Best Vineyards for Self Guided Tours in East Sussex

At its heart is Yorkshire Heart at Nun Monkton, the family operation that Gillian and Chris Spakouskas started from scratch - 35 vines to 29,000 and counting. Near Holmfirth, at the edge of the Peak District, Holmfirth Vineyard has a full restaurant, hotel rooms and panoramic views over the Holme Valley that would make a visit worthwhile even without the wine. Out east, Ryedale Vineyards sits at the foot of the Wolds near Malton - one of England's most northerly commercial vineyards, and a genuine find. And then there is Carlton Towers, where a Victorian Gothic stately home peers down over a walled garden vineyard planted in 2016 by Lord and Lady Gerald.

Yorkshire is roughly 200 miles from London - around two hours by train to York or Leeds - which puts it in a very different category to Cornwall but a very accessible one. It works well as a long weekend, combining vineyard visits with the Dales, the Moors, the coast, or a city like York or Harrogate, which are themselves surrounded by vineyards. A car helps, but York and Leeds put several producers within easy reach by train and taxi.

The Climate: Yorkshire's reputation for weather is, frankly, earned - but winemakers here have worked around that by choosing varieties bred specifically for cooler climates: Rondo, Regent, Seyval Blanc, Solaris. The results are wines with a distinctly northern character - bright acidity, freshness, and fruit that reflects chalk upland and river valley terroir rather than sun-baked southern slopes. Leventhorpe's south-facing site in Leeds benefits from good drainage, warm soils, low rainfall and a river valley situation - proof that it doesn't take Champagne latitude to grow interesting wine. That same coolness preserves the natural acidity that makes Yorkshire fizz worth drinking.

The Pioneer Spirit: Leventhorpe Vineyard in Leeds, founded in 1985, was the first to re-introduce commercial wine-growing to Yorkshire. That grassroots ambition runs through the whole scene. In 2020, Ian Sargent of Laurel Vines established the Yorkshire Wine Trail alongside six other winemakers - the first trail of its kind outside the southern counties of England. By 2026, the trail had expanded to ten member vineyards, driven by improved climatic conditions, better-suited grape varieties and a more experienced winemaking community.

The Experience: This is not polished agri-tourism. You will meet the people who grew the grapes, hear about the harvests that went wrong, and taste wines that exist nowhere else. At Yorkshire Heart, tours are hosted personally by Gillian, Tim or the team, taking visitors behind the scenes of the winemaking process. At Ryedale, summer tours are regularly led by a family member, with wines paired with Yorkshire hospitality and good humour. At Holmfirth, you finish with a view across the Holme Valley that visitors consistently describe as worth the journey on its own. The scale stays intimate - at many of these vineyards, you are drinking wine ten metres from where the grapes were grown.

6 of the Yorkshire Wine Trail's member vineyards have their own winery on site.

Yorkshire Heart
Yorkshire Heart produces a full range of English wines from grape to glass, alongside craft ales and pilsners from the on-site brewery. Public tours include the winery and production area.

Holmfirth Vineyard
Holmfirth processes grapes in a purpose-built winery on site, using carefully selected cool-climate varieties. Public tours and restaurant dining available daily.

Ryedale Vineyards
Everything at Ryedale - pruning, harvesting, pressing, fermenting, bottling, labelling - is done by hand in the converted cow byre. Public tours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Leventhorpe Vineyard
All wines at Leventhorpe are made from grapes grown within the five-acre vineyard in a purpose-built winery, keeping the winemaking process - and the wines' character - entirely in-house. Visitors welcome; no formal tours.

Others with on-site production include Laurel Vines and Carlton Towers.

Yorkshire Heart (Nun Monkton, between York and Harrogate)
Yorkshire Heart has grown from 35 vines to 29,000, producing a full range of English wines alongside award-winning craft ales from an on-site brewery. Tours run on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays in summer, with reduced schedules in winter. The classic cellar door tasting includes a 50ml glass of red, white and rosé alongside tasting dishes from £13.95; the signature tasting extends to seven wines at £19. You can also book a vineyard tour with light lunch or afternoon tea - the cheeseboard and the setting make the combination hard to argue with. Open Tuesday to Sunday, Easter to Christmas. Booking essential. Nearest station: York (taxi, approximately 20 minutes).

