Stanlake Park Wine Estate

Stanlake Park Wine Estate

Tucked into 130 acres of gently rolling Berkshire countryside, just a stone's throw from Twyford and within easy reach of London, Stanlake Park Wine Estate is one of England's oldest and most distinguished commercial vineyards. Today producing around 40,000 bottles of wine a year and welcoming close to 10,000 visitors, the estate has come a long way from its modest 1979 origins as a 500-vine pilot project on the Leighton family farm. Under the passionate stewardship of winemaker Nico Centonze and director Natalia Pezzone, Stanlake Park now produces an acclaimed range of English still and sparkling wines, an Italian Collection crafted in Puglia from Nico's family vineyard, a bustling wine bar, a popular calendar of vineyard tours and tastings, a sought-after wedding venue, and a growing portfolio of luxury vineyard accommodation.

Located on the B3018 Waltham Road out of Twyford, the estate is just a 15-minute walk on pavement from Twyford station, which connects to London Paddington in around 30 minutes via the Great Western Railway or the Elizabeth Line. That ease of access, combined with vineyard views stretching out over the historic listed buildings of a 12th-century estate, has helped turn Stanlake Park into one of the most popular wine tourism destinations in the south east of England.

A History Spanning Eight Centuries

The story of Stanlake Park begins long before the first vine was planted. Records show that the land was held in 1166 by Patrick, Earl of Salisbury, when it was known as Hinton Pipard. The original manor house stood on the edge of the northern perimeter at Botany Bay Copse, where the remains of a quadrangular moat can still be traced today. During the 15th century the estate passed to the Thorpe family of Surrey; Elisabeth Thorpe inherited the property and married Nicholas Stanlake, giving the estate the name it carries to this day.

The Tudor years brought some illustrious residents. In 1502 the estate was owned by Sir Reginald Bray, the statesman and architect credited with alterations to St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. After his death, the property passed through his family and eventually to Sir William Sandy, who became Lord Chamberlain to Henry VIII and was a close friend of the king. It is thought highly likely that Henry VIII was entertained at Stanlake Park, given his love of hunting and the estate's proximity to Windsor Castle.

In the Stuart period, Stanlake passed to Sir Thomas Windebank in 1606 and then to Richard Aldworth, a Reading merchant, in 1610. The present manor house was built in 1626 for Richard Aldworth II, and the stained-glass Royal Coat of Arms of the Stuarts - still visible in the King's Bedroom - commemorates a visit by Charles I. A later Aldworth, Richard III, fought at the Battle of Newbury during the English Civil War, founded the Reading Bluecoat School and was buried at Ruscombe Church. A fourth Richard Aldworth became Secretary of State to King James II, and the clock tower of the stable block still bears the inscription "Revolution 1688" marking the arrival of William of Orange.

The estate remained in the Aldworth-Neville family until the late 18th century, hosted a visit from George III, and later came into the hands of the Barker family in 1847. In 1952 it became the Leighton family home. Crucially, in 1979 Jon Leighton returned from living in Australia with the vision of planting vines in England. He established a small test area of 500 vines, calling the venture Thames Valley Vineyard, and the rest, as they say, is history.

From Leighton to Dart to Centonze and Pezzone

The vineyard expanded through the 1980s and 1990s. By 2005 the estate was acquired by Peter and Annette Dart, who further developed the vineyards and hospitality facilities before selling to the current owners in 2013. The new owners immediately set about finding a winemaker with a fresh, modern and international approach - which is how Nico Centonze and Natalia Pezzone came to be standing in the gravel driveway of Stanlake Park for the very first time.

Meet the Winemaker and Director

Nico Centonze grew up on his family's six-hectare vineyard in Puglia, southern Italy, helping his father Enzo plant, prune, drive the tractor and harvest. He went on to take both a BSc and an MSc in Winemaking and Viticulture at the universities of Florence and Turin, then held winemaking positions in Argentina, Bordeaux, Romania, and finally at the renowned Nyetimber Estate in West Sussex. Natalia Pezzone, originally from Argentina, was a veterinary researcher when she met Nico in Piedmont in 2009. She eventually swapped her PhD for a life in wine, took a position at a Madrid university and later worked alongside Nico in Romania and Italy. She passed her WSET Diploma with Distinction, achieving the highest marks in the UK, and brings both commercial nous and a deep wine education to the business.

