Woodvalley Vineyards: Billericay's First Boutique Vineyard, Tended by the Four Non-Farmers
Woodvalley Vineyards: A New Chapter in Billericay's Landscape
Tucked away opposite the ancient Norsey Woods on Outwood Common Road in Billericay, Essex, Woodvalley Vineyards is far more than rows of vines. It is a living, breathing landscape - a boutique vineyard that tells a story of regeneration, biodiversity, and the quiet promise of exceptional English wine. Proudly self-styled as Billericay's first vineyard, the team sums up their philosophy in a single phrase: their wine is grown, not made.
Perched on one of the highest vantage points in South Essex, the vineyard offers sweeping views across the Thames Estuary and to the borders of Kent. That elevated position, combined with a sheltered microclimate and chalky-clay soils not unlike those of Champagne, makes Woodvalley a quietly confident new pin in the map of English wine.
The Four Non-Farmers
The vineyard is owned and cared for by "The Four Non-Farmers" - four local residents from non-agricultural backgrounds, united by a passion for both wine and the landscape of Billericay. The name is half joke, half mission statement: they came to viticulture not from farming, but from wanting to leave something lasting in the soil they love.
Each of the four brings a different professional skill to the project:
- Keeley - born and bred in Billericay, she is the Basildon Borough's only Certified Passive House Consultant & Designer. With three Government-recognised TrustMark qualifications in Retrofit and Energy Efficiency Advice and a specialism in Traditional & Historic Buildings, she sees the vineyard as a natural extension of her work on low-energy design and carbon reduction.
- Kevin - a lifelong Essex resident who took early retirement to care for his father in 2022. A carpenter, floor layer and interiors contractor by trade, he has worked in famous buildings all over the world, and brings the practical build-and-fix skills that turn a dream vineyard into a working one.
- Alison - a newcomer to Essex in 2017, who spent her career in the City. Alongside her partner Jay, she has volunteered with homeless charities for more than twenty years and runs a property development company focused on high-standard social housing.
- Jay - born and bred in Essex, with a City career of his own and a short detour to retrain as a plumber. Jay and Alison became Keeley and Kevin's next-door neighbours before becoming business partners, and a shared love of the environment led directly to the vineyard.
Their work is guided by Blago Dishkov, a third-generation Bulgarian viticulturalist with Vitiforce Vineyard Management, whose wisdom helps the four novices coax the very best out of their young vines.
The Vineyard
Woodvalley is currently nurturing 3 acres of vines - an even split of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, chosen for their proven ability to capture the unique character of the site. In 2026, the team has added Pinot Meunier, the third essential ingredient for a classic méthode traditionnelle sparkling. Every plant is cared for individually by hand, in an approach that builds healthy soils, respects the environment, and produces grapes of true expression.
On one of the highest vantage points in South Essex, the vineyard looks out across the Thames Estuary and to the borders of Kent - a reminder, glass in hand, of exactly how coastal and how English this site really is.
A Year on the Vines
The vineyard follows the rhythm of the seasons, with every task done by hand:
- January: the team prunes, carefully shaping the vines for the season ahead.
- Spring and summer: the canopy is nurtured, guided, and protected as the vines push skyward.
- Autumn: harvest arrives - the most exhausting and most exciting weeks of the year.
- Winter: the vines go dormant, but work continues on trellises, structures, and the wider land.
The Wines
Woodvalley is currently cultivating an even mix of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, with the goal of producing both styles - still and sparkling - under the Woodvalley label. The first small harvest, taken in September 2025, has already produced a lively rosé, while a traditional-method sparkling is quietly maturing in the cellars of the Nene Valley Winery in Northamptonshire.
2025 Pinot Noir Rosé - Now Available
- Style: Still
- Format: 750ml
- Alcohol: 11% vol
- Price: £25.00 per bottle
- Status: Awarded Silver Medal at the 2026 Essex Wine Awards
The judges described the wine as having an "attractive fragrant nose with clean, fresh palate, berries and creaminess - appealing style." It is available direct from the vineyard and at selected events, and is also stocked at Stockbrook Farmshop & Nursery, Stock Road, Stock, Ingatestone CM4 9PQ (tel: 01277 840046). To arrange a collection from the vineyard, email info@woodvalleyvineyards.co.uk, send a WhatsApp message to 07926 474711, or reach out via Facebook Messenger.
2025 English Sparkling - Coming March 2027
The debut English Sparkling, made in the traditional method, is ageing patiently at Nene Valley Winery. Launch is planned for March 2027, with the venue to be confirmed. Following the Woodvalley philosophy, the team hopes to split every future vintage between a still rosé and a traditional-method sparkling, releasing both annually once the vineyard is in full production.
An English Wine Renaissance
The Woodvalley team is openly passionate about the wider English wine story and believes Essex is fast becoming a serious region in its own right. As they put it: "In ten years' time, people won't ask 'Why grow grapes in Essex?' - they'll ask 'Why didn't we start sooner?'"
