Welland Valley Vineyard: Award-Winning English Wines and Cider Near Market Harborough
A Quiet, Award-Winning Vineyard on the Edge of Market Harborough
Tucked away on a south-facing slope roughly two miles south-west of Market Harborough, Welland Valley Vineyard is one of the East Midlands' best-kept secrets. Established in 1991 by David and Jane Bates, this 2.5-acre research vineyard and adjoining cider orchard is small in scale but produces a strikingly accomplished range of English wines and traditional-method ciders, many of them medal-winners at regional and national competitions.
Work at Welland Valley is overwhelmingly hand-done, the soils are well-drained loam over Jurassic clay, and the winemaking philosophy leans firmly toward quality over yield. The vineyard forms part of the wider East Midlands Wine Trail, and bottles can be bought direct from the cellar door (by appointment) or through a handful of carefully chosen local outlets around Market Harborough, Lutterworth and Northampton.
At a Glance
- Location: Marston Trussell, near Market Harborough, Leicestershire (LE16 9SL for Sat Nav)
- Established: 1991, by David and Jane Bates
- Size: 2.5 acres of vines, plus a small traditional cider orchard
- Specialism: Bottle-fermented sparkling wines in the English style, light fruity reds and rosés, and award-winning still ciders
- Visits: Group tours and tastings by prior booking; occasional open afternoons held throughout the year
Location, Terroir and Climate
Welland Valley sits on the gentle slopes of the Welland valley in south Leicestershire, on a site chosen specifically for its aspect, soil and air drainage. The vineyard faces due south and the loam-over-Jurassic-clay profile gives the vines access to both moisture-retaining subsoil and free-draining surface layers. The slope helps cold air to drain away in spring, which is critical for avoiding the late frosts that can be devastating to English vine crops.
The location also makes Welland Valley one of the more northerly commercial vineyards in England that still ripens a reliable crop most years, and it sits comfortably within the cool-climate category that defines English still and sparkling wine production. Winters are typically cold enough to reduce natural acidity in the previous year's wines and to suppress overwintering pests and disease; summers vary, but recent vintages such as 2022 produced both quality and quantity, while 2021 saw the vineyard recover strongly after a difficult 2020 frost.
For visitors, the vineyard is reached by heading for the closest postcode LE16 9SL (the lane between Marston Trussell and East Farndon), and a What3Words reference of flipping.water.refilled will bring you directly to the gate. Brown tourist signs in Marston Trussell village lead the final stretch. A Google Map centred on 52.471100, -0.955063 provides directions to the gate.
A Family Vineyard: The Story Since 1991
David and Jane Bates planted their first vines in 1991 with two clear aims: to make high-quality bottle-fermented sparkling wines in the English style, and to do so with a minimal environmental footprint on lower-grade agricultural land that would otherwise struggle to deliver a sustainable return. More than three decades on, the vineyard is still a family-run operation, with most of the work carried out by hand and a deliberate policy of avoiding heavy machinery in the rows.
The vineyard is also used as a small research site, trialling disease-resistant modern crossings alongside the classic French and German varieties. The Phoenix grape, for instance, is one such disease-resistant variety featured in the current range, complementing the more traditional Bacchus and Regent that anchor the still-wine offering.
Recognition has followed consistently. David Bates won the Mercian Vineyards Association's Best Commercial Winemaker/Grower Trophy (for the highest average score across his wines) and was voted Personality of the Year by the members. Steeplechase 2010, Bacchus 2013 and Naseby 2013 each took Silver Medals, with Farndon Dale 2013 winning Bronze, and a Gold Medal followed at the CAMRA Nottingham Beer and Cider Festival for the Richard III cider. More recently, the 2021 sparkling was named Best Sparkling in the WineGB Midlands & North competition, with a Silver for the sparkling rosé, and in 2023 Welland Valley was awarded Best Small Producer for the Midlands and North in the WineGB Annual Competition. In 2025, Farndon Dale won Best 2024 Vintage and Gold, alongside a repeat Best Small Producer trophy.
The Vineyards: Grape Varieties Grown
Welland Valley grows a deliberately broad mix of red and white grape varieties, drawing on both classic French and German vinifera as well as modern disease-resistant crossings. This diversity is what allows the winery to turn out everything from méthode traditionnelle sparklings to dry whites, rosés and a light, fruity red.
White Varieties
- Bacchus - the flagship aromatic white, often compared in style to Sauvignon Blanc. Forms the backbone of the dry white Steeplechase program and increasingly appears in still blends.
- Phoenix - a modern, disease-resistant German crossing used to produce a fruity dry white. A useful insurance policy for organic-leaning vineyard management.
- Ortega - early-ripening German variety that adds body and stone-fruit aromas to the still white blends.
- Siegerrebe, Schönburger and other early-ripening German crosses - planted partly as frost insurance and partly for aromatic lift in the blends.
Red Varieties
- Regent - a German red crossing widely used in UK viticulture for its disease resistance and reliability. Used in the Naseby red.
