1276 Wines
Ledbury, England.
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The Story behind 1276
In 1276, the Bishop of Hereford recorded in his 'Red Book' the planting of vines on the south facing slopes of Ledbury. These early, ecclesiastical vines marked the beginning of a long and remarkable connection between the land that we now care for, and fantastic wines.
With the same unique microclimate and amazing soils of the 13th century, vines have been reintroduced, and the passion of growing grapes to create amazing wine continues and evolves.
Our Land
At 1276 Wines, our land is more than soil, it's the soul of our craft. Nestled in Herefordshire's rolling hills, our 25-acre vineyard is a testament to our commitment to sustainability and excellence.
Our land doesn't just grow grapes; it nurtures a vision where every vine tells a story of responsibility, community, and passion for the planet.
Embracing the Triple Bottom Line philosophy of People, Planet, and Profit, and as proud members of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, we continually seek innovative ways to minimise our impact, from eco-conscious packaging to energy-efficient winery designs.
— Photo: The 1276 vineyard as seen from a late afternoon summer
About Us
1276 Wines is home to a small team who are united by passion and commitment to producing exceptional English still and sparkling wines that reflect the unique character of our Herefordshire vineyard. Every bottle tells the story of our land, our climate and our commitment to quality.
The vineyard was replanted in 2012 by Cilla and Tim Sobey, previously growing apples. Recognising the site's outstanding potential for grape growing and the emergence of the English wine industry, they transformed the orchard into a vineyard.
With a long heritage of fruit production, including cider apples and soft fruit, Herefordshire has become one of England's fastest-growing wine regions. Its favourable climate and distinctive soils provide ideal conditions for producing premium-quality grapes.
The winery was established by Angus Davison, Cilla's son, with the vision of crafting wines from the estate vineyard while supporting the growth of the local wine industry. Today, alongside producing our own wines, we also offer contract winemaking services for vineyards across the region, combining modern winemaking facilities with expert craftsmanship.
Under the guidance of Head Winemaker Laurence Cocking, our mission is simple: to create some of the finest British wines, both still and sparkling.
“The vision with our wines is to showcase our region as a serious contender for quality wine, and with the launch of our new brand, and the great reception of our current releases, I feel we are well on the way to achieving this.
Overall, and most importantly to me, I want the focus of all of our wines to be on the character of our fruit and vineyard. The wines we make will always be driven by the unique qualities of our site (dictated by our temperate climate and rich red clay soils), and tell the story of each vintage, so my job as a winemaker will always be to shine the spotlight upon our fruit and terroir.”
Every vintage is shaped by the season, allowing each wine to express the individuality of the vineyard and the landscape. Rather than imposing a style, we focus on preserving the purity, balance and personality of the fruit.
At 1276 Wines, we're proud to be part of the exciting future of English wine. From elegant sparkling wines to expressive still wines, every bottle celebrates the distinctive terroir of Herefordshire and our commitment to producing wines of exceptional quality.
— Photo: Head Winemaker Laurence Cocking holding IWC winning wines from his first 1276 vintage
The Story behind 1276
In 1276, the Bishop of Hereford recorded ‘Red Book’ recorded the planting of vines on the south-facing slopes of Ledbury, Herefordshire. These early ecclesiastical vineyards marked the beginning of a long and remarkable connection between this land and the craft of winemaking.
Nearly 800 years later, we have reintroduced vines on these very slopes - reviving an old tradition with a modern, visionary approach. Nurtured by the same unique microclimate, our vines grow where history runs deep, and where innovation leads the way.
The future of wine, rooted in our history.