Biodiversity & Carbon Capture
Biodiversity is at the heart of how Woodvalley farms. More than 100 metres of wildflower meadows have been planted alongside the vines, attracting bees, butterflies, moths, ladybirds, shield bugs, crickets and more. The rare Wall Brown butterfly (Lasiommata megera) - a UK Biodiversity Action Plan priority species on the GB Red List - has been sighted annually since 2023, including two mating pairs in July 2025.
The vines themselves are fed an organic seaweed mix throughout the year - a natural "Redbull" for vines - and the team uses organic products and regenerative techniques wherever possible. Young vines are mulched with material from the on-site pond restoration, and nothing leaves the site except the wine.
A Local Carbon Sink
The young vineyard is calculated to sequester around 5 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere every year, rising to almost 8 tonnes by 2027 at maturity. CO₂ is absorbed through every part of the vine and stored safely in the ground, improving soil structure as it goes. Looking further ahead, the team's expansion programme aims to plant up to 20,000 vines by the end of the decade, with a target of removing around 80 tonnes of carbon annually.
The Pond Restoration
A long-term project is the restoration of an old pond near the vineyard entrance. It first appears on maps from the late 1800s, when it served the working farmland that once occupied the site. After the farm's closure in the early 1900s, the pond gradually silted up and lost its ecological value.
Now, working with independent ecologists and an Ecological Clerk of Works, the team is creating a Japanese-themed natural swimming pond using the German naturnaher Schwimmteich technique. At around 20m × 20m - five times the original water surface - the pond will feature open water, native aquatic planting, a 6m × 6m island and a slate bridge. A 5-metre Gleditsia Sunburst tree named Victoria has been planted as the centrepiece, and the pond is lined by Billericay-based Butyl Products.
Visit, Tastings & Events
Woodvalley is a young, growing vineyard, and the team is gradually opening the site to visitors through a series of seasonal events.
Vineyard Yoga with Glowguide
Local yoga teacher Natalie Day of Glowguide hosts relaxed morning sessions among the vines, with a guided practice followed by a wander through the vineyard, breakfast fruits and pastries. Sessions are scheduled for Sunday mornings at 9.30 - 11.00am. For bookings and details, contact Natalie directly on 07725 232525.
Summer Picnic Tasting Afternoon
On Saturday 15th August 2026, 12 - 6pm, the vineyard hosts a Wine, Cheeses, Pizzas and Beer Picnic event with three special local guests: Billericay Brewery, Ciao Pizza of Chelmsford and The Pretty Cheese Co of Basildon. Seating is limited, so visitors are encouraged to bring a picnic blanket and enjoy food and drink from local companies in the vines.
Local Markets
The team regularly takes the wines out to local markets:
- Sunday 19th September 2026 - Barleylands Farmers Market, Barleylands, Billericay, 10am - 4pm.
- Saturday 26th September 2026 - Local Artisan Market, High Street, Billericay, 10am - 5pm.
Buy Woodvalley Wine
The 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé is available:
- Direct from the vineyard - arrange a collection by emailing info@woodvalleyvineyards.co.uk, WhatsApp 07926 474711 or messaging on Facebook.
- At events - including the Summer Picnic Tasting on 15 August and local markets in September.
- At Stockbrook Farmshop & Nursery, Stock Road, Stock, Ingatestone, Essex CM4 9PQ - tel: 01277 840046.
More stockists will be announced soon.
Mission & Vision
The Four Non-Farmers have written a clear mission statement to keep them on track as the vineyard grows:
- Farming can be climate smart, deforestation free and pollinator friendly without continued use of harmful chemicals.
- The vineyard is treated as a holistic ecological system, producing the highest-quality wine while remaining sensitive to the environment.
- The team will minimise its ecological footprint and lead by example in sustainable practice.
- Soil structure and below-ground ecosystems are improved for long-term environmental health.
- Sustainability is embedded across the entire operation as the business develops.
- Habitats are enhanced for all species, building on the foundations already in place.
- The vineyard aims to grow into a viable business that creates local employment and brings the community together.
- The team will work with local residents and societies on biodiversity and sustainable living education.
Their long-term vision is bold: "All great things came from small beginnings." They hope to one day surround Billericay with vineyard sites, turning the town into a positive example of how a community can offset its carbon footprint, regenerate its Green Belt, and create a sense of place through wine.
Visit Woodvalley Vineyards
Woodvalley Vineyards is at Woodvalley Farm, Outwood Common Road, Billericay, Essex CM11 1ET. For vineyard visits and wine purchases, email info@woodvalleyvineyards.co.uk or send a WhatsApp message to 07926 474711.
You can follow the Four Non-Farmers on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest. Woodvalley Vineyards is a member of WineGB, supporter of the Soil Association, and sponsored by Alden Rose, Billericay.
The vineyard operates from a low-energy building design, fitting for a project that is, in every sense, about a cleaner, healthier future.