Welland Valley Vineyard is one of the East Midlands best kept secrets.

The 2.5 acre research vineyard and cider orchard was established by David and Jane Bates in 1991 on a south facing slope two miles south west of Market Harborough.

The soil is well drained loam over Jurassic clay loam.

A wide variety of both red and white French and German vine varieties are grown which enable different styles of wine to be produced, but the emphasis is on producing quality bottle fermented Sparkling Wines with some age in the English style and light fruity red and rose'.

A small but well equipped winery enables the grapes to be pressed, vinified and bottled on site.

In addition to vines we also planted at the same time a small orchard of traditional cider apples from which we make award winning still ciders called Roundhead and King Richard III.

Local wine and cider reduces food and drink miles and provides sustainable and ecological use for lower grade agricultural land. Most work is by hand so that we use no heavy equipment and make a minimal impact on the environment. Although we are not organic we try to minimise the use of non natural products and to recycle and to reuse all packaging. We are trialling new desease resistant vines to compliment our classic varieties.