After deciding that Italy's bureaucracy was too stifling for their ambitions, the couple moved to England in 2018 and took over the running of Stanlake Park. In their first full year they introduced several award-winning new wines; Natalia's marketing drive saw sales triple and the Cellar Shop and Wine Bar packed with visitors every weekend. Today, Nico oversees both vineyard and winery while Natalia runs the estate as General Manager.

The Team Behind the Estate

Around them sits a tight-knit, highly qualified team. Deputy General Manager Kerry Godley, with WSET 2 and over 20 years of event management experience, oversees operations. Cellar and Vineyard Supervisor Connor Barrett (WSET 2) tends the vines and runs the cellar; Venue Sales Manager Emma Norton (WSET 1) leads wedding viewings; and Events and Operations Coordinator Amber Flint (WSET 2) coordinates weddings and private celebrations. The tour guiding team is unusually credentialed, with several WSET 3 Diploma holders including Yvonne Stawarz, Lydia I'Anson, Tamsin Brown and Phil Relf, alongside WSET 2 guides Derek Walklate, Andy Port, Andy Barden, Rosetta Nickson, Charlotte James-Lisbonne and Stacey Bright. Admin Assistant Stacey Bright, Retail Assistant Joan Izquierdo, and the estate's resident feline, Lucy the Cat, complete the line-up.

The Vineyards: Four Sites Across 130 Acres

Stanlake Park's ten acres of vineyard are split across four distinctly named sites, each contributing different grape varieties to the winemaking palette.

• Stallion Vineyard - As you enter the estate gates, this is the vineyard to your left. It is home to some of the oldest vines on the estate (dating back to 1979) as well as more recent plantings. It produces the Siegerrebe grapes used for the estate's Orange wine, and Solaris vines planted in 2020.
• Walled Garden Vineyard - Tucked behind the Cellar Shop and Wine Bar, this tranquil 15th-century walled garden is planted with Gewürztraminer - believed to be some of the oldest vines of their type in the UK - alongside Pinot Noir and recently planted Solaris. Gewürztraminer contributes to the popular Regatta blend.
• Cricket Field Vineyard - Behind the Wedding Barn, this vineyard takes its name from a cricket pitch that once stood there. Optima, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Dornfelder are grown here; Optima contributes to Regatta, while Dornfelder is the backbone of The Reserve and Cricket Grove reds.
• Ruscombe Vineyard - The largest of the four sites, Ruscombe grows Reichensteiner, Schönburger, Pinot Noir, Meunier, Seyval Blanc, Bacchus and Madeleine. Reichensteiner feeds the Regatta blend, Seyval and Pinot Noir go into the Heritage and Hinton Bruts, and Bacchus is the star of the still Bacchus wine.

Two bespoke trellising systems are used across the estate - the 'Stanlake Bow' and the 'Stanlake Ballerina' - both adaptations of the Smart-Dyson Ballerina (a mid-height Sylvoz system) that suit the long, cool English growing season and balance quality with yield.

Cool-Climate Challenges

Growing grapes in England is no small feat. Average summer temperatures are critical, late-spring frosts can devastate the early growth, and clay-rich soils demand careful drainage. Stanlake Park has felt these challenges first-hand: the estate lost almost 30% of its crop to frost on 14 May 2020, and a sharp frost at the end of April 2026 once again tested the resilience of the team. Beyond weather, the team must manage mildew, phomopsis, botrytis bunch rot and the inevitable competition from birds, wasps and mites. Harvest usually begins in mid-September and runs for around ten days of careful manual picking, with five or six team members working through the early-October finish.

