2019
Grantham
Belvoir Estate’s wine chapter began in 2019, when a two-hectare vineyard was planted within the grounds of the historic Leicestershire castle. Around 7,000 vines now sit beneath one of the grandest skylines in English wine. It is a wonderfully unlikely pairing: a young, hands-on vineyard inside an estate whose story stretches back nearly a thousand years. The range remains small, local and closely tied to the place, with each vintage shaped by the people who tend the vines and the wider Belvoir team.
Five acres of vines look out across the Vale of Belvoir, planted with Solaris, Pinot Précoce, Siegerrebe and Seyval Blanc—varieties chosen to ripen reliably in the Midlands. The vineyard is tended on an intimate scale, with each parcel and variety bringing something different: aromatic lift, delicate red fruit, crisp acidity or the structure needed for traditional-method fizz. Production is completed in partnership with Halfpenny Green Winery in Staffordshire.
WINEMAKER
Consultant Mark Bygott works with estate manager Phil Burtt, vineyard operations lead Dave Crossland and the wider Belvoir team, while the wines are produced in partnership with Halfpenny Green Winery. It is a collaborative approach: close attention in the vineyard at Belvoir, followed by experienced winemaking and traditional-method sparkling production in Staffordshire. The aim is simple—bright, expressive wines that make the most of the estate’s four varieties rather than forcing them into a predetermined mould.
The collection
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Update your listingBelvoir’s vineyard experience begins at the Retail Village Farm Shop, with transport through the estate aboard the Gun Bus. A guided walk among the vines is followed by a tasting of four estate wines with wine specialist Alasdair Lawson-Dick, before returning to the Farm Shop. The experience lasts approximately 2.5 hours. The wider estate also offers gardens, dining, shopping, events and accommodation.
The official vineyard tour page currently states that more dates are coming in 2027. Check the estate website for announcements. Castle, gardens and Retail Village opening hours are separate from vineyard tour availability.
Tours are for guests aged 18 and over and are limited to 15 people. Wear outdoor clothing and footwear suitable for uneven ground. The tour bus has no step-free access; contact Belvoir before booking if you have mobility or accessibility requirements. Tours start and finish at the Retail Village Farm Shop.
