Sunnyhill Vineyard

Sunnyhill Vineyard: A Family-Run Organic Winery in the Heart of South Oxfordshire

Tucked into a sun-soaked, south-facing field just three and a half miles east of Oxford's dreaming spires, Sunnyhill Vineyard is one of the most charming small, family-run wineries in South Oxfordshire. Founded by Ilir, whose winemaking roots stretch back through generations of his Albanian family, the vineyard is committed to a single guiding principle: pure, organic and naturally grown wine, made without pesticides, additives or chemicals of any kind. The result is a thriving, sustainable vineyard producing English Sparkling Rosé, still red and white wines, and traditional-method sparkling ciders that have earned Sunnyhill a place among the country's most talked-about boutique producers.

Where to Find Sunnyhill Vineyard

Sunnyhill Vineyard sits in the village of Horspath, on the eastern edge of Oxford. The postcode is OX33 1JD and the full address is 51 Cuddesdon Road, Horspath. The site is a single south-facing field, deliberately chosen so that the vines bask in sunlight from dawn to dusk - a vital consideration in England's marginal but increasingly exciting wine-growing climate.

The vineyard and winery shop are open to visitors on Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 5pm. Onsite you'll find wine by the bottle or glass, tea, coffee and cakes, hand-made gifts and cards, a children's play area, ample car parking and, in summer, the famous wood-fired pizza nights overlooking the vines.

Getting in Touch

Phone: 01865 361535 or 07909 526232
Email: info@sunnyhillvineyard.co.uk
Website: sunnyhillvineyard.co.uk
Facebook: Sunnyhill Vineyard on Facebook

Bookings for tours, tastings, alpaca walks and pizza nights are handled by Louise and the team via phone or email.

The Story of Sunnyhill: A Letter from the Founder

Ilir, the founder of Sunnyhill, grew up in Albania, where for generations his family made wine at home. Watching his relatives tend vines and ferment juice by traditional methods sparked a lifelong passion for the art. When he came to England more than twenty years ago and found the perfect field - a sun-trapped, south-facing slope with good weather and free-draining soils - he knew he had discovered the site for his vineyard.

Ilir and his family planted a careful selection of grape varieties designed to thrive in the British climate while producing the kind of pure, characterful wines he remembered from his childhood:

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - the classic Champagne trio, used to make English Sparkling Rosé in the traditional method.
Rondo - a hardy, red-skinned German hybrid that excels in cooler climates and forms the backbone of the Oxfordshire Red.
Seyval Blanc, Phoenix and Orion - disease-resistant white varieties that bring finesse and freshness to the Oxfordshire White.

Organic by Philosophy, Not Just by Label

Every product that leaves Sunnyhill is organic and natural. The team is committed to growing fruit without any chemicals, pesticides or additives. Ilir believes this gives the wines a special quality - a more natural, healthy and sustainable product that tastes noticeably different from commercially produced wine, and which he says is much less likely to produce hangovers the next day. Nothing goes to waste: leftover apples from the cidermaking are pressed and turned into apple juice and apple cider vinegar.

For Ilir, winemaking is about working in harmony with nature: better for the drinker, better for the planet, and ultimately better for the wine.

The Wines

Sunnyhill's still and sparkling wines are vegan-friendly and made entirely from estate-grown or locally sourced organic fruit. There are three core wines, plus a sparkling rosé and a celebratory selection case.

Oxfordshire Red Wine - £22.00

Made with Rondo grapes, fermented on the skins and aged in oak barrels, the Oxfordshire Red shows wonderful red-fruit aromas and dark cherry flavours, smooth on the palate. At 12% alcohol it pairs beautifully with red meat dishes or a cheese board. View product.

Oxfordshire White Wine - £22.00

A pale-gold blend of Phoenix and Orion grapes, this dry white has a fruity nectarine character and a hint of vanilla from oak ageing. Crisp and refreshing at 12% alcohol, it's a classic match for fresh seafood. View product.

Oxfordshire Sparkling Rosé Wine - £30.00

The flagship of the estate: a Brut sparkling wine blended from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, hand-picked and slowly pressed, with no chemicals or additives. Made in the traditional method for depth and complexity, this delightfully fruity sparkling rosé is the perfect English aperitif. View product.