Holmfirth Vineyard (Woodhouse Lane, Holmfirth)
Formerly a Pennine sheep farm, this 7-acre estate sits higher than any other commercial vineyard in the UK, with views across the Holme Valley that stretch for miles. Tours run twice daily at 10:30am and 3pm, last around 90 minutes, and include a walk through the vines and a tasting of three wines at £16 per person. The restaurant - open seven days for breakfast, lunch and dinner - is the reason many people come back. The afternoon tea draws consistently strong reviews and the portions are not small. Note that the approach roads are narrow; a shuttle and taxi service is available. Accommodation on site. Nearest station: Huddersfield (taxi required).

Ryedale Vineyards (Farfield Farm, Westow, near Malton)
Run by Jon and Michelle since 2016, Ryedale sits at the foot of the Wolds - apple trees beside the vines, the family's hens wandering across the grass, a farmhouse that hums with warm northern hospitality. The wines are made from grapes grown metres from where they're poured, with a focus on still whites and light reds suited to the cooler climate, all made in the converted cow byre. Tours on Fridays and Saturdays at £25 per person include tastings with cheese and cream teas. TripAdvisor reviewers consistently say the glasses keep coming. Farmhouse B&B is available on selected weekends, seven miles from Malton. No dogs; not suitable for children. Nearest station: Malton (pre-book a taxi).

Carlton Towers (Carlton, near Goole)
The Walled Garden Vineyard was planted in 2016 by Lord Gerald and Lady Emma and now produces over 2,000 bottles of sparkling rosé each year. Vineyard tours run on selected Sundays from May to September from £25 per person and end with a scone and a glass of fizz in the Stables Tearoom overlooking the vines. The Victorian Gothic house - occupied by the same family for over 800 years - is worth exploring while you're there. Nearest station: Goole or Selby (taxi required).

Leventhorpe Vineyard (Woodlesford, Leeds)
Founded in 1985, Leventhorpe is Yorkshire's oldest commercial vineyard and one of the very few vineyards that lie within a large city boundary anywhere in the world. Oz Clarke has said he could recognise Leventhorpe Madeleine Angevine in a blind tasting anywhere - "a once tasted always remembered kind of wine". No formal tours, but visitors are welcome to drop in for a complimentary tasting during opening hours, typically Monday to Saturday 11am to 4pm. Nearest station: Woodlesford (5-minute taxi or 25-minute walk).

What can you expect from wine tasting in Yorkshire?

Tastings vary between vineyards, but across the region you're likely to encounter varieties chosen for their performance in a cooler northern climate. That means Rondo, Regent, Solaris and Seyval Blanc - grapes bred to thrive where Chardonnay and Pinot Noir struggle. Still whites tend to be aromatic and bright; the sparkling wines have genuine freshness and length. For a benchmark, try Ryedale's "A Taste of Paradise" sparkling wine or Yorkshire Heart's Eleanor White - wines you won't find anywhere else.

The Yorkshire Wine Trail officially launched on 31 March 2026, bringing together ten vineyards spanning North, West and East Yorkshire. Members include Bay Vineyard, Carlton Towers, Goose Beck, Helme Edge, Holmfirth, Knotfield, Laurel Vines, Leventhorpe, Towthorpe and Yorkshire Heart. The trail also runs a vineyard Passport scheme to encourage visits across the county. Full details and a map at yorkshirewinetrail.co.uk.

How many vineyards in a day? Realistically two to three for tastings only, or one to two if you want tours and food. Yorkshire's vineyards are spread wide: Yorkshire Heart to Leventhorpe in Leeds is around 25 minutes; to Ryedale near Malton is about 40 minutes. Holmfirth sits west of the county and works better as a day out with a Peak District drive than as part of a cross-Yorkshire vineyard run.

Vineyard locations:

• West Yorkshire: Holmfirth Vineyard (near Huddersfield), Leventhorpe (Leeds)
• Central/Vale of York: Yorkshire Heart (Nun Monkton), Carlton Towers (near Goole)
• North/East Yorkshire: Ryedale Vineyards (near Malton), Laurel Vines (Driffield)

Booking: Yorkshire Heart requires advance booking for all tours. Holmfirth requires booking for Friday and Saturday tours; weekday 3pm tours can be drop-in. Ryedale must be booked in advance with at least 48 hours' notice to cancel. Carlton Towers runs vineyard tours on selected Sundays - book early. Leventhorpe is the exception: call ahead and turn up.

