Rothley Wine Ltd

Despite the very modern house, Rothley Wine Estate just oozes history

This boutique vineyard is located within the former grounds of a Knights Templar presbytery, Rothley Temple, where William Wilberforce drafted the Act of Parliament to abolish the slave trade. Further along Westfield Lane lie the ruins of a Roman villa and a steam railway station for the Great Central Railway. Nearby are Bradgate Park, the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, and Beaumanor Hall of Enigma fame.

Remains of medieval strip farming are still in evidence, as are remains of a medieval road going from the edge of the Rothley Court Hotel (formerly Rothley Temple) across the vineyard to the remains of a medieval weir. Unceremoniously cast aside when an iron bridge was built in 1900 for traction engines to haul the materials for building the railway. Until then it had been passable by pack pony and small horse and cart, being an old route into Leicester. Local legend has it that King Richard III passed this way from Nottingham castle to Leicester castle prior to the battle of Bosworth. Hence, the flagship white wine is named “King Richard” in his honour with the red wine “King Henry” for his nemesis. The rose “Battle Royal” in between! The sparkling rose is named “Noble Purpose” in honour of the Knights templars.

The vineyard started as a hobby in 2008, a hobby which got out of control! After the wines won several regional awards it opened to the public on a small scale and has been quietly successful culminating in local tourism awards.

Visitors can come for one of the following:

“Tutored wine tastings” mainly at weekends
“Tete-a-tete” wine tasting on the jetty mainly midweek
“Wine Safari” – for groups mainly midweek
“Call & Collect” to buy wine having first ordered on the website

Wine for delivery by courier has to be ordered via George Hill Ltd wine merchants in Loughborough.