Local wine cuts down on food and drink miles and provides a sustainable and ecological use for lower grade agricultural land. Our vineyard is labour intensive and we have little impact on the environment. Although we are not organic we try to minimise and hope to phase out non natural products. We recycle as much as possible and are pleased to take back empty boxes and our own bottles for re-use.

In the U.K. we import 99% of the wine we drink but at what cost to the planet and the economy?

Welland Valley Vineyard is one of Northamptonshire's best kept secrets. The 2.5 acre Vineyard was established in 1991 on a sheltered south facing slope 3 miles south west of Market Harborough on the Northamptonshire/Leicestershire county boundary. The soil is well drained loam over Jurassic clay. Although we are further north than most English vineyards our site is nearly always free from damaging spring frosts and rainfall is low. We grow a varied selection of French and German vine varieties (all early ripening and most disease resistant) comprising the following white varieties: Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, Villaris, Reichensteiner, Seyval blanc, Solaris and Orion. The red varieties grown are: Acolon, Dornfelder, Regent and Rondo. A spread of different flowering and ripening times lessens the risks of adverse weather.

Our ethos is to produce quality wine and cider using traditional methods combined with modern equipment in as natural a way as possible. A variety of award winning estate bottled wines are made including white, red and rose' Varietal Wines and bottle fermented Quality Sparkling wines. A small volume of vintage 'farmhouse' cider is also made on site from traditional cider apples grown in the vineyard. Due to our small production some wines and cider are often in short supply, particularly in the spring.

We are happy to arrange group visits with tastings for the summer months. Please ask for a leaflet.

Wine sales from the vineyard are by prior appointment only by ringing 01858 434591. We will be happy to show you around the vineyard.

For more details, a brochure or to check availability or to order wine, please either ring or email. Orders of 12 bottles or more are delivered free of charge with a 10 mile radius.

We regret we do not take credit or debit cards but are happy to take a cheque or cash.

Our postal address is: Vine Lodge, Marston Trussell, near Market Harborough, LE16 9TX

For more information about English wine and vineyards log onto www.englishwineproducers.com or www.ukvines.co.uk