Rowton Vineyard: Shropshire's Award-Winning Family Winery
Tucked into the gently rolling countryside a few miles west of Shrewsbury, Rowton Vineyard is a five-acre English vineyard producing characterful, fruit-driven wines from hybrid grape varieties ideally suited to the cool, marginal climate of the Welsh Marches. The vineyard is run by twin sisters Zoë and Melissa Evans, third-generation custodians of land their grandfather first farmed in 1963. Their debut 2022 vintage has already earned them a place on the UK wine map, with Bronze medals at the Independent English Wine Awards and Wine GB, a Silver for their Still Pink, the Wine GB Members Choice Trophy, and a slot in Matthew Jukes' Finest Fifty worldwide wines for their Late Harvest Solaris.
About Rowton Vineyard: Twin Sisters, Three Generations of Farming
Rowton Vineyard is the family project of Zoë and Melissa Evans, twin sisters who describe themselves as "twin sisters, wine drinkers, farmers' daughters." They farm land that has been in the same family since their grandfather first came to Rowton in 1963, making them third-generation custodians of the parkland that surrounds nearby Rowton Castle.
The wider Rowton farm is a richly diversified mixed operation. Alongside the vineyard, the family grows a variety of arable crops and runs a herd of Limousin cattle that graze the ancient lime-tree avenue leading up to Rowton Castle. Two of the farm's handsome stone barns have been converted into Rowton Barns, a homely bed-and-breakfast offering ten rooms and a spacious cellar-door area that now serves as Rowton Vineyard's tasting shed.
For the sisters, "growing good produce is in our soul - it's all we've ever known and we're extremely passionate about it. We take quality and sustainability seriously. For the rest, we want to have a little fun and break with tradition." That attitude carries through every bottle they make: honest, fruit-led wines made with as little chemical intervention as possible, from varieties chosen to thrive rather than struggle in a Shropshire season.
Zoë brings the formal viticultural pedigree - a 2:1 in Agri-Food and Marketing from Harper Adams University, a placement year with Majestic Wines, a vintage in Marlborough, New Zealand with Marisco Vineyards (home of The Ned), time at Hattingley Valley in Hampshire under English-wine pioneer Emma Rice, and several seasons at neighbouring Shropshire vineyards Hencote and Kerry Vale. Melissa brings the commercial and marketing nous, balanced by their shared farming DNA. Together, the pair describe themselves as an "army of two."
The Vineyard: A Carefully Chosen Shropshire Site
One of the biggest decisions in any vineyard project is where to put the vines. In a small, cool-climate country like England, soil type, aspect and microclimate can be the difference between a great vintage and a non-event. The Evans family had their eye on a particular five-acre field at Whiston for years before the project became reality, and the vineyard was finally planted in May 2020.
Soil, Aspect and Microclimate
The Whiston site has everything a Shropshire vineyard needs:
- Aspect: A gentle slope falling to the south-east, which maximises morning and midday sun and lets cold air drain downhill on frosty nights.
- Soil: A free-draining sandy silt loam sitting over a mixed bed of sandstone and local Cardeston rock - the same geology that gives the soil its distinctive red, sandy colour. Vines hate "wet feet," and this profile keeps roots dry and healthy.
- Microclimate: The field is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds by an established tree line that acts as a natural windbreak, creating a warmer, calmer pocket than the surrounding land.
It is this combination - a sandy, well-drained soil over Cardeston rock, a south-east aspect and a sheltered microclimate - that gives Rowton Vineyard its distinctive terroir and the fruit-driven character of its wines.
Grape Varieties: Sustainable Hybrids
Sustainability is at the heart of the project. Rather than fighting the British climate with high-chemistry vinifera varieties, the sisters chose hybrid varieties bred for disease resistance and early ripening:
- Solaris - A German-bred white hybrid that is disease-resistant and reliably early-ripening. It produces tropical, gooseberry-fresh whites with notes of pineapple and grapefruit, and is the dominant variety on the five-acre site.
