Vines of Cheshire

Vines of Cheshire are a family-run vineyard growing Solaris, Cabernet Noir, Cabernet Cortis and Seyval Blanc.

They are a Cheshire boutique vineyard crafting exceptional still & sparkling English wines locally grown with sustainability at our core. Wines available soon!

This is where it begins. In Cheshire soil, beneath soft skies, something quietly remarkable is growing. Our vineyard is more than a vineyard, it’s a story, a place and a very British adventure.

Our vision is to create exceptional still and sparkling English wines, with sustainability at the core of everything we do. We look forward to welcoming you to our boutique vineyard, where we’ll share our passion for nurturing vines and crafting locally grown, fine wine—accessible, enjoyable, and free from pretension.

Our winemaking journey began as adventurous backpackers, exploring vineyards across the world—from Australia’s celebrated Barossa and Hunter Valleys to the picturesque wine regions of Italy and France. Over time, we cultivated a deep appreciation for wine, though we can’t claim to remember every detail! But it was our visits to English and Welsh vineyards that truly changed our perspective, revealing the remarkable potential of British wine and inspiring a dream to create our own in Cheshire.

Armed with Simon’s geological expertise and extensive research into site suitability, we embarked on the search for the perfect land. The journey, however, proved far more challenging than we anticipated—especially in Cheshire, where thick, slow-draining glacial clay blankets much of the terrain. After more than a year of searching and navigating a fiercely competitive market, we could hardly believe our luck when we finally secured the ideal plot. The site’s sheltered low altitude, steep south and southwest-facing slopes, and natural spring water provide the perfect conditions for vines to thrive. The land had previously only been used for grazing—though some locals fondly recall it as a prime sledging spot in the winter!

With the soil prepared, we took on the monumental task of planting. Over weekends, evenings, and bank holidays in April, May and June 2023, we hand-planted 3,400 vines with the support of family, all while juggling full-time jobs and raising a young family. Just as we had finished planting, we were unexpectedly offered another 2,600 vines! Thankfully—for our exhausted family—we managed to get these planted by machine. What had taken us weeks of hard graft and toil was completed in a single morning, an astonishing feat to witness as the team worked with expert precision.

We look forward to welcoming you to our boutique vineyard, where we’ll share our passion for nurturing vines and crafting locally grown, fine wine—accessible, enjoyable, and free from pretension.

Selecting the right grape varieties was a decision we took seriously, ensuring they would thrive in our climate and contribute to exceptional English wines. Seyval Blanc, renowned for its versatility and ability to flourish in the UK, was an obvious choice—widely celebrated for crafting outstanding English sparkling wines. In a fitting tribute, we planted our Seyval Blanc on King Charles III’s Coronation Day, 6th May 2023.

Alongside it, we introduced three other varieties dedicated to still wines: Solaris for crisp, aromatic whites, and Cabernet Cortis and Cabernet Noir for rich reds and delicate rosés. These varieties are particularly well-suited to the UK’s cool climate and boast natural disease resistance—allowing for less intervention in the vineyard and a more sustainable, environmentally friendly approach to winemaking.

While these resilient varieties may not yet be household names, they represent the future of sustainable viticulture. Most importantly, they produce fantastic wines that we can’t wait to share.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Does the vineyard tour include a wine tasting?

Yes, our vineyard tours start with a gentle walk through the vines where you will learn about the different vine types we are growing and the unique growing conditions (the Terroir) of our vineyard followed by a wine tasting in our Tipi or outside if the weather permits.

Do you allow dogs at the vineyard?

We are dog-friendly! Dogs are welcome on our tours but please keep them on a short lead at all times as our neighbours include cattle, sheep and a dog school!

It’s raining - will the tour still go ahead?

Yes - we advise those visiting to bring suitable footwear and a coat! We’ll always try to adapt our tour to the day, and we’d only cancel for extreme weather conditions.

Can we buy wine & vouchers online from you?

Yes, you can! Our website will be launched very soon. You’ll be able to buy our wines and a variety of vouchers. You will be able to see them by selecting the ‘shop’ option in the menu on our website.

Do I need to book to visit?

Yes, you need book in advance for tours and wine tastings, you will be able to book through our website very soon!

Find us - we are located close to the village of Backford, on the opposite side of the A41 to Backford Church, CH24BE.

We are only 3 miles from Chester centre and 1 mile from Chester Zoo. We have limited car parking available with parking also available on Church Lane. However, we would encourage use of public transport where possible (and allow yourself to enjoy a tipple). Public transport connections are good, with buses every 15 minutes with Backford Church bus stop situated approximately 50m from our vineyard entrance. Buses include the No. 1 : Chester Railway Station to Liverpool, X1: Chester Bus Interchange to Liverpool, 22A: Chester Bus Interchange to Ellesmere Port. Plan Your Journey | Traveline

If you fancy walking or cycling there are direct routes on paved roads or a longer scenic route from the centre of Chester along the Shropshire Union canal exiting at Backford Bridge (bridge no 133):

https://w3w.co/gentle.forest.vines