- Renishaw Hall Vintage Cuvée Pink Sparkling 2023 - £33.00. A 100% Pinot Noir from the 2018 base vintage, with four years on the lees. Coral pink with fine bubbles and a light mousse; aromas and flavours of wild strawberry, raspberry, rhubarb, red apple, brioche and biscuit. Drinking well now, will improve for another decade. 12% ABV. Former Decanter Commended and MVA Gold.
Still Wines
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden White 2023 - £19.95. A hand-picked blend of Madeleine Angevine, Solaris and Bacchus, slowly fermented at 14 °C and aged on fine lees for six months. Aromas of stone fruit, peach, apple and lemon zest; silky mouthfeel with melon, grape and fresh apple on the palate. 11.5% ABV. A versatile match for Parma ham, asparagus or fish and chips.
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden Rosé 2023 - £19.95. Rondo and Pinot Noir, gently pressed for minimal skin contact. Red apple, summer fruits, cranberry and redcurrant on the nose; cranberry and citrus zest on the palate. Best served chilled; pairs beautifully with spicy food and cheeses.
- Renishaw Hall Walled Garden Red 2023 - £21.95. A light, fruit-forward red from a long, cool 2023 season. Hedgerow jam and blackcurrants on the nose; red fruit and blackberries on the palate. Serve lightly chilled - described as "easy drinking, no nonsense delicious… ideal for 6pm on a Friday evening".
- Mills & Hills Bacchus 2021 - £19.95. Stainless-steel fermented for purity, with six months on fine lees and partial malolactic fermentation for creaminess. Gooseberry and elderflower aromas; light apple, lemon, honeyed fruit, nettle and cut grass on the palate. 11.5% ABV.
Pét-Nat and Wild Wine
- Col Fondo - Riderless Charger - £25.00. A new style for the project: a Pét-Nat (Pétillant Naturel) made from Crouch Valley Bacchus with a small addition of Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir, spontaneously fermented, unfined and unfiltered. "Col Fondo" translates as "with the bottoms" - undisgorged and unfiltered, so a little sediment is to be expected. The wine is bottled with low pressure for gentle bubbles, and is designed to improve with bottle age through autolysis, much like a traditional-method sparkling. Pear, apple, lemon and elderflower on the nose; hedgerow, peach, lemon and apples on the palate. Pair with fish and chips or soft cheese. 750 ml, 10.5% ABV. Store upright, serve chilled and handle with care.
Mixed Case
- Mixed Case (6 bottles) - £120.00. Four still wines and two sparkling wines - the perfect introduction to the Renishaw Hall range, and the case that unlocks membership of the English Wine Project Wine Club (see below).
Tours and Experiences
Tours are at the heart of the visitor offering. All tours and experiences can be booked online and purchased as gift vouchers.
Vineyard Tours at Renishaw Hall
Public Vineyard Tours run from spring through to harvest season (roughly the beginning of October), with start times of 12 noon and 2pm on selected days. Online booking is available for all tour dates.
- Price: £25.00 per person. Children go free.
- Where: Meet at the Renishaw Hall Visitors Centre a few minutes before your tour time.
- What to expect: A guided tour and tasting in the historic walled-garden vineyard on the Renishaw Estate.
- Practicalities: Tours run even if wet, so wear appropriate clothing and advise the team of any access requirements (there is a short walk to the vineyard). Refunds are not given for cancellations made less than 7 days before a public tour, but the team will try to rebook you on an alternative date.
Winery Tasting at Darley Abbey Mills
The public Winery Tasting takes place at the English Wine Project's modern winery at Darley Abbey Mills, near Derby. Winery tour dates are available throughout the year.
- Price: £25.00 per person. Max 24 in a group.
- Where: The English Wine Project: Winery, Darley Abbey Mills, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1DZ.
- What to expect: A guided look at the winemaking process followed by a tutored tasting of the award-winning wines, plus some cider tasting thrown in.
- Practicalities: In extreme or unforeseen circumstances, winery tours may be cancelled and rearranged. The team will always give as much notice as possible.