Sunnyhill Selection - £78.00

A complete tasting pack featuring the Organic Red Wine, White Wine, Sparkling Cider Sweet, Sparkling Cider Dry and a free bottle of Apple Cider Vinegar. The ideal way to discover everything Sunnyhill makes in a single case. View product.

The Ciders

As well as wine, Sunnyhill produces two traditional-method bottle-fermented Oxfordshire Sparkling Ciders, made from locally collected organic apples. Both spend 15 months on the lees for depth and finesse, and both come in at 7.5% alcohol.

Oxfordshire Sparkling Cider (Dry) - £17.00. Clean and refreshing, ideal with pasta and white meat. View product.
Oxfordshire Sparkling Cider (Sweet) - £17.00. Clean and fresh with a sweet apple aroma; a great partner for pasta, white meat or as a dessert alternative. View product.

Apple Juice and Cider Vinegar

Nothing at Sunnyhill is wasted. The orchard fruit that doesn't make it into the cider press is turned into two pantry staples:

Apple Juice - £2.50. 100% Oxfordshire apples, hand-picked, pressed and pasteurised. Fresh, delicious and naturally sweet. View product.
Apple Cider Vinegar - £9.99. A strong, full-flavoured vinegar perfect for salad dressings, with well-known antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Said to aid weight loss, lower cholesterol and help regulate blood sugar. View product.

Gift Packs and Hampers

Sunnyhill has assembled a range of mixed packs, gift boxes and double-bottle selections, all beautifully packaged and shipped across the UK.

Oxfordshire Red & White Wine Gift Box - £46.00. A bottle of each still wine in a presentation box - perfect for any special occasion. View product.
Oxfordshire White Wine Gift Pack (Double) - £46.00. Two bottles of the Oxfordshire White in a presentation pack. View product.
Oxfordshire White Wine & Sparkling Cider (Sweet) Gift Pack - £42.00. A white wine and a sweet cider together. View product.
Oxfordshire Red Wine & Sparkling Cider (Dry) Gift Pack - £42.00. A red wine paired with a dry cider for the more adventurous palate. View product.
Oxfordshire Sparkling Cider (Sweet & Dry) Gift Pack - £36.00. Both ciders together so the recipient can compare. View product.
Oxfordshire Sparkling Rosé Wine Gift Pack (Double) - £60.00. Two bottles of the celebrated sparkling rosé - an indulgent gift for anniversaries, weddings and milestone birthdays. View product.

Shop Online: How It Works

All Sunnyhill products are available to buy online via the Sunnyhill shop. The full range includes wines, ciders, apple juice, cider vinegar, gift packs and experience vouchers. UK delivery is £10 per order, with a maximum of six bottles per shipment. Alternatively, click and collect is available at checkout so orders can be picked up from the vineyard on Saturdays and Sundays at no delivery charge. Louise handles all order enquiries on 07909 526232.

Every product is suitable for vegans, and the team is happy to advise on food pairings, gift ideas and corporate orders.

Vineyard Tours and Tastings

Sunnyhill offers two structured tasting experiences, both run by the family and tailored to small or large groups.

Tour & Tasting with Cheese & Nibbles - £30.00 per person

A private group tour and tasting that takes visitors on an intimate journey through family-run winemaking - from grape growing and canopy management to fermentation and bottling. Guests taste the wines on the sunniest hill in Oxfordshire, with views of the historic city and the surrounding farmland, paired with locally sourced cheese and nibbles.

Duration: approximately 2 hours
Group size: 5 to 50 visitors (smaller groups should contact Sunnyhill directly)
Availability: every day, including evenings and weekends
Bookings: a non-refundable 25% deposit is required for groups of 10 or more
Important: dogs are not allowed onsite out of consideration for the alpacas

Book via the Tour & Tasting page or purchase a Tour and Tasting Voucher (£30.00) as a gift.

