Section: Visiting Us
Q: Where is Astley Vineyard?
We’re on Crundles Lane, Astley, near Stourport-on-Severn in Worcestershire (DY13 0RU). We’re about 10 miles north of Worcester, and less than 20 minutes from junctions 5 or 6 of the M5. You can find us on Google Maps — look for the brown tourism sign on the B4196 between Astley and Shrawley.
Q: When is the vineyard open?
Our Tasting Room and Shop are open Friday to Sunday, 10:30am to 4pm. We’re closed Monday to Thursday. During the winter months (January to February), we close the shop — but online orders are still processed and we’re happy to arrange appointments.
Q: Is there parking?
Yes. We have our own large car park directly in front of the Tasting Room, with a loose gravel surface. Guests can also be dropped off right next to the entrance.
Q: Can I bring my dog?
We’re sorry, but we can’t accommodate dogs at the vineyard. This is to protect the wildlife that shares our estate — we have a lot of ground-nesting birds and other animals in our woodland and hedgerows. Assistance dogs are welcome on all experiences, and we provide water bowls for them.
Q: Is the vineyard accessible for wheelchair users or those with limited mobility?
Our Tasting Room is wheelchair accessible with a smooth concrete floor and wide double doors (160cm). Our tables can accommodate wheelchair users, and the winery is also accessible. However, the full vineyard tour involves a 100m walk through woodland on an uneven, unpaved, sloped path — this may not be suitable for everyone. We have a 4×4 vehicle that can take guests directly up to the vineyard if the walk is difficult. If you have any concerns, please contact us beforehand and we’ll do our best to help.
We don’t currently have a fully accessible toilet on site. The nearest accessible facilities are at Riverside Meadows in Stourport-on-Severn, about 10 minutes’ drive away.
Q: Do you have Wi-Fi?
Yes — free Wi-Fi is available in the Tasting Room.
Section: Vineyard Tours
Q: What does a vineyard tour include?
Our tour lasts about two and a half hours and includes: an introduction to Astley’s history with a welcome drink, a walk through our wooded valley to the vineyard, a talk amongst the vines about our grape varieties and how we grow them, a glass of wine at our pavilion overlooking the Severn Valley, a look inside our winery, and a sit-down guided tasting of three of our wines alongside samples of local produce.
Q: How much does a tour cost?
Tours cost £40 per person.
Q: When do tours run?
Tours run on weekends during the season, roughly March to October. They start at 3pm. Bookings open in March each year.
Q: How many people can join a tour?
Tours cater for up to 20 people. They’re suitable for individuals, couples, and groups. If you’re planning a large group or private party, please get in touch well in advance.
Q: Do I need to be 18 or over?
Yes — you must be over 18 to sample wine on our tours. We may ask for ID.
Q: What should I wear?
Sensible, sturdy shoes are a must — the walk to the vineyard is through woodland on uneven ground and can be muddy. Everything is weather permitting, so dress for the conditions.
Q: I have food allergies — can you accommodate me?
Yes. We serve nibbles of local produce during the tasting to demonstrate food and wine pairing. Please let us know about any dietary requirements before your tour so we can plan ahead.
Q: How do I get to the vineyard without driving?
There are several train stations within 20 minutes’ drive — Kidderminster, Droitwich Spa, and Worcester. We’d recommend pre-booking a taxi from the station. You’d need to arrive no earlier than 2:45pm, with pick-up around 5:30pm (tour lengths can vary). The local bus service runs through Astley but isn’t reliable enough to recommend.
Q: What if I need to cancel my tour?
Please contact us as soon as you can. You can reach us by email at office@astleyvineyard.co.uk or by phone on 01299 822907.
Section: Our Wines
Q: What grape varieties do you grow?
We grow Kerner, Bacchus, Madeleine Angevine, Siegerrebe, Sauvignon Blanc, and Pinot Noir. Our Kerner vines date back to 1971, making them some of the oldest in the country — and we’re the only vineyard in the UK growing Kerner commercially.
Q: What styles of wine do you make?
Mainly still white wines, but Chris also makes sparkling wine (including Freya, a sparkling Kerner), a Col Fondo natural sparkling (Artio), a delicately sweet Kerner (Brigid), a piquette (Saint Vincent), and occasionally a late harvest wine. We’ve also made vermouth and orange wine in the past.
Q: How much do your wines cost?
