Ryedale Vineyards: A Family-Run Yorkshire Vineyard at the Foot of the Wolds
Discover Ryedale Vineyards: Yorkshire's Northernmost Commercial Vineyard
Nestled at the foot of the Yorkshire Wolds, just seven miles from the market town of Malton and within easy reach of historic York and the stately surroundings of Castle Howard, Ryedale Vineyards is one of the most northerly commercial vineyards in the United Kingdom. It is a family-run working vineyard that produces still and sparkling wines, heritage cider and a fruit-forward Plum Cup entirely by hand, in a converted cow byre on the family's 12-acre farm.
The vineyard was voted one of the 12 best vineyards to visit and tour in England and Wales in 2019, and regularly wins awards for its wines. It sits on south-facing slopes that make the most of the Yorkshire light, and is run by Jon and Michelle Fletcher with their sons Jack and Kit, two working border collies named Artie and Charlie, and 15,000 vines of 18 different grape varieties.
Where to find them
The vineyard's address is Farfield Farm, Westow, York, North Yorkshire, YO60 7LS. The what3words reference is bubbles.outlined.chaos. The closest railway station is Malton, around seven miles away, with onward taxi connections (it is worth pre-booking a car as public transport to the farm is limited). The SatNav postcode is YO60 7LS, although it is shared with neighbouring farms; the entrance is on the road towards Leavening, Burythorpe and Thixendale, where the vineyard is the first farm on the right, marked by two white signs at the top of the farm track.
The Fletcher Family
Jon and Michelle Fletcher took over the vineyard by accident in 2016. Since then, they have expanded the vineyard and its produce, holding on to a strongly held belief of working with nature to create a sanctuary for humans, grapes and animals alike. Every vine has a name and is treated like a member of the family, though, contrary to popular belief, they are not brought into the farmhouse during winter.
Meet Jack, the Winery Manager
Jack is the eldest son. He joined the vineyard after graduating university and now runs the winery, leading the vineyard's informal, humorous and informative tours. He is a proud Yorkshireman, was voted Wine Personality of the Year in 2022, and is convinced that every vine matters; the care given to each one, he says, is reflected in every glass.
Meet Kit, the Development Manager
Kit studied Art in Glasgow and has recently returned from working in New Zealand, where he stole secrets from large commercial vineyards. His photography skills help advertise the vineyard, and as Development Manager he is working to put as many glasses of Yorkshire wine into as many hands as possible.
Meet the Working Dogs
Border collie Artie is the senior vineyard dog. When not flying the flag for English wines, he checks that every cheese served on tours is up to standard and clears up anything dropped on the grass. In his spare time he enjoys football, frisbee and attempting to cover himself in as much fox poo as he possibly can. Charlie, the newest and most enthusiastic member of the team, has flung himself, quite literally, into the role of vineyard dog and is expected to remain on probation for some time.
The Vines and How the Wine is Made
Ryedale Vineyards has 15,000 vines and 18 different grape varieties, including classic Champagne grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, plus the increasingly fashionable aromatic white Bacchus. The vineyard has adopted a low-spray approach which benefits the environment, wildlife and birdlife; wild flowers are encouraged, and the farm is home to two natural plant and bog gardens.
Every step of production, from pruning to harvesting, pressing, fermenting, bottling and labelling, is carried out by hand in the converted cow byre that serves as the winery. The same hand-built philosophy carries through to a small but characterful range of still and sparkling wines that has, in just a few vintages, picked up awards across England and Wales.
Apple Trees and Heritage Cider
The vineyard is also home to more than 120 heritage apple trees. Varieties include Keswick Codling, Flower of the Town, Ribston Pippin and Cats Head, all pressed by hand for the estate's cider. Wild damsons and plums are used in the deliciously fruity Plum Cup, and soft fruits are grown to make the jams that are served with the vineyard's famous cream teas.
The Wines
The current wine list spans a single sparkling wine, three still whites, a rosé and a red, all made from estate-grown fruit. They can be ordered directly from the online shop or bought at the cellar door.