The Winemaking Philosophy

Stanlake Park's winery is housed in a 17th-century Grade II-listed Reformation barn - one of the largest wineries in Berkshire, capable of processing up to 200 tonnes of fruit in a single season. The disgorging line was one of the first of its kind in England. Winemaking here combines the international outlook of an Italian-trained winemaker with the realities of a cool-climate site: slow, cool fermentations in stainless steel, lees ageing for texture, gentle oak maturation in French barrels for the flagship whites, and skin-contact techniques for the increasingly popular Orange wine. Every wine is vegan friendly, and bottles ship without plastic or metal capsules on selected lines in pursuit of a more sustainable future.

The Italian Influence

Nico's signature style is to blend Italian sensibility with English terroir, bringing a single winemaker's expression to grapes grown in two very different terroirs: hot and dry Puglia, cold and wet Berkshire. The result is a portfolio of wines that feels both rooted in place and uncompromisingly international.

The English Wine Range

English Sparkling Wine

Stanlake Park produces five traditional-method sparkling wines, all aged on lees in the estate's cellar and all vegan friendly.

• Stanlake Brut - A non-vintage blend of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay, the flagship sparkling wine at £30 a bottle. It shows a complex bouquet of dried apple and peach with yeasty notes, and has been awarded a Decanter World Wine Awards Bronze Medal.
• Hinton Brut - A slightly sparkling, refreshing fizz made from Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc. Aged for 12 months on the lees, it is elegant and approachable, with a Gold Medal at the T&CVA Wine Challenge (2022). From £23.50.
• Bacchus Brut - A super-refreshing 100% Bacchus sparkling with attractive apple, gooseberry and elderflower aromas, aged 12 months. Silver Medal at T&CVA (2023). From £24.
• Heritage Brut - Pinot Noir and Seyval Blanc with extra ageing in the cellar; lemon, pear and ripe green apple on the palate. From £25.50.
• Rosé Superior - 100% Pinot Noir aged for two years in the cellar, with delicate raspberry, strawberry and pink grapefruit flavours. Gold Medal at the World's Finest Glass of Bubbly Awards 2023. From £29.

English White Wine

Six still whites sit alongside the fizz, ranging from everyday quaffers to oaked, age-worthy bottlings.

• Regatta - A multi-vintage blend of Optima, Reichensteiner, Gewürztraminer and Schönburger. Refreshing and zesty with peach, lime and herbal notes. From £14.
• Madeleine - 100% Madeleine Angevine; floral, smooth and delicate with chamomile and ripe apple. From £14.50.
• Bacchus - The 'English Sauvignon Blanc'; grapefruit, citrus and peach with a tropical edge. Multiple T&CVA and WineGB medals. From £16.
• King's Fumé - The estate's flagship white, a Chardonnay/Ortega blend fermented and aged for two years in French oak. Named in honour of Charles I, who donated the 1626 stained-glass window in the manor house. From £22.
• Orange - A skin-contact white made from Siegerrebe, with wild flowers, orange zest and cantaloupe melon on the nose. Silver Medal at T&CVA 2022. From £18.
• Berkshire Breeze - Peach - An aromatised, peach-flavoured Madeleine Angevine; off-dry, citrusy and crowd-pleasing. Best served very chilled, on its own or over ice. From £12.50.

English Rosé and Red Wine

• Pinot Noir Rosé - Dry, refreshing and delicate, with raspberry and pink grapefruit notes. From £16.
• Pinot Low - A 5% ABV low-alcohol rosé made from early-picked Pinot Noir; zero sugar, delicate red cherry and citrus. Bronze at The Global Low & No Alcohol Masters (2024 and 2025). From £10.
• The Reserve - A multi-vintage red built around Dornfelder with French oak ageing; black cherry and savoury smoke. Tamlyn Currin of JancisRobinson.com gave it 16/20. From £16.50.
• Cricket Grove - A red with smooth black cherry and spice, long finish. From £19.
• Pinot Noir - Elegant and refreshing with violet, red cherry and plum. From £23.

The Italian Collection

Alongside its English wines, Stanlake Park sells an exclusive Italian Collection that is crafted by Nico from grapes grown on his family's vineyard in Salento, Puglia. Because UK regulations prevent grapes grown outside Great Britain from being processed on these shores, the wines are made at Cantine PaoloLeo - one of Puglia's most respected family wineries, run by Nico Leo, who is not only Nico Centonze's best friend and best man but also his university classmate.