- Seyval Blanc - Another disease-resistant hybrid, prized in England for its crisp, lean whites with balancing acidity - ideal for traditional-method sparkling wine production.
- Pinot Noir Précoce - The early-ripening relative of Pinot Noir ("Précoce" means "early" in French), responsible for roughly 27% of the vineyard's plantings. It delivers soft, deeply coloured reds and pinks full of cherry, strawberry and blackberry flavour.
This trio of varieties gives the sisters the palette to make everything from a still white and a traditional-method sparkling pink through to a still red and a luscious dessert wine - all from one modest five-acre site.
The Wines: A Fruit-Driven Portfolio
Rowton Vineyard's house style is "fruit-driven and easy drinking." The first commercial vintage was 2022, picked by a hard-working team of volunteers between September and November, and the wines are now released as the 2023 bottlings mature. The portfolio has expanded quickly, and includes still, sparkling and sweet styles made in the traditional method.
Solaris (2023)
The flagship white - a still Solaris and the variety that defines the vineyard. Grown on the sandy Cardeston soils, it shows a lively, cool-climate profile: grapefruit nose, gooseberry tension and a signature zippy green-apple acidity. The 2023 Solaris has picked up two Bronze medals at the Independent English Wine Awards and the Wine GB Awards, plus the Wine GB Midlands & North Members Choice Trophy. Pair with light seafood or simply a sunny afternoon. £15.00 per bottle.
Pink Fizz (2023)
A dry traditional-method sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir Précoce, aged for 18 months on its lees. Light, delicate and joyfully easy-drinking, with "a hint of strawberries & cream on the palate balanced by a refreshing lift." Perfect for relaxed afternoons and celebrations. £30.00 per bottle.
Pink Pinot Noir Précoce / Still Pink (2023)
An ideal summer sipper. The Pinot Noir Précoce grapes are crushed, destemmed and left on their skins for just two hours to extract the vibrant pink colour. Expect lush strawberry and tangy cranberry notes, rounded off with a herbaceous hint. A Bronze award winner at the Independent English Wine Awards. £17.00 per bottle.
View Pink Pinot Noir Précoce in the shop.
Red Pinot Noir Précoce (NV)
After an excellent summer, the sisters were able to fully ripen a portion of their Pinot Noir Précoce grapes for the very first time, resulting in this balanced, classically English red. Black cherry fruit is complemented by structured oak and subtle silky tannins. This non-vintage release is a blend across two years (2024 and 2025), with the 2024 component aged in oak to give the wine its structure and the 2025 component bringing lush strawberry, raspberry and blackberry fruit. £23.00 per bottle.
View Red Pinot Noir Précoce in the shop.
Late Harvest Solaris (2022)
The wine that put Rowton on the international map. Following the hot summer of 2022, 689 vines of Solaris were left to ripen further on the vine for a full 28 days after the main Solaris crop had been harvested. The berries turned golden brown and began to dehydrate on the plant, concentrating the sugars into a luscious dessert wine packed with banana and toffee flavours lifted by floral notes and a refreshing acidity. Pairs beautifully with Shropshire Blue cheese. Selected by Matthew Jukes as one of his Finest Fifty worldwide wines of 2023 (18/20) and awarded a Bronze from Kate Humble at the Ludlow Food Festival. Currently out of stock - sign up to be notified when the next release is ready. £19.00 per bottle.
View Late Harvest Solaris in the shop.
Sparkling Solaris (2022)
A refined, easy-going fizz. A short secondary fermentation and minimal time on lees keeps the wine light, fresh and aromatic. Notes of green nettle and floral hints finish with classic green-apple acidity. £28.00 per bottle.
View Sparkling Solaris in the shop.