Private Group Winery Tours
For a more bespoke experience, Private Group Winery Tours at Darley Abbey Mills are ideal for friends, private parties, corporate entertaining or special occasions. Prices start from £300 per group (minimum 6 people) and include a guided tour of the winemaking process with Kieron Atkinson, a tutored tasting of the award-winning wines and cider tasting. To book, email office@englishwineproject.co.uk with details of your party and event requirements.
Group Vineyard Tours
Group Vineyard Tours are available at Renishaw Hall for up to 50 people, prices starting from £300 per group (catering not included). To make a full day of it, add lunch or afternoon tea at the Café at Renishaw Hall in the exclusive groups dining area - options include a hot two-course lunch, sandwiches, a full afternoon tea, or simply coffee and cake following the tour. Contact Kieron on office@englishwineproject.co.uk to discuss options. Cancellation terms: less than 14 days, no refund but alternative date offered; 14 - 28 days, refund minus 25% fee; over 28 days, no charge.
Sponsor a Vine or a Barrel
For something genuinely different, the English Wine Project offers two sponsorship experiences that put you - or a lucky recipient - at the heart of an English vintage.
- Sponsor a Vine - £45.00. A 12-month sponsorship of a single vine in one of the oldest vineyards in England, in a truly historic setting. As a sponsor you receive a free bottle of wine and a free place on one of the vineyard tours, with the bottle presented during the tour. A great gift idea.
- Sponsor a Barrel - £55.00. A step up from a single vine, with the additional cachet of having your name (or your recipient's) tied to a full barrel of English wine.
Wine Club
The English Wine Project Wine Club is an annual membership scheme designed to give supporters deeper access to the wines and the people behind them. To join, buy one case of the award-winning wines (two sparkling and four still) for £110, and enjoy the following benefits for 12 months from the date of purchase:
- Free delivery of the wine (worth £10).
- One free vineyard tour for one person - givable as a gift (worth £25).
- A members-only tasting event of the new-season wines.
- Members' e-shots with special offers and the latest news.
The total saving is valued at £58. Membership is set up as an annual PayPal subscription and can be cancelled at any time by emailing kieron@englishwineproject.co.uk. Full terms and conditions apply.
Gifts, Hampers and Vouchers
If you can't decide, a gift voucher is the easy answer. The general Gift Voucher can be loaded with any amount between £10 and £100, personalised with a name and message, and emailed directly to you or your recipient. Vouchers are valid for 12 months, can be used against any product or experience, and experiences booked on a voucher can be spread across different dates throughout the year.
For a more targeted gift, dedicated Vineyard Tour Gift Vouchers and Winery Tour Gift Vouchers are also available (£25 - £100). Sponsor a Vine (£45) and Sponsor a Barrel (£55) complete the gift offering, and all sit within the dedicated Gifts & Hampers range.
How to Buy
The full wine, cider, tour and gift range can be bought online through the English Wine Project shop. Free UK delivery applies on orders over £100, and a free click-and-collect service is available directly from the Darley Abbey winery by emailing kieron@englishwineproject.co.uk in advance.
How to Get in Touch
For all enquiries - including vineyard tours, winery tours, private group bookings and business services - the team can be reached at:
- Email: office@englishwineproject.co.uk (general enquiries, group bookings, private winery tours)
- Email: kieron@englishwineproject.co.uk (click-and-collect, wine club, sponsorship)
- Vineyard address: Renishaw Hall Wines Vineyard, Renishaw Park, Chesterfield, S21 3WB
- Winery address: The English Wine Project: Winery, Darley Abbey Mills, Darley Abbey, Derby, DE22 1DZ
The project is active on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, and Oz Clarke and the team can be seen sampling Renishaw Hall wines on the Forever Thirsty YouTube channel.
Other Projects
Beyond Renishaw Hall, the English Wine Project has built or consulted on a number of other notable UK vineyards, including:
- Galleywood Vineyard - a winemaking project in Essex.
- Harbour Hills Vineyard - a vineyard establishment project.
- Welcombe Hills Vineyard - Stratford-upon-Avon, leased from 2013 for two years.
From the walled-garden vineyard at Renishaw to the tasting room at the Darley Abbey winery, the wine club, and the sponsor-a-vine scheme, the English Wine Project stands as one of the most welcoming and consistently medal-decorated gateways into English wine in the East Midlands.