The 2.2-hectare Wyfold Estate lies in South Oxfordshire, 35 miles west of London, in the rolling Chiltern Hills. Founded in 2003 by Barbara Laithwaite and a colleague, the vineyard was planted with the classic Champagne trio: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. By then, Barbara had already spent over 30 years in the wine trade as an importer and merchant and had witnessed the remarkable rise of English sparkling wine. Encouraged by her husband, Tony Laithwaite, a world-renowned wine merchant, she was later joined by their three sons, all deeply involved in the wine world.
Today, Barbara still runs the estate with care and passion, supported by skilled local contractors and with particular support from her son Henry, owner and winemaker at Harrow & Hope, where Wyfold’s award-winning wines are crafted. “Growing edibles is in my blood, and farming grapes is an extension of that,” she says. She takes great joy in nurturing each vine, in the rhythm of the seasons, and in the endless pursuit of doing things just that little bit better each year. The satisfaction of seeing a healthy crop ripen, the collaboration with Henry at harvest, and the excitement of tasting the finished wines all make the work deeply rewarding.
The vineyard sits high on the Thames terraces, with top rows at 120 metres, creating a cool microclimate perfect for sparkling wine. Beneath the vines lies stony gravel over chalk: tough for machines, but a gift for drainage and minerality. This unique terroir gives Wyfold wines their hallmark richness, finesse and a bright, elegant minerality. Small, intensely flavoured grape bunches add depth and character. Equally important is the estate’s care for its land: wildflowers and cover crops bring life and biodiversity among the vines.
Wyfold produces just two wines, a Brut and a Rosé, both consistent 90+ point, trophy-winning cuvées. Being small allows the estate to remain hands-on and experimental, adapting quickly and staying true to its founding spirit: quality, integrity and the quiet confidence of a family working the land they love. Sharing these wines with loyal followers and new customers alike is a true pleasure, especially knowing Wyfold has been poured in such distinguished settings as the UK Embassy in Washington.
