Muddy Stilettos

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/06/1-4-1000x667.jpg" alt="Bev Haywood from astley vineyard" class="wp-image-70137"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bev Haywood is one quarter of the family-run, Astley Vineyard</figcaption></figure>



Nestled deep in the Severn Valley, <a href="https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/">Astley Vineyard</a> is the kind of place that makes you want to tear up the to-do list and consider a new life among the vines. One of the oldest vineyards in the UK (established in 1971) this boutique-sized grape escape is owned and run by self-confessed oenophile (that&#8217;s a wine connoisseur for those not in the know), Bev Haywood and family. 



Today, the five-acre estate is something of a petite powerhouse producing 7,000 bottles a year (with Kerner and Bacchus leading the grape parade) and hosting swirl-and-sip tours and tastings.&nbsp;Their wines have graced venues such as the Tate Modern and scooped covetable accolades including National Rural Food &amp; Drink Business of the Year.&nbsp;



Appetite whetted? Absolutely! So what really goes on behind the vines? Over to you Bev!&#8230; plus &#8211; READER TREAT *** Win a mixed case of six stunning Astley vineyard wines, worth £115.&nbsp;<a href="https://glosworcs.muddystilettos.co.uk/reader-treats/win-a-crate-of-wine-from-astley-vineyard-worth-115-worcestershire/">Enter here now</a>. ***.



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So tell us how did the great grape adventure begin? 



In 2017 our family was looking for a change of lifestyle. We wanted a project that could bring the family together and encourage Tim, my husband, to retire. He&#8217;d been commuting from Worcs to London and flying around the world with his job as a finance director of a construction company. Something had to give!



I&#8217;d been managing the family home and working as a volunteer for several charities and Chris, our son, was working in Harvey Nichols’ wine department in Knightsbridge, whilst studying for his wine qualifications. 



He had recently married Matleena, his Finnish girlfriend and the family wanted to stay in the NW Worcs area, so when they saw the vineyard and attached house on the market they immediately fell in love and we all decided to jump in head first! It just seemed to make sense, and we loved the idea of grape growing and wine making!&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/06/454-1000x700.jpg" alt="chris at astley vineyard smelling wine" class="wp-image-70603"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Bev&#8217;s son, Chris Haywood, is in charge of wine-making</figcaption></figure>



Give us the behind-the-barrel scoop &#8211; what does a typical wine making year at Astley look like? 



As soon as the cork has popped on the New Year celebrations, the work begins! It starts with pruning. Vines are incredibly vigorous plants that need to be cut back to a basic framework. It’s all done by hand, by the family, and takes about five weeks. Meanwhile, Chris is in the winery monitoring and maintaining the maturing wine.&nbsp;



Summer is taken over by the seemingly never-ending task of spraying the vines and mowing the grass to protect against disease. Each variety ripens at a different time, so harvest takes us from early September through until the end of October. November and Christmas are always busy in the winery, and then the cycle starts all over again! It’s a lot of work, but it’s hugely satisfying.



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Team Astley is a proper family affair! Spill the grapes &#8211; who’s in charge of what?



All four of us work at the vineyard, but Chris’ three-year-old son, Arlo, isn’t quite ready for that responsibility yet! Tim manages the vineyard and the estate &#8211; he wanted to step out of the office and do something physical. Chris is the actual winemaker and does all our online content. We call him the wine nerd of the family.



I do the customer management and my daughter-in-law Matleena does our bookkeeping. Tours are hosted by Tim and Chris, supplied with freshly made bread by Matleena.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-how-do-you-all-survive-the-stressful-bits-without-occasionally-popping-your-corks">How do you all survive the stressful bits, without occasionally popping your corks? </h4>



When we first moved to the vineyard it was definitely challenging for all of us – we are all strong and opinionated individuals who each have high standards. Over time we learned each other’s strengths and passions, it’s about respecting each other and being there if someone needs help. 



It also helps that both the estate and the scope of the business are big enough for everyone to have their own space, so there’s no need to step on each other’s toes.&nbsp;



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Spill the sauvignon &#8211; what are your three hottest wine tips for summer sipping?



We have six different grape varieties and an adventurous winemaker, so our range tends to be quite large. But we’re best known for our Kerner (a relative of Riesling) – nobody else grows it in the UK, and the vines are 54-years-old. 



I&#8217;d recommend <a href="https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/product/justinius-kerner-2022/">Justinius Kerner 2022</a>, a great and refreshing wine for summer – think preserved lemon, apple, rhubarb and ginger. It’s ideal with fish, risottos and pork. Or if you fancy something a bit more casual (but equally delicious) <a href="https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/product/freya/">Freya 2021</a> is a lightly sweet, sparkling Kerner. Stylistically between Champagne and a Prosecco, it’s fruity, and hugely drinkable. A firm fave.



