The Story of Irish Wine Estates
Our story
A story still
being written.
A 1960s Irish farm. A pilot vineyard. A patient plan for the land.
Irish Wine Estates is a developing vineyard at Ballyclery, near Roscrea, in South Offaly. Stephen and Nicola are turning a traditional Irish farm into a vineyard — and sharing what works, what doesn't and what they learn along the way.
The idea
Why a
vineyard?
The farm is relatively small for modern commodity agriculture. At this scale, commodity farming alone can no longer make the most of the land.
So the aim is to create substantially more value from it — through wine, direct relationships with the people who visit, and wine tourism.
Farm diversification
More value from the same land, through wine, visitors and direct relationships.
01
Pilot vineyard
Ballystanley, planted in 2024 — teaching us which varieties suit Irish growing conditions.
02
Ballyclery
Our developing vineyard in South Offaly, where major planting began in 2026.
03
Varieties
An experimental programme trialling traditional and newer grape varieties in Irish conditions.
The people
Meet Stephen
& Nicola
Stephen Whyte is the founder of Irish Wine Estates in South Offaly. Together with his wife Nicola, he is documenting the development of their vineyard and exploring Irish viticulture, farm diversification, biodiversity and wine tourism.
When the 2027 Preview Vineyard Tours begin, it's Stephen and Nicola who will show you around — sharing what has worked, what hasn't, and what they're learning.
StephenFounder
NicolaIrish Wine Estates
This was a modern working farm of its era. The vineyard is the next phase of adaptation.
Farm heritage
From a 1960s farm to a vineyard for the 2020s
Ballyclery was a modern working farm of its era, not a picture of "the good old days". Its buildings and machines show how Irish farming kept adapting — and the vineyard is the next step.
The Kelly shed
A Kelly of Portlaoise shed, still standing on the farm.
Massey Ferguson 165
The farm's tractor, a modern machine in its day.
The cottage & stove
The farm cottage, with its original stove.
The cow byre
One of the farm buildings from its cattle days.
1966 Sunbeam Alpine
A small part of the story, too.
Next
Where we
are going
We're building Irish Wine Estates patiently, one season at a time. There are no shortcuts to establishing a vineyard, and we would rather get it right than rush it.
In time, that means Irish wine, visitors welcomed onto the farm, richer hedgerows and habitats for biodiversity, and direct relationships with the people who follow the journey.
- Wine
- Tourism
- Biodiversity
- Relationships
- Patience
See it for yourself
Small-group, owner-led Preview Vineyard Tours begin on selected dates in 2027. Advance booking is required.
Discover the toursBe first to hear about 2027 Preview Vineyard Tours
Small groups, on selected dates. Join the list and we'll email you as soon as tour dates are confirmed.
Join the 2027 Preview Tour list