Ryedale Vineyards: A Family-Run Yorkshire Vineyard Producing Award-Winning English Wines
Set on the sun-trap slopes of the Yorkshire Wolds a short drive from Castle Howard, Ryedale Vineyards is one of the most northerly commercial vineyards in the United Kingdom and one of the most endearingly personal. The family-run operation at Farfield Farm, Westow, near York, grows 15,000 vines across 18 grape varieties, presses, ferments, bottles and labels every drop by hand, and welcomes visitors with a generous Yorkshire hospitality that has put the estate on lists of the best vineyards to tour in England and Wales.
A family vineyard at the foot of the Wolds
Ryedale Vineyards is run by Jon and Michelle Fletcher and their sons Jack and Kit, with two resident border collies, Artie and Charlie, on permanent patrol. Jon and Michelle took over the vineyard by accident in 2016, and have since expanded the estate with a strongly held belief in working with nature to create a sanctuary for humans, grapes and animals alike. Jon and Michelle are the heart of the operation; eldest son Jack is the Winery Manager and was voted Wine Personality of the Year 2022 for his informal, humorous and informative tour style; younger son Kit, who studied Art in Glasgow and cut his teeth in New Zealand's large commercial vineyards, has returned as Development Manager with a remit to put as many glasses of Yorkshire wine into as many hands as possible.
Farfield Farm sits on south-facing slopes in the Ryedale countryside, surrounded by rolling arable land and within easy reach of the market town of Malton, York and the North York Moors National Park. The site is shared with neighbouring farms, so visitors are advised to follow the brown signs along the road to Leavening rather than rely on a sat-nav alone. The vineyard's what3words reference is bubbles.outlined.chaos. The postal address is Farfield Farm, Westow, York, North Yorkshire, YO60 7LS.
Vines, heritage apples and a low-spray philosophy
Across the twelve-acre vineyard, fifteen thousand vines are planted to eighteen different grape varieties, including classic Champagne grapes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, alongside the aromatic English stalwart Bacchus and a number of newer plantings chosen for their resilience to the cooler northern climate. The Fletchers have adopted a low-spray approach which benefits the environment, wildlife and birdlife, and the rows are encouraged to grow amongst wild flowers and two natural plant and bog gardens.
Tucked around the vineyard are more than 120 heritage apple trees, whose fruit is hand-pressed into the estate's own cider. The orchard is a treasure trove of local Yorkshire and northern English varieties, including Keswick Codling, Flower of the Town, Ribston Pippin and Cats Head. Wild damsons and plums are picked to make a deliciously fruity Plum Cup, and the soft fruits grown on the farm are turned into the jams served at the famous cream teas.
Tours and tastings with the winemakers
Ryedale offers an informal, humorous and informative guided tour and tasting that runs on selected days throughout the year, with cream teas served from 2pm and tours starting at 3pm. A typical visit lasts around two and a half hours and includes:
- A guided tour with one of the winemakers
- A short vineyard walk
- A visit to the winery in the converted cow byre
- A wine tasting with local cheeses
Tours are priced at £25 per person, with optional cream teas at £8 per person (a choice of tea, coffee or hot chocolate). Cream teas comprise a homemade fruited scone served with jam and clotted cream, accompanied by a hot drink or a glass of still wine. The Horsebox Bar is open from one hour before each tour commences.
Tours operate from Easter until the end of harvest in late October, with additional Christmas-themed tours running from October to December featuring mulled wine, spiced cider and mince pies. Dogs and children are not permitted on tours (over 18s only); assistance dogs are welcome. Public tours run on most Fridays and Saturdays, with current availability shown when booking. Bookings are processed through the Tourism Exchange Great Britain platform: Book a Tour.
Tour vouchers and gifts
For those who want to give the experience as a present, the vineyard offers physical Postal Vouchers (from £25) and instant Print at Home vouchers that arrive by email as a PDF. Vouchers can be redeemed against any tour and are valid for 12 months from the date of purchase. Prices start at:
- Postal Voucher for Tour and Tastings (optional cream tea) - £25.00
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Two - £50.00
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Two with Cream Teas - £66.00
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Four - £100.00
- Print at Home Tour and Tasting for Four with Cream Teas - £132.00
Monetary vouchers from £15 to £500 are also available as flexible digital gift cards, redeemable against any product including tours and tastings, although they cannot be used for B&B accommodation. Browse the full shop.
The wines
Every bottle sold by Ryedale Vineyards is grown, pressed, fermented, bottled and labelled by hand on the family farm. Quantities are limited by the size of each harvest, and the wines are not vegan-certified but are suitable for vegans. The current range comprises:
The Dalesman - £30.00
The signature sparkling, a blush wine that has carried off awards for the winery. Light and medium dry with enough fruit to make a Yorkshireman blush, it spends two years on its lees in the converted cow byre. The Dalesman is served on special occasions alongside salty smoked salmon, and costs the equivalent of £25 per bottle when bought by the case of six. 10.5% ABV.
22 - £30.00 (sold out)
A dry sparkling wine celebrating the golden summer of 2022, evoking bingo on the seafront, fish and chips on the pier and sand between your toes. Originally released as a Christmas 2025 exclusive of six bottles for the price of five.
Yorkshire's Lad - £16.00
A dry, flinty white wine with hints of gooseberry, baking apple and sherbet lemon, named after winery manager Jack. Easy drinking and a natural partner for seafood, cheeses and good old fish and chips. 11% ABV.