• Fiano - A medium-bodied white with zesty lemons, grapefruit, tropical fruit and honey. From £15.
• Primitivo Rosé - Dry and floral with raspberries and strawberries. From £15.
• Negroamaro - A red with mature raspberries, prune and cinnamon, smooth tannins. From £18.

Two terroirs, one winemaker: the Italian Collection is available exclusively at the Stanlake Park Wine Bar and online shop.

The Wine Bar and Cellar Shop

Housed in a beautifully converted Victorian greenhouse overlooking the Walled Garden vineyard, the Cellar Shop and Wine Bar is the social heart of Stanlake Park. All wines are available by the glass, bottle or case, and the team serves a broad selection of local craft beers, ciders, cocktails and non-alcoholic drinks. Cheese and charcuterie boards are a speciality, alongside bread baskets, bruschetta, toasties, vegan boards, sweet treats and homemade cream teas. Recent additions include a sparkling cream tea (a glass of Heritage Brut with a homemade scone, clotted cream and strawberry jam) for £14, and tasting flights from £7 to £11 that let visitors sample three wines picked by the winemaker.

Wine by the glass is also attractively priced: the Regatta and Madeleine are £6 a 125ml pour, Bacchus £6.50, King's Fumé £7, Pinot Noir Rosé £6.50 and Pinot Noir £7.50. In the sparkling range, the Hinton Brut is £6.50 a glass while the flagship Stanlake Brut is £8.50. Local craft beers on tap from Double-Barrelled of Tilehurst, Berkshire lagers and IPAs, sit alongside Somerset ciders and signature cocktails such as the Stanlake Bellini, Berkshire Breeze Spritz, Hugo Spritz and a Henley-distilled Negroni.

The Wine Bar Garden, surrounded by roses and looking up at the 17th-century winery barn, is one of the most photographed corners of the estate and is the perfect spot for a lazy afternoon on a sunny day.

Opening Hours

The Wine Bar and Cellar Shop are open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am. Mondays are the only closure day, although Bank Holiday Mondays open from 9 am to 6 pm. The shop is also closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Last orders are taken 30 minutes before closing.

Wine Tours and Tastings

Stanlake Park runs vineyard and winery tours all year round, and they're among the most consistently well-reviewed wine experiences in the south of England. The estate welcomes over 9,000 visitors a year and offers both public and private tours (the latter for groups of ten or more, in English, French, Italian or Spanish).

Wine Tour & Tasting

The best-selling tour, the Wine Tour & Tasting, costs £20 per person (or £25 per person on weekends in high season). It begins at the Wine Bar with a welcome glass of sparkling, then leads guests on a walk through the Stallion Vineyard and into the winery itself. Along the way you will visit the grape-pressing area, fermentation tanks, barrel room, fizz room and bottling line, tasting a different wine at each stop - six in total, spanning sparkling, white, rosé, red and even orange. Tours typically include 20-25 guests and last 90 minutes; the whole visit, including time in the Wine Bar afterwards, runs around 1.5 to 2 hours.

Wine & Cheese Tour

For a slightly more indulgent experience, the Wine & Cheese Tour costs £30 per person. It starts with the same vineyard and winery walkthrough, then continues with a seated tasting of three wines paired with artisan cheeses from local cheesemongers. The tour part lasts no more than an hour; the tasting runs around 45 minutes. Group size is kept to 14-16 guests for an intimate experience.

Wine Bar Tastings and Flights

If you'd prefer to skip the tour, drop into the Wine Bar for a flight of three wines - curated by the winemaker - from £7 (The Unique) to £11 (Premium). There's no need to book; just turn up during opening hours.

Practicalities

All tours are strictly for guests aged 18 and over (this includes babies and toddlers, sorry). Pets are not permitted on the tour, although well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the Wine Bar and Garden. Stanlake Park is a 15-minute walk from Twyford station on pavement, and guests are strongly encouraged to leave the car behind - you're welcome to leave your car overnight if needed. The cellar shop accepts card payments only (including Amex, Apple Pay and Google Pay).