Tour & Tasting with Ploughman's Lunch - £40.00 per person

The longer, more immersive option. After a guided walk around the vines and up to the top of the vineyard for sweeping views over Oxford and the surrounding villages, guests enter the winery to see the winemaking process in action. They then sit down to a ploughman's lunch made from organic and locally grown ingredients, paired with the estate's organic wines and sparkling ciders.

Duration: approximately 2.5 hours
Group size: 5 to 50 visitors
Availability: every day, including evenings and weekends
Bookings: a non-refundable 25% deposit is required for groups of 5 or more
Important: dogs are not allowed onsite out of consideration for the alpacas

Book via the Ploughman's Lunch Tour page or purchase a Tour & Tasting with Ploughman's Lunch Voucher (£40.00) as a gift.

Alpaca Walking Experience

In addition to its wines and tours, Sunnyhill is home to a small herd of alpacas who offer a different kind of vineyard experience. The team is fully licensed with South Oxfordshire District Council under the Animal Welfare Act 2006 (licence number 20796) and subscribes to the British Alpaca Society Code of Trekking Conduct.

The guided walk takes visitors and their alpacas around the vineyard, stopping for photo opportunities along the way. Alpacas are described as "delightful, adorable, soft, social creatures and great fun to take for a walk," and guests are given a bag of feed to offer them as part of the visit. A safety briefing is given at the start.

Pricing

One person walking one alpaca - £30.00
Alpaca Walking experience including tea, coffee or a glass of Oxfordshire Sparkling Cider (18+) - £35.00 per person
One extra person (no alpaca), over 6s - £15.00

Children under 16 must be supervised by an adult who has purchased a ticket. All participants must be over 12 to walk an alpaca independently; children aged 6 to 12 may walk an alpaca on a double lead with a paying accompanying adult.

Bookings are taken via the Alpaca Walking Experience page, or purchase an Alpaca Walking Experience Voucher (£30.00) as a gift.

Wood Oven Pizza Nights

Every summer, Sunnyhill's wood-fired pizza oven is the centrepiece of one of Oxfordshire's most relaxed evenings out. Guests are seated overlooking the vineyard, with both outdoor and undercover seating available, and gather with friends and family to share pizzas straight from the oven.

The pizza nights run from Friday 3rd April 2026 until the end of October, on Friday and Saturday nights, 5pm-8pm, on demand. Bookings are essential, and any allergies or intolerances must be flagged at the time of booking. As with all Sunnyhill experiences, dogs are not permitted onsite.

Gift Vouchers

Sunnyhill sells a selection of vouchers that can be redeemed against any item in the store or against specific experiences. Vouchers are valid for one year from the date of purchase and are sent in the post within three working days. If a voucher is needed urgently, the team can email a copy on request.

Tour and Tasting Voucher - £30.00
Tour & Tasting with Ploughman's Lunch Voucher - £40.00
Alpaca Walking Experience Voucher - £30.00
£20 Wine & Cider Voucher - redeemable against any items in the Sunnyhill store
£50 Wine & Cider Voucher - redeemable against any items in the Sunnyhill store

News and Recognition

In May 2026, Sunnyhill was featured in the Oxford Mail as one of the best vineyards in the UK, handpicked as an alternative to Thailand's Monsoon Valley Vineyard in a piece that highlighted the boom in wine-tourism searches in Britain.

Plan Your Visit

Sunnyhill is a working vineyard, so the simplest way to drop in is on a Saturday or Sunday between 10am and 5pm, when the winery shop is open, wines and ciders are available by the glass, and tea, coffee and cakes are served. There is a children's play area and ample parking, and - in summer - pizza nights and alpaca walks to round out the day.

For tours, tastings and group bookings, contact Louise in advance by phone on 01865 361535 or 07909 526232, or by email at info@sunnyhillvineyard.co.uk. Online orders, gift packs and vouchers can be purchased any time via the Sunnyhill online shop, with UK delivery or weekend click and collect from the vineyard.

Whether visitors come for the views, the wines, the alpacas, the pizzas or simply a glass of sparkling rosé on a sunny Oxfordshire afternoon, Sunnyhill offers an unmistakably personal, family-run welcome and a taste of English wine at its most natural and most enjoyable.