Mixed Case
The easiest way to try the whole Rowton Vineyard range. A six-bottle mixed case includes: 2 × Solaris 2023, 1 × Still Pink 2023, 1 × Red Pinot Noir Précoce NV, 1 × Sparkling Solaris 2022 and 1 × Pink Fizz 2023. £128.00 including free mainland UK delivery.
View the Mixed Case in the shop.
Awards and Critical Acclaim
The Rowton Vineyard trophy cabinet is filling up fast. In the Wine GB Midlands & North Awards the 2022 Solaris picked up both a Bronze medal and the prestigious Members Choice Trophy, with the 2022 Still Pink earning a Silver medal. The wines have also been recognised at the Independent English Wine Awards (Bronze for Solaris, Bronze for Still Pink) and the 2022 Late Harvest Solaris was placed in Matthew Jukes' Finest Fifty worldwide wines of 2023 with an 18/20 score, praised for its "fresh fruit pudding feel, dominated by greengage tension and Cape gooseberry tension." The twins have since been featured in The Drinks Business as part of a new 100-mile drinks region emerging at the English-Welsh border, with Rowton named as one of the vineyards to watch in Shropshire.
Most recently, Jancis Robinson's review of the Still Solaris 2023 in the Financial Times (4 September 2025) called it "trendy," "fresh and curranty," "a wine with real drive," and "a good mouthful of ripe fruit," comparing it to a Bacchus. Sister Melissa was also a finalist in Jancis Robinson's 2023 wine writing competition, with her essay "My Favourite Wine Person" - written, naturally, about Zoë.
Harvest: The Pinnacle of the Year
Harvest is the busiest and most exciting time at Rowton Vineyard. Every bunch is carefully picked and sorted by hand to avoid damaging the fruit, with the work normally running between September and November. The 2022 vintage was an exceptional year for the newly planted vineyard - warm, dry summer weather allowed the sisters to ripen a red wine for the first time and even craft a limited Late Harvest Solaris from fruit left on the vine. The 2023 vintage was far tougher, with a wash-out summer during flowering costing the vineyard up to 30% of its Solaris and Pinot Noir Précoce potential crop and around 90% of the Seyval Blanc. The 2024 harvest followed the pattern, and the sisters are always on the lookout for keen volunteers to help with the picking - a chance to share stories, sip wine over a homemade harvest lunch and eat lots of cake. Email hello@rowtonvineyard.co.uk if you'd like to join in.
Tours, Tastings and Experiences at the Vineyard
The cellar door sits inside the converted stone barns of Rowton Barns, and the sisters host a full programme of vineyard experiences throughout the year.
Tour & Tasting
Walk the vines with owners Melissa and/or Zoë and learn all about their third-generation farming business. The tour and tasting lasts around 1.5 hours and starts at 11am. You'll begin with a guided walk around the vineyard - learning about viticulture, the growing cycle and the fruit - before returning to the tasting shed to taste three wines from the range and dive into the winemaking side of the business. £25.00 per person. Suitable footwear is recommended (the ground can be uneven underfoot), and good dogs on leads are welcome.
Scheduled 2026 dates include Saturday 8th August 2026 - book via the Tour & Tasting 8th August product page. An Evening Tour & Tasting on Wednesday 22nd July is also on the calendar at £25.00. To arrange a private group tour at any other time, simply drop the sisters a line at hello@rowtonvineyard.co.uk.
English Wine Masterclass
For a deeper dive into the Rowton range, the sisters run occasional English Wine Masterclass evenings at Rowton Barns. The format is a guided journey through the entire six-wine range, each paired with nibbles prepared by Chef Mel. It's a fun, informative evening covering everything from grape variety to glass - perfect for English-wine enthusiasts and the wine-curious alike. Recent tickets have been priced at £35 - £40 per person; check the Masterclass Tasting and Masterclass Ticket 2025 pages for the latest dates.
Events at Rowton Vineyard
Beyond tours and masterclasses, Rowton Vineyard hosts a busy calendar of pop-up suppers, painting classes, seasonal tastings and family days throughout the year. The full Rowton Vineyard events archive lists every upcoming date.