Events Calendar and Wine Experiences

Beyond the standard tours, Stanlake Park runs a packed events programme throughout the year, including Wine Bar Events, Wine & Cheese Tours, Wine & Cheese Tastings and Work from the Vineyard sessions. Highlights include a Sparkling Wines of the World tasting (£35), a Spanish Wine Tasting (£35), a Charlotte Tilbury Masterclass in the Vineyard Barn (£65), a Wine Travel Experts afternoon (£30), and a series of WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Wine. Wine Tour and Cream Tea afternoons are popular for special occasions, while the regular Work from the Vineyard sessions (£15 per person) invite remote workers to swap the home office for the Wine Bar with unlimited hot drinks and a pastry of choice.

Gift experiences are easy to buy online: Tasting Experience Gift Cards are £50, Cream Tea & Bubbles Experience Gift Cards £40, Wine & Golf Vouchers £70, Wine & Theatre Vouchers £90, Wine Tour & Dine Experience Vouchers £85 and the showstopping Wine Experience and Luxury Stay Gift Voucher at £250.

Weddings at Stanlake Park

With approximately 100 ceremonies hosted each year, Stanlake Park has become one of Berkshire's most sought-after vineyard wedding venues. Set among 130 acres of lush vineyards, historic listed buildings and sweeping countryside views, the estate is consistently ranked among the best wedding venues in the county and is just 30 minutes from London.

The Spaces

There are several stunning locations for ceremonies and receptions. The grade-II-listed Coach House, an 18th-century barn with views over the courtyard, can host up to 100 guests. The 19th-century Vineyard Barn, with its large windows looking straight out onto the vines, accommodates up to 150 seated guests for the ceremony and up to 180 for the wedding breakfast. Outdoor ceremonies can be held in the Courtyard with its ancient wisteria, on the Vineyard Terrace, or at a choice of breathtaking spots overlooking the vines. The Walled Garden, the Bow Loft (for getting ready) and the Manor House approach (private, off-limits to guests but stunning for photography) complete the picture.

Venue Hire Pricing

Venue hire starts from £2,000 for remaining 2026 dates, £3,000 for 2027 and £3,500 for 2028. A 20% deposit secures the booking with the balance due 13 months before the wedding. There are no ceremony fees charged by Stanlake Park; couples only pay the Registrar directly.

Drinks Packages

Every Stanlake Park wedding includes the estate's own wines, produced metres from where you celebrate. The Signature Wine Package is £38 per person and includes sparkling reception drinks, a half-bottle of wine per person with the meal, and toast wines. The Prestige Wine Package at £45 per person elevates the offering with the flagship Stanlake Brut, Heritage Brut, Rosé Superior, King's Fumé and Pinot Noir, alongside Italian Collection wines from Cantine PaoloLeo. Non-alcoholic packages are £15 per person; kids' packages £8.50 per child under 12. A complimentary menu and wine tasting is offered to every couple.

Catering by Fingers & Forks

Catering is run exclusively by the award-winning Fingers & Forks, led by chef Kevin Cadman. Menus range from elegant three-course wedding breakfasts to relaxed sharing platters, wood-fired pizzas and vibrant street-food stalls. Sample canapés include butchers cocktail sausages in sticky rosemary glaze, salt-and-pepper squid with sweet chilli, minted edamame hummus, Mumbai-spiced chicken skewers and asparagus tips with citrus herb dip. Plated starters span goat's cheese on crumpet with black garlic ketchup to chorizo and cannellini bean risotto. Mains include garlic-rubbed lamb with rosemary parmentier potatoes, sage and smoked salt pork loin, and thyme-garlic aubergine confit for vegetarians. There are plenty of vegan, dairy-free, gluten-free, halal and nut-free options.

Planning and Practicalities

Wedding planning is shared between the Stanlake Park team (led by Venue Sales Manager Emma Norton, with support from Kerry Godley and Amber Flint) and the dedicated Fingers & Forks wedding planners. Exclusive hire runs from 8 am to midnight, with live music stopping at 11 pm and the bar at 11.30 pm. Sparklers, confetti cannons, fireworks, Chinese lanterns and fire pits are not permitted; only natural rose petal confetti is allowed outside. Drone photography is permitted with prior approval. All external lighting installations, marquees and stretch tents must be booked through approved suppliers.

