Stonepit Vineyard - A Boutique English Wine Estate near Olney, Buckinghamshire
Tucked into a gently sloping, south-facing field above a limestone bed on the edge of the historic market town of Olney, Stonepit Vineyard is a small, family-run English wine estate that has been quietly turning heads with its Bacchus, Regent and rosé wines. Planted by John and Fiona in April 2018, the vineyard is now one of the most distinctive boutique producers in North Buckinghamshire, with a small but acclaimed range of still and sparkling wines sold direct from the cellar door and online.
A vineyard rooted in place - the story of Stonepit
Stonepit Vineyard sits on what was once known as Rectory Farm, owned by the Diocese of Lincoln College Oxford. According to local tradition, the field was originally called the "Stonepit" before the diocese took ownership and renamed it. When John and Fiona planted the first vines here in April 2018, they chose to honour that older name - Stonepit - as a nod to the deep agricultural history of the land.
The site is exceptional for viticulture: a gentle south-facing slope, free-draining soil over a limestone bed, and the kind of quiet, well-sunned Buckinghamshire microclimate in which aromatic grapes thrive. The first vintage was hand-picked on 13 April 2021, and since then the vines have been carefully nurtured to produce a small, focused range of still wines, with sparkling wines released from summer 2024.
The winemakers
John and Fiona remain at the heart of Stonepit Vineyard. The estate is very much a hands-on, family-run operation - from pruning and bud-rubbing through to harvest day and the pouring of tastings at open days. Their stated aim is to produce "some boutique wines, White, Red and Rosé" and to market them locally, with a focus on quality over volume.
The wines
Stonepit's range is built around three hero still wines, each named after a precious or semi-precious stone, plus a small but growing collection of sparkling wines. All of the wines are available to buy directly through the Stonepit Vineyard online shop, with prices listed in pounds sterling and inclusive of VAT.
Still wines
- Moonstone White Wine - £14.00. A pale lemon-hued wine made from the Bacchus grape, exhibiting lemongrass, herbs de Provence and a grassy floral aroma with elderflower notes. A light, dry white - the signature Stonepit still white.
- Pink Opal Rosé Wine - £14.00. A mid-salmon rosé made from a post-fermentation blend of the Bacchus and Regent varieties. Hints of hedgerow, red cherries and summer pudding, with a crisp, fruity, mid-weight palate.
- Carnelian Red - £14.00. A light-bodied red made from the Regent grape, offering rich berry notes of black cherry, blackberry and sloe. A crisp red that the winery recommends "to be enjoyed throughout the summer" - unusually refreshing for an English red.
Sparkling wines
- Quartz - £18.50. A traditional method lightly sparkling Bacchus - crisp, dry and made for summer days and special occasions. Awarded Silver at the Midlands and North Annual Wine Tastings 2025, where judges praised its "pale lemon-green hue with small bubbles", "quince, apple and pear fruit with brioche and toast accents" and "racy acidity and brittle mousse texture".
- Bubbles of Pink Topaz - £18.50. A lightly sparkling rosé with notes of hedgerow fruits and a hint of elderflower. Dry, refreshing and designed for summer drinking. Available from 1 August 2026.
- Six x Quartz Sparkling Bacchus - £99.00. A six-bottle case of the award-winning Quartz sparkling Bacchus, ideal for cellaring, gifting or laying down for a celebration.
- Any Six 2023 Still Wines - £72.00. A mixed six-bottle case allowing you to pick any combination of the 2023 still wines - an easy way to explore the full Moonstone / Pink Opal / Carnelian range at a saving.
Awards and recognition
Stonepit's wines have already attracted national attention. The Quartz sparkling Bacchus was awarded Silver at the Midlands and North Annual Wine Tastings 2025, and the still White and Rosé both won Gold Medals in earlier tastings - the latter being featured on BBC Radio's Bill Buckley Show the following autumn. The label itself is a small work of art, depicting the vines, the image of Olney town bridge and the church, with a clock face whose hands are set to almost six o'clock - "after all," the winery notes, "it's almost six o'clock somewhere in the world."
Visiting Stonepit Vineyard
Stonepit is a working boutique vineyard, so visits are largely structured around the annual programme of Open Days. These weekends are the main opportunity for the public to walk the rows, taste the wines at source, enjoy a glass or bottle alongside food next to the vines, and stock up on cases to take home.
Open Days and events
Recent and scheduled open days have included:
- Open Days 2026 - Saturday 13 June 2026, 11:30 - 16:30.
- Open Day - Saturday 20 September 2025, 11:30 - 18:30.
- Open Day - Saturday 23 August 2025, 11:30 - 18:30.
- Open Day - Saturday 19 July 2025, 11:30 - 18:30.
- Open Day - Saturday 21 June 2025, 11:30 - 18:30 - timed for the start of English Wine Week.
Earlier open days ran throughout the summers of 2024 and 2025, on Saturdays in July, August and September. The pattern is a relaxed, day-long format: drop in, sample a range of wines, buy a glass or bottle to enjoy with food alongside the vines, and stock up on bottles to take home. Private tastings and tours can be organised during specific seasons for groups - these are best arranged by contacting the vineyard directly.
Stay at the Bothy
Right next to the vineyard sits The Bothy, a snug, year-round retreat run by John and Fiona and listed on Airbnb. The Bothy is described as "a serene environment suitable for both work and leisure, offering cozy lodging and a secluded courtyard garden", with a log burner for chilly nights making it equally appealing in winter and summer. It is "nestled next to our charming family vineyard, with a picturesque entrance upon arrival", and exclusive tours and tastings can be organised during specific seasons for guests staying over. Bookings are made through the Stonepit Vineyard Bothy Airbnb listing.
How to find Stonepit Vineyard
Stonepit Vineyard is located at Rectory Farm, Newton Road, Emberton, Olney, Buckinghamshire MK46 5DN, on the edge of the historic market town of Olney, famous for its pancake race, the Cowper and Newton Museum and its 12th-century church. The vineyard is well placed for visitors travelling from Milton Keynes, Bedford, Northampton and the wider Home Counties.
Buying the wines
All Stonepit Vineyard wines can be ordered directly through the online shop, with prices quoted in GB pounds and inclusive of VAT. Standout options for first-time buyers include the Quartz Sparkling Bacchus at £18.50 - the Silver medal-winning traditional method sparkling - and the Any Six 2023 Still Wines mixed case at £72.00, which lets you build your own selection from the Moonstone, Pink Opal and Carnelian trio. The vineyard operates a Challenge 25 policy on delivery, meaning parcels may require a signature and proof of age on receipt.
Contact and follow
For enquiries about the wines, private tastings, group tours or trade sales, the vineyard can be reached at:
- Email: info@stonepitvineyard.co.uk
- Telephone: 07410 976772
- Post: Stonepit Vineyard, Rectory Farm, Newton Road, Emberton, Olney, Bucks. MK46 5DN
- Facebook: Stonepit Vineyard on Facebook
Final thoughts
Stonepit Vineyard is a textbook example of what makes the modern English wine scene so exciting: a small, family-run estate, thoughtfully planted on a single south-facing slope, producing aromatically precise Bacchus, a refreshing Regent red, a delicate rosé and a Silver medal-winning sparkling wine. With a clutch of Open Days through the summer, a charming vineyard-side Bothy for overnight stays, and a direct-to-door shop shipping across the UK, it stands as one of North Buckinghamshire's most distinctive boutique producers.