- Acolon - another modern German crossing, giving soft, light-coloured red and rosé wines. Used in both the Hunting Pink rosé and the Naseby red.
- Pinot Noir - present in small quantities, contributing to the Hunting Pink rosé and lending finesse to red and sparkling blends.
Winter pruning, which takes place from January through to budbreak at the end of April, removes around 95% of the previous year's growth to focus the vine's energy on a manageable, ripenable crop - a textbook example of the careful canopy and crop management practised across English cool-climate vineyards.
Winemaking at Welland Valley
All winemaking takes place on site in a small but well-equipped winery. Grapes are pressed, vinified and bottled under one roof, allowing complete control over every step from harvest to disgorgement. The emphasis throughout is on bottle-fermented sparkling wines with extended ageing on lees, in the classic English style that has earned the country's sparkling sector its international reputation.
Vinification is intentionally low-intervention where possible. Wines are clarified naturally by cold winter temperatures, and the vineyard maintains a policy of recycling and reusing all packaging. Although the vineyard itself is not certified organic, non-natural inputs are minimised, and the wider project is positioned explicitly as an ecologically sustainable use of land unsuited to arable farming.
The Wines
The Welland Valley range is small but consistent, with each wine named for a local landmark or piece of regional history.
Sparkling Wines
- Steeplechase Brut 2022 - traditional-method bottle-fermented white sparkling. Currently with low stock; Silver Medal winner.
- Tickled Pink Rosé 2023 - traditional-method sparkling rosé, also Silver Medal winner, showing the soft red-fruit character of Acolon and Pinot Noir in sparkling form.
Still Wines
- Bacchus 2023 - dry white in a Sauvignon-Blanc-inspired style; Silver Medal.
- Phoenix 2023 - dry white from the modern disease-resistant crossing; a fruity, characterful dry white; Silver Medal.
- Hunting Pink - dry rosé made from Acolon and Pinot Noir, built as an easy-drinking summer red-fruit wine.
- Naseby 2023 - dry red from Acolon and Regent; very low stock.
Bottles can be purchased direct from the vineyard at a small discount from the standard retail price. Orders of six bottles or more are delivered free of charge within a 20-mile radius - a useful service for local restaurants and trade customers. Current vintage availability and prices can be checked by calling 01858 434591. The full range is browsable at the products page.
The Cider Orchard
At the same time they planted the vineyard, the Bates also put in a small orchard of traditional cider apple varieties - Dabinett, Michelin, Tremletts Bitter, Kingston Black, Allington Pippin and Lord Derby - from which two vintage still ciders are made and bottled on site.
Roundhead (Dry Cider)
Named after the Parliamentarian forces at the 1645 Battle of Naseby - the decisive engagement of the English Civil War, fought just a few miles from the vineyard - Roundhead is the dry expression in the range. Roundhead cider has taken regional CAMRA awards, including Gold Medal and Best Bottled Cider at the East Midlands CAMRA Cider and Perry competition.
King Richard III (Medium Cider)
A medium-dry cider named for the king born in Northamptonshire and killed at the Battle of Bosworth in Leicestershire in 1485, an event that ended the medieval Plantagenet era and ushered in the early modern period. King Richard III has also won Gold at CAMRA festivals in the Midlands region.
Both ciders typically come in at around 6% ABV and are made in small volumes, with stock regularly selling out until the next orchard harvest is bottled the following spring or early summer. Trade buyers should plan their orders in advance.
Where to Buy Welland Valley Wines and Ciders
Buying direct from the vineyard is the most cost-effective route, with a small discount on the standard retail price on offer to visitors. Strictly speaking sales are by prior appointment, but the team is famously accommodating to casual visitors who happen to be passing. Visitors can typically be shown around the vineyard and winery at the same time, effectively turning a wine purchase into an informal tour.
Direct Purchases
- By appointment, by calling 01858 434591 or 07989 091721.
- Free local delivery on orders of six bottles or more within a 20-mile radius.
- Seasonal offers are sometimes available, including through the LoyalFree app.
Local Outlets Around Market Harborough
- Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Farndon Road, Market Harborough (01858 464835) - the full range of wines and ciders.
- Ashley Farm Shop, Main Street, Ashley, Northamptonshire (01858 565722) - the full range.
- Emerson & Wests, Northampton Road, Market Harborough (01858 434591) - a curated selection.
- Cork & Hop, High Street, Lutterworth - a selection of the range.
- Langton Farm Shop & Garden Centre, Melton Road, Market Harborough - a selection of wines.
Stock is always subject to availability, and allocations at independent outlets can be limited for some of the smaller-batch wines.
Group Visits and Tastings
Welland Valley runs guided group visits throughout the warmer months by prior booking. The best time to visit is between June and August, when the vines are fully in leaf and the days are long enough for evening slots.
What a Group Visit Includes
- The history of English wine and the story of how Welland Valley came to be planted.
