The difference between a vineyard and a winery
What is the difference between a vineyard and a winery? Both are associated with the production of wine, however there is a distinct difference between them both – A vineyard is where grapes are grown to make wine and a winery is where wine is produced.
Vineyard
A vineyard is a crucial part of the wine making process- it’s where the delicious grapes grow! It is a plantation where vines are planted, which varies in size depending on the vineyard. They grow the grapes that produce the wine. It is also usually in a place with favourable weather conditions for the grapes to grow and some of the characteristics of the wine are influenced by the terrier or land and the minerals of the soil and climate.
The grapes remain on the vines until they are ripe and ready to be harvested. Although some vineyards will have their own winery, some will sell their grapes to wineries. Some vineyard owners even sell grapes and other crops to food markets.
Owners of vineyards have to take into account their location in order to look after their vineyards and regularly maintain the vines by trimming them down to help get a better yield of grapes.
At Yorkshire Heart, we are growing 17 varieties of grape which allows us to improve our delicious red, white, rosé and sparkling wines. We discover each year which grapes are most suited to the Yorkshire climate and topography.
Winery
A winery is licensed to produce and sell wine for consumption. This means everything in the winemaking process will happen here. All the bottling facilities, warehouses and the equipment needed for the winemaking process. During the wine making process there’s usually steps such as fermentation of the grapes, blending, ageing and bottling of the juice involved. Although some wineries will stick to a certain type of wine, some will produce numerous varieties.
Many wineries have tasting rooms and offer tours of their winemaking systems which are available to the public. A wine that is produced on the same site as their vineyard is known as ‘Estate Wine’. They often allow for the visitors to come in and buy bottles of their wine too.
Our specialists at Yorkshire heart nurture over 22,000 vines to produce fine English red, white, rose, varietal and sparkling wines completely on our site at Nun Monkton.
Vineyard tour at Yorkshire Heart
At Yorkshire Heart, we can give you an unforgettable experience with our vineyard tours. Hosted by our friendly owners Chris and Gillian, it is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours learning about wine, how it’s made and tasting it too!
The vineyard tour begins with a glass of our refreshing sparkling wine before discovering the vineyard and winery. Also included is a tasting of our still wines with a plate of nibbles to compliment the wines and give you a taste sensation. You can also add a light lunch or afternoon tea option too if you want to make a day of it.