Bottle Painting with Lucy Caddel
Get creative at Rowton Barns with local artist Lucy Caddel. Choose a full bottle on arrival, and Lucy will guide you through everything you need to know - all materials supplied, plus a welcome drink. £50 per person, includes the welcome drink, the wine and tuition. Held at Rowton Barns, Rowton, Shrewsbury, SY5 9EN.
Read more about Bottle Painting.
Big Christmas Tasting
An annual walk-around tasting at Rowton Barns, with the full Rowton range to try plus guest producers. Past editions have featured Stonebird Wines and Daniel from Godfrey Williams & Sons with a fantastic cheese selection to match. Tickets £5 - £10 each, with the price redeemable against Rowton purchases on the night. Typically held in late November.
Read more about the Big Christmas Tasting.
Wine in the Vines
The vineyard's annual open day: a relaxed afternoon among the vines with live music, the full Rowton bar pouring wines, local beers and spirits, short vineyard tours throughout the day and a tasting flight option. Good dogs on leads are very welcome, and the whole family is invited. Tickets are free.
Read more about Wine in the Vines.
Sunday Sessions and Wild Street Kitchen
Throughout the summer, the vineyard hosts free Sunday Sessions - live music, the wine bar serving a selection of local drinks, food from local traders such as Wild Street Kitchen, and short tours throughout the afternoon. The whole family is welcome. The events archive lists upcoming dates.
Made in Shropshire Markets
Look out for the Rowton Vineyard stand at the Made in Shropshire Market on The Square in Shrewsbury, typically held on the second Saturday of every month from 9am to 5pm. It's a great way to taste the current releases and chat to the sisters in person.
Plein Air Watercolour Painting
A 2pm - 4pm watercolour class with Lucy Caddel among the vines. All materials and tuition are provided. Recent tickets have been priced at £35 - £40 per person.
Summer Bouquet Evening
A relaxed evening of flower arranging with Will Simmons of The Flower Stand Shrewsbury, hosted at the vineyard. £60 per ticket to include all your flowers, materials and a glass of wine.
Stay at Rowton Barns
Planning a longer visit to Shropshire? The vineyard sits on the same farm as Rowton Barns, a cosy bed-and-breakfast with ten rooms in two beautifully converted stone barns. It's an ideal base for exploring Shrewsbury, the Welsh Marches and the wider Shropshire Hills - and well placed for an evening at the cellar door.
How to Buy Rowton Vineyard Wines
Online Shop
The full range - Solaris, Pink Fizz, Pink Pinot Noir Précoce, Red Pinot Noir Précoce, Sparkling Solaris, Late Harvest Solaris, the Mixed Case and merchandise (including a Rowton beanie hat and a quirky BBQ Vine Prunings pack for smoked-grilling enthusiasts) - is available to buy directly from the Rowton Vineyard shop. Mainland UK delivery is £10, free on orders over £100, with 3 - 5 working days standard shipping. Local customers can also click & collect from the cellar door at Rowton Barns. Shipping is available to UK addresses only.
Gift Cards
A Rowton Vineyard Gift Card can be redeemed against wine purchases and event tickets, in denominations of £10, £20, £50 or £100. A great gift for the English-wine lover in your life - valid for two years from purchase (no cash value, redeemable in part-payment for tours, tastings and wine).
Stockists
You'll also find Rowton Vineyard wines at a number of carefully chosen independent stockists across the UK:
- Tanners Wine Merchants - six branches in Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Welshpool, Hereford, Conwy and Chester.
- Glou - a fantastic wine bar on Castle Street, Shrewsbury.
- Iron & Rose - the wine shop inside Shrewsbury Market Hall.
- Moonshine & Fuggles - a quaint wine shop in the heart of Ironbridge.
- Gwin Dylanwad - an energetic little wine shop in Dolgellau, Gwynedd.