Prices range from £5 for our piquette (Saint Vincent) to £28 for our sparkling Kerner (Freya). Most of our still whites are between £16 and £24. Mixed cases and a Kerner quartet are available at £90 each. Gift vouchers are also available at any value.
Q: Can I buy your wine online?
Yes — you can order from our website at astleyvineyard.co.uk/shop and we deliver across the UK mainland by Royal Mail, normally within 5 working days. Delivery costs from £6 for 1-2 bottles up to £15 for 13+ bottles.
Q: Do you offer free local delivery?
Yes — we deliver free within 12 miles of the vineyard, with a minimum spend of £40. You can also choose free collection from the vineyard during shop hours.
Q: I’m not sure which wine I’d like — what would you recommend?
If you enjoy Riesling or Grüner Veltliner, try our Kerner. If you like Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, our Bacchus or Madeleine Angevine would suit. For something different, Artio is a natural sparkling wine with the yeast still in the bottle — a bit like a craft cider for wine lovers. And if you can’t decide, our mixed case gives you a selection to try.
Section: Shepherd Hut Stays
Q: What accommodation do you offer?
We have two shepherd huts — The Harvest Hideaway and The Lost Corkscrew — set amongst the vines in our peaceful vineyard. Each sleeps two adults in a double bed, with a fully equipped kitchen, a private bathroom with walk-in shower, and outdoor seating with a fire pit.
Q: How much does a stay cost?
A two-night stay is £360 per hut. Three nights is £460. Check-in is Friday or Saturday, and checkout is Sunday or Monday.
Q: What’s included in the price?
A bottle of wine waiting in your fridge, plus places on our vineyard tour during the season (Easter to mid-October). Out of season, you’ll get your own private tour with the other hut’s guests, or two bottles of wine if you’d prefer not to tour. You also get 5% off purchases in our shop.
Q: Can I bring children or pets?
No — the huts are for adults only (over 18), and we can’t accommodate pets of any kind.
Q: Is there Wi-Fi or TV in the huts?
No — and that’s by design. The huts are for switching off. There’s free Wi-Fi in the Tasting Room, a five-minute walk away. Mobile signal varies by network.
Q: What cooking facilities are there?
Each hut has a two-plate electric hob, fridge, kettle, toaster, cafetière, saucepans, a frying pan, and basic essentials (salt, pepper, cooking oil, corkscrew). Outside, there’s a fire pit and a charcoal BBQ.
Q: Is the accommodation self-catered?
Yes — we have no catering on site. We’d recommend bringing your first meal or booking a table at a local pub. The Hampstall Inn is a 10-minute walk away by the River Severn. The nearest shops are the Co-op in Areley Kings (6 minutes’ drive) and Broomfields Farm Shop (10 minutes’ drive).
Q: Are the huts accessible for those with limited mobility?
The vineyard is a car-free zone and the huts are reached by a short unpaved walk from the car park. The huts themselves have three large steps up to the door without handrails. Unfortunately, this makes them unsuitable for guests with limited mobility or those using wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Section: Private Events & Corporate Bookings
Q: Can I book a private tour or event?
Yes — we host private and corporate events at the vineyard. Please contact us to discuss what you have in mind and we’ll put together something to suit. Email office@astleyvineyard.co.uk or call 01299 822907.
Section: About Astley Vineyard
Q: How old is the vineyard?
Astley Vineyard was planted in 1971 by the Bache family, making it one of the oldest commercial vineyards in the UK. Some of our original Kerner and Madeleine Angevine vines are still producing — they’re now over 50 years old and are listed on the Global Old Vine Registry.
Q: Who runs the vineyard?
We’re the Haywood family — Tim, Bev, Chris, and Matleena. We took over from Jonty Daniels in 2017 and run the whole operation ourselves. Tim manages the vineyard and estate, Chris is our winemaker, Bev handles tours and the shop, and Matleena manages the accounts and assists with viticulture. And Otso, our Finnish Lapphund, handles guest relations.
Q: How many bottles do you produce each year?
We produce an average of around 7,000 bottles per year from our 5-acre vineyard. Everything is made from our own estate-grown grapes — we’re a single estate producer.
Q: Have you won any awards?
We’ve won Visit Worcestershire’s “Experience of the Year” and “Winner of Winners” at their Tourism Awards, plus their award for Ethical, Responsible & Sustainable Business. We’ve also won a Regenerative Tourism Award. Our tours have been recommended by The Telegraph, The Times, and Condé Nast Traveller.