Helmsley Castle Vineyard

Helmsley Castle is a spectacular 12thC. fortress built originally by Walter Espec, a Norman baron, and improved by Robert de Roos in the 13thC. Under Elizabeth I, the Manners family built a luxurious house. The castle was beseiged, and then partly demolished, by Fairfax during the civil war. It now has a modern vistor centre and heritage garden, part of which contains a vineyard.

The vineyard grows Rondo, Regent, Phoenix, Orion, Siegerrebe in 5 rows of 18.

The vineries are believed to also house a Rochford Vine bred by an 18thC Head Gardener on the site. There are also many historic vines which were donated by The VineHouse at Huddersfield, whose owner, Stuart Smith has also recently planted probably the most northerly commercial vineyard in Britain.