- Tenaya - a female-led wine shop in Sheffield.
- Godfrey Williams & Son - a traditional deli in Sandbach with the largest range of English & Welsh wines in the Midlands.
- Adamthwaites - based in Lichfield, an online store that also hosts many wine events.
- Churncote Farm Shop - a local farm shop just down the road towards Shrewsbury.
- Battlefield 1403 - a farm shop just north of Shrewsbury.
- The Windmill Inn - a country inn just up the hill from the farm.
- Dough & Oil / Oil Embers - Shrewsbury restaurants pouring Rowton wines.
- Docket 33 - a Michelin-listed tasting-menu restaurant in Whitchurch.
- Tipples Christmas Shop - the pop-up at Tipples HQ in Hanwood.
Visiting the Cellar Door
Rowton Vineyard runs regular tasting events and evenings at the cellar door, which anyone is welcome to attend. Follow @rowton_vineyard on Instagram or Rowton Vineyard on Facebook, or sign up to the newsletter, to keep up with upcoming dates. Cellar-door sales are also available by appointment - just drop a line to hello@rowtonvineyard.co.uk.
- Cellar Door: Rowton Barns, Rowton, Shrewsbury, SY5 9EW (What3words: ///dearest.baseless.represent)
- Vineyard: Rowton Vineyard, Ford, Shrewsbury, SY5 9NG (What3words: ///strictly.intention.removing)
- Telephone: 07342 277027
- Email: hello@rowtonvineyard.co.uk
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Rowton Vineyard wines suitable for vegetarians and vegans?
Yes - the wines are filtered using plant-derived proteins.
What is the difference between English wine and British wine?
English wine is made from grapes grown in the UK. British wine is made from imported grape juice.
When did Rowton Vineyard start producing wine?
The vineyard was planted in May 2020 and the first harvest was taken in September 2022. The first wines made from Rowton-grown grapes were released from summer 2023.
Why don't we see much English wine in supermarkets?
Most English vineyards are small producers who sell direct to the public or through independent wine merchants.
Can we visit the cellar door?
Yes - the team runs regular tasting events and evenings, plus cellar-door sales by appointment.
Can we visit the vineyard?
Yes - group visits and tours can be arranged by emailing hello@rowtonvineyard.co.uk.
Where else can I buy the wines?
Online, at markets in Shrewsbury and through Tanners Wine Merchants (Shrewsbury, Hereford, Bridgnorth, Welshpool, Chester) plus a wide list of independent stockists.
Is Pinot Noir Précoce similar to any other wines?
Its flavour profile is very similar to Pinot Noir, although it tends to have slightly lower acidity and a greater emphasis on dark fruits over red along with a slightly herbaceous character.
Is Seyval Blanc similar to any other wines?
The quality and style of Seyval Blanc is very similar to Chenin Blanc or Chablis styles - lighter in style with notes of grapefruit, green apple, hay and melon.
Is Solaris similar to any other wines?
This fruit-forward wine is often compared to a Sauvignon Blanc.
Is there any local accommodation nearby?
Yes - the family's own B&B, Rowton Barns.
How should I store my wine?
Sparkling wine should be kept lying on its side so the wine stays in contact with the cork, in a room with a consistent temperature and away from direct sunlight.
Do I pay for delivery and how long does it take?
Mainland UK delivery is £10 (free on orders over £100), with 3 - 5 working days standard shipping. UK delivery only at present.
Plan Your Visit
Whether you come for a tour and tasting among the vines, a bottle-painting class with Lucy Caddel, the annual Wine in the Vines open day, or simply a quiet cellar-door appointment to stock up on Solaris, Rowton Vineyard is one of the most exciting new family-run English wine projects of the past five years. With a portfolio of award-winning still, sparkling and sweet wines, an events calendar that grows each year and a genuine passion for sustainable, low-input viticulture, Zoë and Melissa Evans are quietly putting Shropshire on the English wine map.