Best times to visit:

• Spring (April–May): Vineyards reopen and the Wolds and Dales are at their best. Yorkshire Heart tours begin; Carlton Towers vineyard tours start in May. Manageable crowds.
• Summer (June–September): Full schedules across all vineyards. The Great Yorkshire Wine & Fizz Festival runs at Carlton Towers Estate each summer, showcasing wines from producers across the region. Book weekends well ahead.
• Autumn (September–October): Harvest time - you may catch grape picking at Yorkshire Heart and Ryedale. The Moors and Wolds are at their most dramatic. Tours continue at most vineyards.
• Winter (November–March): Leventhorpe is open year-round for cellar door visits. Yorkshire Heart runs reduced winter tours; Holmfirth restaurant stays open but check tour availability. Most vineyards close or switch to events-only from late October.

York (Best all-round base):
Direct trains from London Kings Cross in around two hours. York sits within reach of Yorkshire Heart (approximately 20-minute taxi), Ryedale (approximately 35 minutes by car) and Carlton Towers (approximately 40 minutes). Strong food scene, good hotels across every budget, and enough to fill a weekend beyond the vineyards.

Harrogate (Elegant base near Yorkshire Heart):
Around 10 minutes from Yorkshire Heart by taxi, with good connections to York, Leeds and the Dales. Wide range of hotels. Good restaurants and the Turkish Baths if you want to make a full weekend of it.

Malton (For Ryedale and North Yorkshire):
Malton has become the food capital of North Yorkshire - food market, artisan producers, good independent restaurants. Ryedale is seven miles away. Good base for the North York Moors and Castle Howard. Train from York in around 25 minutes.

Holmfirth (For the Pennine vineyards):
An attractive market town made famous by Last of the Summer Wine. Stay here for Holmfirth Vineyard and combine with walks into the Peak District and Colne Valley. Nearest trains from Huddersfield.

At the vineyard:
Yorkshire Heart offers camping and glamping from May to September. Ryedale has two farmhouse B&B rooms on selected weekends - they book up quickly and the breakfast is worth staying for.

By Train from London:

• London Kings Cross to York: approximately 2 hours (frequent direct services) - the best hub for most Yorkshire vineyards
• London Kings Cross to Leeds: approximately 2 hours 15 minutes (direct), useful for Leventhorpe and Holmfirth
• London Kings Cross to Harrogate: approximately 2 hours 20 minutes via Leeds

By Car from London:
Around 3.5 to 4 hours (approximately 200 miles). A1(M) north. A car is strongly recommended for visiting more than one vineyard - connections between them are limited. Without a designated driver, the Yorkshire Wine Trail website is worth checking for organised tour options in the area.

Getting to Vineyards from Stations:

• Yorkshire Heart from York station: approximately 20-minute taxi
• Ryedale Vineyards from Malton station: approximately 15-minute taxi (pre-book)
• Leventhorpe from Woodlesford station: approximately 5-minute taxi or 25-minute walk
• Holmfirth Vineyard from Huddersfield station: approximately 20-minute taxi (note narrow approach roads)
• Carlton Towers from Goole or Selby station: approximately 15-minute taxi

The Yorkshire Wine Trail:
The best way to plan a multi-vineyard itinerary is through the Yorkshire Wine Trail website, which maps all member vineyards, lists visiting information and details the Passport scheme. The trail covers all parts of the Yorkshire region, from West to East Yorkshire and into North Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Dales and Moors:

• Yorkshire Dales National Park - limestone dales, Aysgarth Falls, Hardraw Force, Wensleydale, Swaledale
• North York Moors National Park - heather moorland, sea cliffs, Whitby
• Malham Cove and Gordale Scar - some of England's most dramatic limestone scenery

Heritage:

• Castle Howard - one of England's finest country houses, close to Ryedale Vineyards
• Whitby Abbey
• North Yorkshire Moors Railway
• York Minster, the Shambles, and the city walls

Food:

• Malton's food market and artisan producers (near Ryedale)
• Betty's Tea Rooms in York, Harrogate and Ilkley
• The Star Inn at Harome (Michelin starred, near Helmsley)
• The Black Swan at Oldstead (Michelin starred, near Ampleforth)
• Fish and chips in Whitby - the debate about which shop is best could fill an evening

Coast:

• Robin Hood's Bay, Runswick Bay, Filey - quieter than the south coast and worth the detour
• Whitby - harbour, abbey ruins, jet jewellery, and the argument about fish and chips