MORE THAN A NAME…
Local history re-told…
Located in the heart of England, amid the rolling countryside of Brixworth, Northamptonshire, where heritage meets craftsmanship, our vineyard planted in 2019 carries a story.
More than a name, Merry Tom is a story of land, legacy, and family.
Once the noble steed of the 5th Earl Spencer, Merry Tom thundered across these very fields where our vines now flourish.
Today, a weathered stone monument believed to honour Merry Tom stands proudly at the entrance to our vineyard - a quiet sentinel linking past to present. Nestled beside it, and almost concealed by time and undergrowth, lies an old stone trough. Once a vital stop for horses making their way through the undulating hills of Northamptonshire, it served as a place of rest and refreshment. Though no longer in daily use, it remains a poignant symbol of the land’s equestrian past - an enduring reminder of the noble creatures and stories that came before the vines.
There are some beautiful trails around the area, including the Merry Tom Lane to Brampton Valley Way Circular
Partners in life, work, and now - wine.
We’re Tor and Will – a couple bound by a shared love of nature, a passion for craft, and a deep-rooted belief in building something lasting.
Both raised in the countryside, we’ve always felt pulled to the stillness of the land – the quiet, the rhythm, the space to dream. Will is a fifth-generation farmer with a background in events – a born doer, always brimming with ideas and charging full-steam ahead. Before Merry Tom, he was preparing to sail solo around the world, until life charted a different course: illness paused that journey, and our daughter arrived! At the same time, the opportunity to plant a new story - this vineyard - came to life.
Tor is the grounding force of our little team – a home girl through and through, with a lifelong connection to Northamptonshire. With a background in property and a sharp instinct for design, detail, and harmony, she brings a quiet precision and creative vision to every part of this place – from how it looks to how it feels.
Merry Tom is the meeting point of our worlds – a shared dream to craft world-class English still wines, grown slowly and honestly from this storied land.
For us, family is everything. This vineyard is more than a passion project – it’s a legacy in the making. A future for Ophelia. And, we hope, something she’ll one day choose to carry forward in her own time.
A New Chapter in Soil…
Find out more…
Our vineyard is currently open by appointment only.
To find out more about our wines, events and news please do get in touch.