Finally, you can’t go wrong with a wine like <a href="https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/product/larford/">Larford</a>. An easy going, super fruity-glugger (a technical term!…) that is perfect for an afternoon in the sun. It tastes of apple, plum and honeysuckle. The best bit? It&#8217;s a bit of a bargain.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-so-what-s-the-game-plan-if-we-pop-by-tastings-tours-terrace-sipping">So, what’s the game plan if we pop by &#8211; tastings, tours, terrace sipping? </h4>



Yep, all of the above. Our tasting room and shop is open every weekend and either Chris or I will be there to chat and do the pouring. You can also enjoy a glass of wine on our terrace. It’s a simple, but beautiful little set-up.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/glosworcs/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2025/06/4-1-1000x667.jpg" alt="astley vineyard" class="wp-image-70144"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Astley now has two shepherd huts for people to sleep among the vines. </figcaption></figure>



Oh, and we’ve got two cosy shepherd huts for anyone who wants to sip, snooze, and soak up the vineyard vibes. Waking up surrounded by grapes? Utter magic. Then as night falls, kick back with a glass by the fire under a blanket of stars. Pure vineyard bliss!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-let-s-talk-terroir-why-worcestershire-for-wine-making">Let’s talk terroir. Why Worcestershire for wine making?</h4>



What can I say, we love Worcestershire! It’s been home for 30 years. Our friends and family are here, Tim rows competitively at the local club on the River Severn, plus our vineyard is perfectly set up for growing vines. There are very few places attractive enough to make us want to move. What we have here is so special &#8211; we can’t imagine doing it anywhere else.



You must have faced some challenges though? &nbsp;



When we built the winery, we had to squeeze a massive articulated lorry down our teeny country lane and it was peak heart-in-mouth stuff. Then, unloading these huge tanks with a tiny forklift and zero experience was totally terrifying. But we did it. Let’s just say the vines are easier to deal with than the logistics!



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-had-any-pinch-yourself-moments">Had any pinch-yourself moments?</h4>



That’s a tricky one. We’ve had some amazing experiences, but one of our wines (Sabrinna – not currently available) being named England’s Best Value Still Wine by Tim Atkin in 2022 was definitely up there. Then last year we scooped ‘Winner of Winners’ in Visit Worcestershire’s tourism awards for our visitor experience and sustainable practices. 



Given none of us had experience of managing a vineyard, making wine or running a tourism business we’re pretty proud of what we’ve achieved in the last eight years.



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What’s your wine crush right now?



Aside from our own wines, of course, (Severn Vale is tasting great right now) we&#8217;re loving &#8216;Furze&#8217; from Sandridge Barton &#8211; a skin-contact (aka orange) wine made from Madeleine Angevine and Pinot Gris grapes. Gutter &amp; Star’s Sauvignon Blanc is also a lovely wine &#8211; totally refreshing and perfect for alfresco dinners.



Overall, the English wine industry is fantastic right now. People are so supportive of each other and it’s great to see so many businesses producing exciting new wines.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-english-wine-s-having-a-serious-moment-how-are-you-planning-to-stir-things-up-even-more">English wine’s having a serious moment &#8211; how are you planning to stir things up even more?</h4>



Wine tourism is the hot topic in the industry right now. Vineyards have realised that offering a quality visitor experience can help grow their business and attract new customers. 



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Our own tours sell-out every year and we&#8217;ve got the shepherd huts so people can extend the experience, so we&#8217;ll be doing more of the same. The key to success? We believe it&#8217;s setting high standards for hospitality and service, telling your story and helping people enjoy themselves. Wine is for everybody, and it shouldn’t be stuffy.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-hear-hear-so-what-s-next-for-astley">Hear, hear! So what&#8217;s next for Astley?</h4>



The goal is always to make the best wines possible. Having our own winery allows us to experiment and gives us a freedom that many smaller vineyards don’t have. Saying that we do what the grapes tell us, which can produce some unexpected results.



Coming up, we have a sparkling Sauvignon Blanc and Bacchus – a tweak to a wine we last made in 2023. And we are also bringing back one of our favourites, Brigid; a sweet but refreshing Kerner. There’s always something new to try here.&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://astleyvineyard.co.uk/">Astley Vineyard</a>, Crundles Lane, Astley, Stourport on Severn, Worcestershire, DY13 0RU</li>
</ul>

The grape escape: Muddy meets Astley Vineyard’s Bev Haywood

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