The Dalesman - Sparkling Blush
The Dalesman is the estate's award-winning sparkling blush, £30 a bottle (or £25 each when you buy six). Light and medium dry, with enough fruit to make a Yorkshireman blush, it takes two years to ferment and is the bottle served on special occasions with salty smoked salmon. 10.5% alcohol. Bulk pricing is available for quantities of six or more.
22 - Vintage Sparkling
22 is a dry sparkling that celebrates the golden summer of 2022, evoking memories of bingo on the seafront, fish and chips on the pier and sand between your toes. It was released as a Christmas 2025 exclusive, sold as six bottles for the price of five at £30 a bottle. It is currently sold out, but is worth watching for future releases.
Yorkshire's Lad - Dry White
Yorkshire's Lad is a dry, flinty white wine with hints of gooseberry, baking apple and sherbet lemon, £16 a bottle. Named after Jack, the winery manager, it is an easy-drinking style that complements seafood, cheeses and a good plate of fish and chips. 11% alcohol.
Yorkshire's Lass - Aromatic White Blend
Yorkshire's Lass is the estate's best seller at £16 a bottle. It is a closely guarded blend of Bacchus, aromatic Ortega and the pink-skinned Siegerebbe, producing a fragrant, complex wine with floral notes, melon, peaches and a hint of smokiness. 12% alcohol.
Rosie - Rosé
Rosie is an easy-drinking rosé with strawberry flavours on the palate, delicious and summery, named after a flame-haired lady from Selby. It pairs beautifully with a fruity curry or roast chicken. £16 a bottle, 10.5% ABV.
Strickland Red - English Red
Strickland Red is a fruity red full of cherries and berry flavours, with a hint of liquorice, £16 a bottle. It is grown on the Strickland Estate on the Yorkshire Wolds and is equally at home with a light chill in summer as alongside a Yorkshire roast. 11.5% alcohol.
Tours and Tastings
Tours and tastings are the vineyard's flagship experience. They run most Fridays and Saturdays from spring until the end of harvest in late October, and during October to Christmas the team runs Christmas-themed tours with mulled wine, spiced cider and mince pies. Tour slots fill up across Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, with some dates already fully booked, so it pays to plan ahead.
What a Tour Includes
A standard Tour & Tasting is £25 per person and includes:
- A guided tour led by one of the winemakers (most often Jack)
- A short walk through the vines
- A visit to the winery
- A tasting of the estate's wines and ciders, paired with local cheeses
Tours start at 3pm, with cream teas served from 2pm. They last around two to two and a half hours; the first hour involves standing in the vineyard and winery, so comfortable footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are recommended. Tours are not suitable for children (over 18s only) and the vineyard is unable to accept dogs.
Adding a Cream Tea
Cream teas can be pre-booked with your tour and are served from the time stated on your booking confirmation. They comprise a fruited scone with jam and cream, plus tea, coffee or hot chocolate, and cost £8 per person. The Horsebox Bar is open from one hour before the tour commences.
Booking and Refunds
Tours are booked online through the Tourism Exchange Great Britain platform (you will be redirected at checkout and receive a confirmation email from them). Booking is on a non-refundable basis, but the vineyard will reschedule once if you give at least 48 hours' notice; further changes cannot be offered if you miss your tour.
Private Tours
For parties of 20 or more, a private tour and tasting may be possible. Contact the vineyard directly to discuss dates and pricing.
Vineyard Calendar - August 2026
The following tour dates are scheduled for August and early September 2026 (some already fully booked):
- Friday 7 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Saturday 8 August - Fully booked
- Sunday 9 August - Fully booked
- Friday 14 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Saturday 15 August - Fully booked
- Friday 21 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Saturday 22 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Sunday 23 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Friday 28 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Saturday 29 August - Fully booked
- Sunday 30 August - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Saturday 5 September - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
- Sunday 6 September - Tour & Tasting, 3pm
Book online through the booking portal to reserve a slot, mentioning any voucher code at checkout.
Stay at the Vineyard
The vineyard's 500-year-old cruck-beamed farmhouse offers two bed and breakfast rooms on selected weekends through the summer season, with 2026 fully booked but the first 2027 dates (through to the end of June) now available to book.
The Pheasant Room
The Pheasant is a comfortable room with amazing views over the Wolds and a small en-suite shower in the bedroom. The king-sized bed is dressed in hand-picked linen bedding with locally sourced furnishings and accessories. £150 per night.
