Rows of vines at Irish Wine Estates running towards the hills of South Offaly

Ballyclery — County Offaly

Discover a Vineyard in the Heart of Ireland

A developing vineyard in South Offaly, where a traditional Irish farm is being reimagined through viticulture, wine tourism and biodiversity. Small-group Preview Vineyard Tours begin on selected dates in 2027.

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Young vines in leaf on the Ballyclery slope

A vineyard where you might not expect one.In the heart of Ireland.

South Offaly.
Pilot vineyard
planted 2024.

Established vine rows under an Irish sky at Ballyclery

30Grape varieties on trialPilot 2024
Ballyclery
planting 2026

Growing grapes
in South Offaly.

Irish Wine Estates is establishing vines on a traditional Irish farm. Our pilot vineyard, planted in 2024, is showing us which grape varieties suit Irish conditions, and major planting began at Ballyclery in 2026.

Discover Our Vineyard

Why a Vineyard

01

A Traditional Irish Farm

The cottage, the Kelly of Portlaoise shed and the Massey Ferguson 165.

02

Changing Economics

A farm of this size can’t rely on commodity farming alone.

03

Wine & Tourism

Creating more value from the land, and a direct link with visitors.

Come for the Vineyard.
Discover the Place.

  • Vines
  • Landscape
  • Heritage
  • Biodiversity
  • People
Stephen walking the pilot vineyard at Ballystanley
The Vineyard

01

Walk among the vines.
See an Irish vineyard
being established.

Our Vineyard

A developing green grape cluster on the vine
The Grapes

02

Traditional and newer
varieties trialled for
Irish conditions.

Grape Varieties

The farm's red Massey Ferguson 165 tractor
The Farm

03

A 1960s farm,
reimagined for
the 2020s.

Read Our Story

From a 1960s Farm to a Vineyard for the 2020s

Watch the vineyard being built

1960s

A Traditional Farm

The farm’s red Massey Ferguson 165 parked in the shed

2024

Pilot Vineyard

Rows of grapevines at Irish Wine Estates in County Offaly

2026 — current stage

Ballyclery Planting

Young vine shoots in leaf on the Ballyclery slope

2027

Preview Tours

A small group of visitors walking together between rows of vines

Next

Irish Wine

A glass of white wine in front of green vineyard rows under a cloudy sky
  • Traditional farm.
  • Modern vineyard.

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The stone farm cottage at Irish Wine Estates, under restoration
The cottage
The curved-roof Kelly of Portlaoise hay shed on the farm
The Kelly shed
The farm's red Massey Ferguson 165 parked in the shed
The Massey Ferguson 165

Farm heritage

The Story of the Farm

Ballyclery began as a traditional Irish farm of the 1960s: a cottage with its original stove, a cow byre, a Kelly of Portlaoise shed and the farm's Massey Ferguson 165. Even a 1966 Sunbeam Alpine is part of the story.

Farming has changed since then. A farm of this size can no longer rely on commodity agriculture alone, so Stephen and Nicola are giving the land a new purpose — vines, wine and visitors who want to see an Irish vineyard take shape.

The old farm and the new vineyard, side by side.
  • The cottage
  • Original stove
  • Cow byre
  • Kelly of Portlaoise shed
  • Massey Ferguson 165
  • 1966 Sunbeam Alpine

Read Our Story

Watch ItGrow

Follow Our Journey

Follow the vineyard
as it grows, season
by season.

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A narrow view down a row of young vines

Ballyclery — County Offaly

Follow the vineyard as it grows

Field
Notes

  • Vineyard life
  • Grapes
  • Weather
  • Farm
  • Biodiversity

Follow our journey

Follow the Journey

Watch Ballyclery change through the seasons, from planting and pruning to the first harvests.

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Planning a private visit?Travelling with a private driver or guide? Talk to us directly and we will arrange an arrival window that suits your day.Enquire About a Visit

Admit — small groups

2027

Preview Vineyard Tours

  • Selected dates only
  • Small, owner-led groups
  • Tours only — no tasting in 2027
  • Advance booking required

2027 Preview Tour list

Be First to Hear About 2027 Preview Vineyard Tours

Leave your details and we'll email you as soon as tour dates are confirmed. Prices and timings will be shared as the programme develops.

2027 Preview Tour List
Vineyard updates