Our Story
A 25-year journey of hard graft, optimism, and good taste.
They say that great wine is made in the vineyard, but at Yorkshire Heart, it’s made from something stronger: resilience.
Our story didn't start with a grand business plan or a multi-million-pound investment. It started in 2000 with just 35 vines in a garden in Nun Monkton and a simple question:
"Can we make good wine in Yorkshire?"
Most people said no. We decided to find out for ourselves.
What began as Gillian’s passion project has grown, vine by vine, into one of the North’s most respected producers. Today, we are a team of family and friends nurturing 29,000 vines and brewing award-winning ales. We’ve swapped the garden shed for a state-of-the-art winery, but the spirit remains the same: work hard, make it proper, and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Gillians new hobby
It all starts here. Gillian plants the first 35 vines as a hobby experiment. The goal? To see if grapes could survive the Yorkshire weather. Spoiler: they could.
The Hobby Grows
Confident that the fruit would ripen, we decide to get serious. We plant our first acre, committing to the dream of producing English wine commercially. No fancy equipment, just passion and patience
The Brewery is Born
Why stop at wine? We establish the Yorkshire Heart Brewery to run alongside the vineyard. Managed by Tim, our 12-barrel plant begins brewing craft ales using water from our own natural spring.
Award-Winning Flavour
Our hard work starts to get noticed. We pick up our first major regional awards, putting Nun Monkton on the map as a serious destination for food and drink.
A Family Hub
The site expands to include the Winehouse Café, becoming a true visitor destination. We open our doors for tours, tastings, and events, inviting the public to see exactly how we work.
Family Business of the Year
A proud moment. We are named Family Business of the Year at the York Press Awards, recognizing not just our products but the values that drive us every day.
25 Years of Heart
We celebrate our silver anniversary with 29,000 vines in the ground and a harvest that breaks all records. The "hobby" is now the heart of the community.
Why "Heart"?
We are called Yorkshire Heart for two reasons. First, because we are located right in the geographical centre of the county. But mostly, because that is what we put into every bottle.