England's secret vineyard with wine tasting and craft village short drive from Liverpool

When you think of vineyards and wine, Staffordshire may not be the first place your mind goes to, but 41 years ago father and son Martin and Clive Vickers planted 400 vines on their West Midlands farm and officially put English wine on the map.

Getting Halfpenny Green Wine Estate off the ground was no mean feat. However, over four decades later, this picturesque vineyard produces 250,000 bottles annually and is just a two hour drive from Liverpool.

Reflecting on the vineyard's journey, Clive shared: "A vineyard in South Staffordshire in the early 80s wasn't necessarily viewed as a recipe for success. To be honest, I thought my dad was bonkers, so I couldn't disagree with what anyone else might have been saying.

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"It was extremely hard work in the early days. People thought that the quality would be terrible and that the weather was too miserable for it to work. It took some time to change perceptions."

In the years since, Halfpenny has certainly managed to shift perceptions. During the 2000s, Clive says there was something of a boom in the popularity of English wine, partly due to the rise of farmers' markets.

He said: "Those farmers' markets revolutionised the English wine scene back in the early 2000s, which was when things really started to take off. It got us out to the masses and we carved out a reputation. Our name became synonymous with really good quality."

"I'm sure we became a talking point at dinner parties, where people would pour a glass as a novelty, not that we minded as we were confident they'd come back for another bottle."

For those looking to pay a visit, the vineyard offers more than just wine. The estate also boasts a zoological park, home to meerkats, reptiles and various birds of prey.

Additionally, there's a craft village on site, housing 16 independent businesses. These range from a pottery studio to a pet portrait studio, and even a high-end jeweller.

Halfpenny Green, with its unique blend of wildlife and wine, provides an ideal day out. You can round off your visit with a meal at the restaurant and deli, managed by Clive's wife Lisa, a skilled chef who took the reins in January 2000.

Tours at Halfpenny Green Wine Estate run on selected dates from January – October and can be booked via their website.

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