- A walk through the vineyard to see what is grown and how it is managed.
- A look at the winery, explaining the winemaking process from pressing through to bottling.
- A tasting of several of the current wines.
Booking Details
- Duration: between one and one and a half hours.
- Small-group format: up to 10 people (ideal for a family outing or a small circle of friends).
- Larger-group format: up to a maximum of 20 participants.
- Timing: day, evening or weekend visits can all be arranged by prior arrangement.
- Accessibility: indoor space is available, but the vineyard has only a chemical toilet; the ground in the rows is uneven and there are rabbit holes to watch for. Wheelchair users can access the talk and most of the site, although the vines themselves are harder to negotiate.
- Weather policy: visits may be cancelled in the event of very wet weather.
- How to book: email the vineyard or call 07989 091721 to request a leaflet with full details and prices.
For visitors planning a trip, the team recommends stopping at Marston Trussell village first, then following the brown "vineyard" signage from there; LE16 9SL will put you on the right road, and What3Words flipping.water.refilled will bring you to the gate.
Visiting and Open Days
The vineyard does not operate regular daytime opening hours. Wine and cider sales are by appointment, and group visits are organised by booking. The team opens the gates for special seasonal afternoons throughout the year, including the Easter 2026 opening.
Easter 2026 Vineyard Opening
- Dates: Saturday 28 March and Sunday 29 March 2026 (Easter Saturday and Easter Sunday).
- Hours: 2:30pm until 5:00pm on both days.
- Format: open access for visitors; an ideal chance to stock up on still wines and cider before the spring bottlings.
This is the kind of low-key, family-friendly opening that defines Welland Valley's approach. Visitors can bring family, browse the range, take in the views across the Welland valley, and chat with David and Jane about the new vintage.
Wedding, Trade and Event Enquiries
Beyond group tours and tastings, the vineyard can occasionally host private events and small weddings by arrangement. Because the estate is a working farm-and-vineyard, every enquiry is handled personally by the Bates family, so dates, capacity and logistics are best discussed well in advance by phone or email. The local farm shops and outlets listed above also handle trade enquiries for restaurants and pubs in the Market Harborough, Lutterworth and Northampton areas.
Sustainability and the Local Story
Welland Valley frames its entire operation as a sustainable use of agricultural land that would otherwise struggle to deliver a decent return. Key sustainability points include:
- Hand-worked vineyard, with no heavy machinery in the rows.
- Minimal use of non-natural inputs; recycling and re-use of all packaging.
- Trial plantings of disease-resistant varieties (such as Phoenix) to reduce the need for sprays.
- Local supply chain: most bottles stay within a 20-mile radius of the vineyard.
- Independent, family-run business with no external investors or large-scale production targets.
The decision to name the ciders after major events in English local history - Roundhead for the Battle of Naseby (1645) and King Richard III for the Battle of Bosworth (1485) - neatly underlines the estate's regional identity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes for any group visit, tasting or cellar-door purchase. Wine and cider sales are "generally by prior appointment", although the team will accommodate casual visitors if they happen to be on site.
Can children visit?
Yes, the small-group format (up to 10) is suitable for family outings, and the larger-group format (up to 20) works well for clubs and societies. The vineyard does ask visitors to watch children around rabbit holes.
Is the vineyard accessible?
Indoor accommodation and most of the site are accessible, but the vines themselves - with uneven ground - are not easily negotiated in a wheelchair. A chemical toilet is available on site.
Do you deliver?
Yes, orders of six bottles or more are delivered free of charge within a 20-mile radius of the vineyard.
Where can I find your wines locally?
At Farndon Fields Farm Shop, Ashley Farm Shop, Emerson & Wests in Market Harborough, Cork & Hop in Lutterworth, and Langton Farm Shop & Garden Centre.
Useful Information
Address and Contact
- Postal address (for correspondence only): Vine Lodge, Hothorpe Road, Marston Trussell, Market Harborough, LE16 9TX.
- Registered office: Welland Valley Vineyard Ltd, 30 Victoria Avenue, Market Harborough, Leics, LE16 7BQ.
- Telephone: 01858 434591.
- Mobile: 07989 091721.
- Email: welland.vineyard@gmail.com.
- Map and directions: welland-valley-vineyard.com/find-us.
Opening Hours
- Sales by prior appointment - call ahead.
- Group visits: by arrangement, June - August preferred.
- Special open afternoons held throughout the year (such as the Easter 2026 opening).
East Midlands Wine Trail
Welland Valley is one of the participating vineyards of the East Midlands Wine Trail.
Final Thoughts
Welland Valley Vineyard is the kind of small, careful, family-run English vineyard that defines the most thoughtful end of the country's wine scene. With three decades of vine-growing behind it, a string of regional and national awards, a serious sparkling-wine programme, and an increasingly respected cider orchard, it punches well above its 2.5 acres. The Easter 2026 open afternoon and the pre-booked group visits through the summer are the two main ways the vineyard opens its gates to visitors each year.