Couple’s mission to put Holme Valley on the wine grapevine

But one Yorkshire couple are determined to add Holme Valley to that list and this week celebrated the opening of their vineyard’s new visitor centre.

Ian and Becky Sheveling have invested hundreds of thousands of pounds in their three-year-old wine-growing business and won the financial support of HSBC to help pay for the new visitor facility.

The £258,000 visitor centre includes a 40-cover restaurant, tasting lounge and an outdoor area with views over to the Peak District.

The centre opened to the public in May and the Shevelings have been taken aback by the response.

They are hiring new staff to cope with the demand of up to 80 visitors a day during the week and 200 a day during weekends, said Mr Sheveling.

Both Mr and Mrs Sheveling left fast-paced careers to start a family and set up what they thought would be a hobby vineyard.

But they have since realised the potential for growth in both wine and tourism and are now planning to build an eco-lodge accommodation block on their land, with seven five-star self-catering blocks.

They have hired Martin Fowke, a renowned winemaker, to head the winemaking operations and have so far had a “phenomenal” response to their produce, said Mr Sheveling.

He added: “I believe if you do something well, people will always want to be part of that and enjoy it with you.”

He used to run a manufacturing business while his wife was the only female engineer in Formula One.

He sold his company and together they invested their savings in the land and planted 7,000 vines by hand to create one of the highest vineyards in Britain.

Jill Hague, of HSBC, said: “We’re delighted to have supported Holmfirth Vineyard with its plans for continued growth.”