Stay at Stanlake Park

The estate has grown an enviable portfolio of vineyard accommodation in recent years, with more to come.

North Lodge

A romantic 1850s gatehouse converted into a one-bedroom vineyard chalet, North Lodge sleeps two and is a popular honeymoon and anniversary retreat. It features a super-king bed, freestanding bath, fully equipped kitchen, lounge with Smart TV, free Wi-Fi, vineyard views over the Stallion vineyard, and private parking. Every booking includes a complimentary bottle of Stanlake Park wine. Prices start from £200 per night.

South Lodge

South Lodge is a spacious four-bedroom villa sleeping up to eight, with king-size beds, two en-suite bathrooms, a family bathroom, large rear garden, fully equipped open-plan kitchen and contactless entry. Ideal for families, bridal parties and weekend gatherings. Prices start from £650 per night.

The Old School House

A characterful four-bedroom period cottage set in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty just outside Henley-on-Thames, the Old School House sleeps up to nine guests across four bedrooms plus a sofa bed. Guests enjoy a complimentary transfer to and from Stanlake Park. Prices start from £1,000 per night.

Coming Soon

Eight luxury en-suite bedrooms in the estate's historic buildings are being refurbished and will open in 2026, dramatically expanding the on-site accommodation options for wedding parties and weekend stays.

Each lodge can be enhanced with breakfast hampers (£30), fizz-and-snacks hampers (£48), cheese-and-wine hampers (£45), seasonal flower bouquets (£50), and Wine Bar experiences such as a wine flight tasting or a sparkling cream tea. Wine & Pilates sessions, horse-box sauna rentals and private wine tours can also be added for the full vineyard-stay experience.

Private Hire and Corporate Events

Beyond weddings, Stanlake Park hosts a wide range of private and corporate events, from team-building days and Christmas parties to birthday celebrations and family gatherings. Several spaces are available:

• Tasting Shed - A newly renovated 18th-century potting shed with 22 seats (up to 30 standing). Hire from £450 minimum spend.
• Wine Bar - Victorian greenhouse with refurbished barrels, 42 seats (up to 50 standing). Garden included. Hire from £200 plus a £650 minimum spend, evenings only.
• Coach House - Grade II-listed 18th-century barn with courtyard for up to 60 guests. Hire from £600.
• Vineyard Barn - 19th-century barn with lawn and terrace for up to 150 seated. Hire from £1,500.

Private wine tours and tastings start from £25 per person, with bespoke options from 60 to 120 minutes, six wines and optional cheese tasting for an additional £10. The Wine & Pilates, Wine Quiz and Horsebox Sauna experiences add unique flourishes for groups. Contact tours@stanlakepark.com for bespoke packages.

Jobs and Careers

Stanlake Park is currently hiring for a full-time Live-In Caretaker (single or couples, with on-site accommodation) and an Events Manager on a zero-hours contract, plus a part-time Content Creator & Social Media Manager. Roles are based at the Twyford estate; applications go to natalia@stanlakepark.com.

Plan Your Visit

Stanlake Park is at Stanlake Park, Twyford, Berkshire RG10 0BN, on the B3018 Waltham Road out of Twyford towards Wokingham, close to Ruscombe and Hurst. Twyford station is a 15-minute walk on pavement (or a 3-minute taxi ride), with direct trains from London Paddington via Great Western Railway or the Elizabeth Line taking between 30 and 40 minutes, and an hourly service. Oxford is an hour away by rail, Reading seven minutes, and London Liverpool Street around 40 minutes. For those driving, the M4 and M40 are both easily accessible, and there is ample free parking on site.

For general enquiries, email info@stanlakepark.com or call 0118 934 0176. Tour and tasting bookings go to tours@stanlakepark.com; wedding enquiries to weddings@stanlakepark.com or 0118 932 0914. Online orders are supported by orders@stanlakepark.com. The estate is also active on Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn and YouTube, where the team shares news, events and behind-the-scenes moments from the vineyard and winery.