The Fox Room
The Fox is set in the eaves of the 500-year-old farmhouse, up two staircases, with a separate shower room and small fridge. The king-sized bed is similarly dressed in linen bedding with local furnishings. £220 per night.
What to Expect at Breakfast
Both rooms have plentiful hospitality trays, television and radio. Breakfast can be brought to your room (a hot breakfast bap or porridge in the cooler months), or you can enjoy a full Yorkshire breakfast served in the farmhouse dining room.
Adding a Tour to Your Stay
Tours & Tastings can be added at £25 per person on the booking page, Fridays and Saturdays only. Tours are held on the day of arrival, at 3pm. If you already hold a tour voucher, do not book the tour as an extra; instead, include your voucher code in the booking notes or call the vineyard once your booking is complete.
Things to Know
The farmhouse is very old, with narrow staircases and low ceilings and beams, which may not suit people with mobility problems. The Fox room is up two flights of stairs. Pets cannot be accommodated due to livestock; the family's two border collies also live on site. Check-in is from 3pm; check-out is 10.30am. Payment is required on booking.
Events at Ryedale Vineyards
The vineyard runs a small but well-loved calendar of public events through the year. These sit alongside the regular tour programme and are designed to be family-friendly.
Open Day - Monday 31 August 2026
A free Open Day runs on Monday 31 August 2026, 12pm to 4pm; the full programme of seasonal events is listed in the events calendar. Bring chairs, rugs and picnics, try the wines, view the winery and enjoy the famous cream teas, or bring your own picnic and wander through the vines at your own pace. Open to all; children and well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome. No booking is required.
Yorkshire Day Celebrations
Yorkshire Day, on 2 August, is an annual celebration at the vineyard with a brass band and Morris Dancing, returning as the headline open-day event each year. Visitors can pre-order cheese boxes and cream teas in advance through the shop (these are now closed for 2026 but the offering is expected to return in 2027).
Other Events Through the Year
Across the season the vineyard hosts Open Days, Live Theatre and the Yorkshire Day celebrations. Christmas-themed tours with mulled wine, spiced cider and mince pies run from October through to Christmas. From October to December the tours continue with the festive theme.
The Shop: Vouchers, Gift Boxes and Wine Packs
The online shop stocks gift vouchers, mixed wine cases, special releases, and seasonal picnic options. Free delivery is offered on UK orders over £90, and collection from the vineyard is free for all orders.
Tour & Tasting Vouchers
Vouchers are valid for 12 months from purchase and can be redeemed on any available tour date, subject to availability.
- Postal Voucher for Tour and Tastings with optional Cream Tea - £25 per person (posted First Class). Optional cream teas add £8 per person.
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Two - £50.
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Two with Cream Teas - £66.
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Four - £100.
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Four with Cream Teas - £132.
Print-at-home vouchers are delivered instantly as a PDF by email. Postal vouchers are sent First Class with Royal Mail. Vouchers can be redeemed by emailing or telephoning the vineyard with a preferred date and the voucher number or purchaser name.
Wine Cases and Gift Packs
- Yorkshire Trio - £57 (was £62): one bottle of The Dalesman Sparkling plus two still wines of your choice from Yorkshire's Lad, Yorkshire's Lass, Rosie or Strickland Red.
- Yorkshire Feast - £110 (was £124): two bottles of sparkling Dalesman and four still wines.
- Case of Sparkling Wine - £150 (was £180): six bottles of The Dalesman, pay for five.
Vine Owners Club
The Vine Owners Club is a gift adoption: a chosen vine (or whole row of vines) is tagged with a personal message on the vineyard, and the recipient receives an adoption certificate in the post.
- Vine Owners Club - £80: adoption of a single red or white vine, a tour & tasting for two and a bottle of the chosen variety when you visit.
- Vine Owners Club Premium - £195: adoption of an entire row of vines, tour & tasting for six and a case of six bottles.
- Vine Owners Club Sparkling Premium - £310: row of sparkling-grape vines, tour & tasting for six and a case of six sparkling wines.
A Print at Home version of the standard Vine Owners Club certificate is also available at £80 for instant delivery by email.
