Tyringham Hall Vineyard: English Sparkling Wine in a Soane-Designed Walled Garden
Nestled in the walled garden of one of Buckinghamshire's most architecturally significant country estates, Tyringham Hall Vineyard is a small but characterful English wine producer whose bottles tell a story of Georgian elegance and modern English sparkling wine ambition. Planted in 2008 and now making a traditional-method sparkling white wine alongside a single estate gin, the vineyard has become a quiet success of the post-2000s English wine revival.
An Introduction to Tyringham Hall Vineyard
Tyringham Hall Vineyard is a boutique English wine estate in Buckinghamshire, set within the historic walled garden of Tyringham Hall itself. The vineyard is a relatively young enterprise - the vines were planted in 2008 - but the land it sits on has been shaped by some of the most important architects in British history. Today the estate produces a traditional-method English sparkling white wine and a London Dry Gin, both sold directly to consumers through the Tyringham Hall online shop.
With its unique combination of a Grade I listed setting, a classic Champagne-style grape blend and a rapidly maturing estate, Tyringham Hall represents one of the more interesting boutique vineyard projects in southern England.
The Vineyard
Grapes at Tyringham Hall are grown in the estate's traditional walled garden, a sheltered microclimate that helps protect the vines from cold winds and late frosts - both familiar threats in the Buckinghamshire countryside. The walled garden is also the historic kitchen garden of the original country house, giving the vineyard an unusually deep sense of place.
The current planting is composed of three classic Champagne varieties:
- 50% Chardonnay - the backbone of the blend, providing elegance, freshness and acidity.
- 45% Pinot Noir - contributing body, structure and red-fruit character.
- 5% Pinot Meunier - adding roundness and a softer, fruitier edge to the cuvée.
The first harvest from these young vines came in 2012 and produced a "lovely light sparkling wine". With each successive vintage, the vines have produced more concentrated fruit as the root systems matured and the canopy settled into the site's soils.
Tyringham Hall is part of a wider wave of English vineyards that took root after the 1970s, when it became clear that the geology and climate of parts of southern England were genuinely well suited to quality wine production. There are now nearly 500 vineyards across England, and Tyringham Hall is a small but distinctive contributor to that story.
The History Behind the Estate
Although the vineyard is young, the estate itself is steeped in architectural history. The original Tyringham Hall was a Neo-classical villa designed for William Praed, the chairman of the Grand Junction Canal Company and a partner in the bank Praed & Co. It was built in 1792 by Sir John Soane, one of the most celebrated British architects of the Georgian era, whose other works include the Bank of England and the Dulwich Picture Gallery.
Soane himself is said to have described his time at Tyringham as "six of the happiest years of my life", and it is not hard to see why. The estate sits in peaceful Buckinghamshire countryside, encircled by the River Great Ouse. Soane also designed the Tyringham Bridge, which still carries traffic across the river as part of the original estate plan.
In the 1920s, a later owner, Frederick Konig, commissioned another giant of British architecture, Sir Edwin Lutyens, to add further features to the grounds. Lutyens designed a striking outdoor swimming pool flanked by two classical pavilions built of limestone and Portland stone. One of these pavilions was used as a bathing pavilion for the pool, while the other served as a "temple of music". The landscaping created during this period still defines the appearance of the wider estate today.
It is this layering of Georgian and early-twentieth-century architecture - Soane's villa and bridge, Lutyens' pavilions and pool - that gives Tyringham Hall its unmistakable sense of place, and which today frames the small vineyard working quietly in the walled garden.
The Wines
Tyringham Hall Sparkling White Wine
The flagship product of the estate is the Tyringham Hall Sparkling White Wine, produced from the classic Champagne blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown on-site.
Made in the traditional method, the wine is described by the estate as "dry, crisp" and showing "hints of apple and pear" - a profile that has earned consistently strong reviews from customers. Tasting notes from recent reviewers describe it as "crisp, light and a hint of apple" with a finish that "feels light and refreshing" - qualities that have surprised a number of drinkers who find it difficult to believe such a wine could be grown in Buckinghamshire.
The wine is available to purchase directly from the Tyringham Hall shop in two formats:
- Single 75cl bottle - £33.95
- Case of 6 bottles - £183.33 (with a 10% discount applied automatically at the case rate)
As an age-restricted product, customers must be 18 or over to purchase. Free delivery is offered on orders over £100.
The 2013 Vintage Collection
Tyringham Hall's 2013 Collection of English Sparkling White Wine has been a particular focus of the estate's marketing in recent years, and is described by the producer as starting from £28.95 for selected formats. The 2013 vintage benefits from the maturity of vines that were already five years old at harvest, giving a slightly more concentrated expression than the estate's earliest releases.
Tyringham Hall London Dry Gin
Alongside the sparkling wine, Tyringham Hall also produces a London Dry Gin that draws its character from the estate itself. The gin is infused with botanicals sourced from the Tyringham Hall grounds, including vine leaves from the walled vineyard and honey from Tyringham's own bees.
The flavour profile is described by the estate as:
- Fresh and smooth on the palate
- Citrus-forward on the nose
- A mid-juniper burst through the middle
- A sweet, nutty late note on the finish, derived from the estate honey
It is designed to work equally well in a classic G&T or as the base of a crisp martini. Bottles are priced at £38.99 and are available from the Tyringham Hall Gin product page. Like the wine, gin is age-restricted to over-18s only.
Ordering, Delivery and Returns
Tyringham Hall sells its wines and gin directly through its own online store, with delivery offered across the UK. The estate aims to dispatch orders within 2 - 3 working days of processing, and offers free delivery on orders over £100.
Because all products are age-restricted, the delivery courier may ask for proof of age on receipt. Returns are handled directly by the team and can be requested via the contact form or by email. Full details are set out in the estate's Returns Policy.
Visiting Tyringham Hall
Tyringham Hall does not currently operate a public tasting room, vineyard tour programme or event calendar. As a small, working estate vineyard, the focus is on producing and shipping wine and gin rather than hosting visitors at the gates. Private group visits and tastings can occasionally be arranged by contacting the office.
Contact Details
Customers and trade enquiries can reach Tyringham Hall through the following channels:
- Phone: 01582 592971
- Email: info@tyringhamwine.co.uk
- Contact form: via the Get in Touch page
- Office hours: Monday to Friday, 09:00 - 17:00 (closed at weekends)
The estate can also be followed on social media:
The Estate Today
Tyringham Hall Vineyard remains a small working estate where traditional-method winemaking, gin distillation and beekeeping all share the historic walled garden once tended as the kitchen garden of a Soane-designed country house.