Yorkshire's Lass - £16.00
A closely guarded blend of Bacchus, aromatic Ortega and the luscious pink Siegerebbe grapes, with floral and aromatic hints, notes of melon and peaches, and a hint of smokiness. The vineyard's best-selling wine. 12% ABV.
Rosie - £16.00
An easy drinking rosé with superb strawberry flavours on the palate, named after a flame-haired lady from Selby. Delicious and summery, a delight with a fruity curry or with roast chicken. 10.5% ABV.
Strickland Red - £16.00
A fruity red full of cherries and berry flavours with a hint of liquorice, grown on the Strickland Estate on the Yorkshire Wolds. Recommended lightly chilled in summer and equally at home with a Yorkshire roast. 11.5% ABV.
Wine gift sets
For a one-stop gift, three tasting sets pair the award-winning sparkling Dalesman with a selection of still wines:
- Yorkshire Trio - one sparkling and two stills - £57.00 (was £62.00)
- Yorkshire Feast - two sparkling and four stills - £110.00 (was £124.00)
- Case of Sparkling Wine - six bottles of The Dalesman for the price of five - £150.00 (was £180.00)
All still wines are priced at £16.00 per bottle individually, with free UK delivery available on orders over £90.
Vine Owners Club: adopt a row
For a truly personal gift, the Vine Owners Club lets you adopt an individual vine - or an entire row of vines - on the estate. Adoption packages include:
- Standard Vine Owners Club - £80.00: adoption certificate, personalised vine tag, a tour and tasting voucher for two, and a bottle of wine from your chosen red or white vine.
- Premium Vine Owners Club - £195.00: adoption of an entire row, a tour and tasting voucher for six people, and a case of six bottles.
- Premium Sparkling - £310.00: adoption of a sparkling-grape row, a tour and tasting voucher for six, and a case of six sparkling wines.
A digital Print at Home version of the standard package is available for £80.00 and is delivered instantly by email. All certificates are posted Standard First Class with Royal Mail.
Stay at the vineyard
The vineyard B&B offers two beautifully appointed rooms in the 500-year-old cruck-beamed farmhouse, with hand-picked linen bedding, locally sourced furnishings and access to a tasting on the day of arrival. The B&B is fully booked for 2026, with first dates for 2027 already bookable.
The Pheasant - £150 per night
A very comfortable room with amazing views over the Wolds and a small en-suite shower in the bedroom. King-sized bed.
The Fox - £220 per night
Set in the eaves of the farmhouse up two staircases, the Fox has a separate shower room and small fridge. King-sized bed.
Both rooms have plentiful hospitality trays, television and radio. Breakfast can be brought to the room in the morning, with a hot breakfast bap or porridge in the cooler months, and a full Yorkshire breakfast served in the farmhouse dining room. Tours and tastings can be added at £25 per person on Fridays and Saturdays only, and are held at 3pm on the day of arrival. Guests are asked to note that the building is very old with narrow staircases and low ceilings, and although there are two excellent pubs nearby - The Jolly Farmers at Leavening and The Blacksmith's Arms at Westow - the vineyard itself is unable to accommodate pets, including their own border collies. See stay options.
Events at Ryedale Vineyards
Events are held regularly at the vineyard, including Open Days, live theatre and Yorkshire Day celebrations with a brass band and Morris Dancing. The current confirmed upcoming event is the late-summer Open Day on 31st August 2026, from 12pm to 4pm. Bring chairs, rugs and picnics, taste the wines, view the winery, enjoy the famous cream teas or bring your own picnic and wander through the vines at your own pace. Open days are free, no booking is necessary, and well-behaved dogs on leads and children are welcome. See upcoming events.
Yorkshire Day celebrations
The vineyard's annual Yorkshire Day open day typically features a brass band, Morris Dancing, cream teas and pre-order picnic boxes. Pre-order items from the shop - the Yorkshire Day Cheese Box (£10.00) and the Yorkshire Day Cream Tea for One (£8.00) - are collected on the day.
Visiting the vineyard
Cellar-door sales of wine and cider are available whenever the vineyard is open, although the team recommends telephoning ahead on 01653 658 035 in case everyone is working out in the fields. Cream teas are served one hour before each tour by pre-booking only; there is no general café on site.
The vineyard is rural, with no public transport. The nearest railway station is Malton, approximately seven miles away, with links to Leeds and Scarborough. Taxis are available from the station but should be pre-booked.
Frequently asked questions
- When is the best time to visit? Vines are dormant and hard pruned over winter; bud burst occurs in late spring. Flowers appear in June with fruit following soon after, and the harvest runs from early September into October.
- Can my non-drinking guests come on the tour? Yes. Tour prices are the same regardless of whether alcohol is consumed, and zero-alcohol wine, fruit juice and soft drinks are available at the tasting.
- Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not permitted on tours or left in cars (there are sheep at the vineyard). Assistance dogs are welcome, and dogs on leads are welcome on event days.
- Do you do private tours? Private tours may be available for parties of 20 or more - contact the vineyard directly to discuss.
- What about weddings and private events? The vineyard hosts selected private events, including the occasional live theatre performance, and outside catering is available through The Vine House.
Plan your visit
Ryedale Vineyards is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9am to 5pm, and closed on Sundays and Mondays. To book a tour or tasting, order wine, or arrange a stay, contact the team by telephone on 01653 658 035 or 07792 276 713, email info@ryedalevineyards.co.uk, or use the online booking system. The vineyard is also active on Facebook and Instagram, where last-minute cancellations and rescheduled tour dates are often advertised first.
Ryedale Vineyards Ltd is registered in England (company number 16270982) and trades from Farfield Farm, Westow, York, North Yorkshire, YO60 7LS.