Monetary Vouchers
Monetary Vouchers are digital gift cards that can be used as payment for any product, including tours and tastings, in the online shop or in person at the vineyard. They cannot be used for B&B accommodation, and expire 12 months from the date of purchase. Denominations range from £15 to £500; £25 is the default option.
Yorkshire Day Pre-Orders (2026)
For Yorkshire Day 2026 the vineyard offered two picnic-style pre-orders, each delivered to the visitor on the day:
- Yorkshire Day 2026: Pre-order Cheese Box - £10. A selection of cheeses and nibbles, designed as an accompaniment to wine tasting on the day.
- Yorkshire Day 2026: Pre-order Cream Tea for One - £8. A homemade scone served with clotted cream and homemade jam, with a choice of hot drink or a glass of still wine.
These products typically reappear for the next year's event.
Visiting the Vineyard
The vineyard is a working farm, so opening hours are limited. The shop and cellar door are open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm; the vineyard is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Tours and tastings take place on selected Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through the season (see the calendar above) and must be booked in advance.
Getting There
By car: the postcode is YO60 7LS. From the York / Malton direction, follow signs for Leavening, Burythorpe and Thixendale; the farm is the first on the right, marked with two white signs.
By train: the nearest railway station is Malton (around seven miles), with onward taxi required - book in advance.
By bicycle or on foot: the vineyard is a welcome stop for cyclists and walkers exploring the Wolds, the North York Moors and the Howardian Hills.
On Site
There is no café; cream teas are served before tours that have been booked in advance. Wine and cider are sold direct from the cellar door, but it is best to telephone ahead on 01653 658 035 as the team may be working out in the fields.
Nearby
Two very good pubs are nearby - The Jolly Farmers at Leavening (less than 1.5 miles) and The Blacksmith's Arms at Westow (around 3 miles). Malton, the 'Food Capital' of North Yorkshire, is about seven miles away and hosts regular food markets and food festivals. Castle Howard, the North York Moors Railway, York and the Yorkshire coast are all within easy reach. If the vineyard B&B is fully booked, Burythorpe House Hotel (around four miles away) and Beckside Lodge in Leavening (available via Booking.com) are good alternatives.
Accessibility
The winery is close to the visitor route but has a rough cobbled floor and a stone step. Tours do not walk a long way and a seat can be discreetly produced if needed; if assistance is required, let the team know in advance and they will do their best to accommodate. Assistance dogs are welcome.
Group Tours and Vine Adopters
Parties of 20 or more may be able to book a private tour and tasting. The vineyard also runs a Vine Adopters programme (now sold through the Vine Owners Club products in the shop), with newsletters, harvest volunteering and reminders of upcoming stays, tours and tastings.
FAQs at a Glance
Are tours suitable for children?
No - the working farm and the tour itself are not suitable for children. Children are welcome at public events such as Open Days.
Can I bring my dog?
No - the vineyard has sheep, and dogs cannot be left in cars. Assistance dogs are welcome. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on event days as the sheep are moved out of the vineyard area.
Will I be able to drive after a tasting?
Tasting samples are generous, so the vineyard recommends using a taxi or arranging for someone to collect you.
Are the wines suitable for vegans?
Yes.
Can I use an Activity Superstore voucher?
No - the vineyard no longer accepts Activity Superstore vouchers.
Best time of year to visit?
Vines are dormant and hard pruned over winter; bud burst occurs around late spring; flowering usually happens in June with fruit setting straight after. Harvest runs from early to mid September through to October depending on the weather.
Contact Ryedale Vineyards
Ryedale Vineyards Ltd, Farfield Farm, Westow, York, North Yorkshire, YO60 7LS. Registered in England: 16270982.
- Telephone: 01653 658 035 (mobile: 07792 276 713)
- Email: info@ryedalevineyards.co.uk
- Website: www.ryedalevineyards.co.uk
- Instagram: @ryedalevineyards
- Facebook: facebook.com/ryedalevineyards
- TripAdvisor: Ryedale Vineyards reviews
Office hours are 9am to 5pm, Tuesday to Saturday. The vineyard is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The team is small, so if you cannot get through, please try again or send an email and they will reply as soon as they can.