the horses
Yotes Court is a meeting point between the worlds of winemaking and horse racing – finding common ground where shared experiences, life-long memories and a love of occasion are joyfully celebrated.
Susannah Ricci, owner of Yotes Court Vineyard, is heavily involved in National Hunt racing and owns a successful string of horses trained by Willie Mullins in Ireland, alongside Venetia Williams and Alan King in the UK.
Over the past decade, Susannah’s horses have recorded more than 200 victories at many of racing’s premier festivals and racecourses, including Cheltenham, Aintree, Ascot and Royal Ascot in England, together with Punchestown, Leopardstown and Galway in Ireland. Their runners have also competed internationally in Tokyo, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Melbourne Cup in Australia.
Famous names from previous seasons include Annie Power, Champagne Fever, Vautour, Douvan, Faugheen, Min, Monkfish, Chacun pour Soi, Benie des Dieux and Royale Pagaille. Many were partnered to victory by Champion Irish jockeys Ruby Walsh and Paul Townsend.
Her current stars are Lossiemouth and Gaelic Warrior, the top rated chaser in England & Ireland. In March 2026, Lossiemouth captured the Champion Hurdle before Gaelic Warrior delivered a memorable Cheltenham Gold Cup victory, taking the Ricci colours to a total of 25 Cheltenham Festival winners and marking the first time any owner has done the double since 1940. In April 2026 both horses then went on to win the Punchestown Festival Champion Hurdle and Gold Cup doing the unique ‘Double-Double.’
The Spirit of the Race in Every Detail
The connection between the turf and the terroir is visible the moment you arrive at Yotes Court. On our outdoor seating area (aptly named the Paddock Lawn), visitors are greeted by a life-size, pink-and-green spotted horse. This sculpture isn’t just a landmark; it was purchased in proud support of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund, a cause close to Susannah’s heart.
Branding with a Winning Pedigree
Susannah’s iconic racing silks, instantly recognisable across the UK and Ireland, are the heartbeat of our brand. While they inspired our labels and wine names, the influence goes much deeper, turning the vineyard into a living gallery of racing history.
From the pink dolavs dotting the rows during harvest to our staff’s signature spotted socks, the “love of the occasion” is everywhere. We take great joy in repurposing our history; don’t be surprised to see a silver winner’s trophy chilling a bottle of sparkling wine at your table, or catching a glimpse of the famous spots on everything from our coffee mugs to our gift vouchers.
Whether you are here for the wine or the horses, you are part of a story where memories are made and victories—both on the track and in the bottle—are joyfully celebrated.
IRISH INJURED JOCKEYS FUND
Visitors to the Vineyard will find a fibreglass life-size sculpture of a pink horse with green spots on the Paddock Lawn amongst the picnic tables. The horse, in Susannah’s racing colours, was purchased in support of the Irish Injured Jockeys Fund.
INSPIRATION FOR OUR LABELS
Known as one of the most successful and prominent racehorse owners in England and Ireland, Susannah’s famous pink and green racing silks were the inspiration for our labels. Racing is also reflected in the naming of the wines.
‘Annie Power’ Cuvée
A Sparkling Tribute to a Cheltenham Legend. Annie Power wasn’t just a racehorse — she was a phenomenon. With 15 wins from 17 starts and a Timeform rating above 170, she dominated National Hunt racing, culminating in her historic 2016 Champion Hurdle victory, where she became the first mare in 22 years to claim the title.
Her career is a story of resilience, elegance, and triumph: from the heartbreak of a final-hurdle fall in 2015 to her iconic, 4½-length victory in 2016. We crafted this Cuvée to mirror her spirit: graceful, expressive, and unforgettable.
‘Benie des Dieux’ Blanc de Blancs
Susannah Ricci, owner of Yotes Court Vineyard, has named this wine after her multiple Grade 1 winning mare. Her most notable wins were the 2018 Cheltenham Festival Mares Hurdle & the 2019 French Champion Hurdle.
‘Chacun Pour Soi’ Blanc de Noirs
Susannah Ricci, owner of Yotes Court Vineyard, named this wine after her six-time Grade 1 winning chaser who retired in July 2023.
‘LiveLoveLaugh’ Sparkling Pinot Gris
Synonymous with a saying for not taking life too seriously “LiveLoveLaugh” was also a racehorse owned by Susannah that won the Topham Chase at Aintree in 2021. He loved his trip over The Grand National fences and provided a great excuse for a celebration in a challenging year.
This fun, fruity, Traditional Method sparkling Pinot Gris has playful aromas of pear and lemon shortbread. What better way to celebrate Life, Love and Laughter than with a glass of English fizz?
‘Let’s Dance’ Sparkling Rosé
Inspired by the triumphs of the racehorse ‘Let’s Dance’, who dazzled in Graded Races across England and Ireland. The biggest cause for celebration was her win at the 2017 Cheltenham Festival Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle.
This delightful, Traditional Method sparkling rosé bursts with vibrant notes of candied cherries and gentle mousse.
‘‘On the Nod’ Bacchus
This is a term that refers to the finish of a race. A race won ‘on the nod’ is thrilling to watch and is so close it is often decided by a photo of the finish.
Our ‘On the Nod’ Bacchus has a lovely floral fruity nose, incredible intensity on the palate, and an exciting zesty, citrus finish. The crisp pale wine is definitely photo-worthy.
‘Loose Rein’ Pinot Gris
‘Loose Rein’ is a horse-riding term where a jockey holds the reins loosely & doesn’t dictate what the horse does.
This name fits perfectly with the Pinot Gris as we decided to give our winemaker complete freedom over the direction & the style of wine. Nick Lane has created a delicious, balanced wine with pear, floral and spice notes.
‘Hands and Heels’ Pinot Blanc
When a jockey rides a horse in a race using just hands and heels the horse is using its natural ability and fitness to outshine the other horses needing only very gentle persuasion.
Our Pinot Blanc vines have been respectfully tended throughout the growing season to produce flavourful clean, fruit requiring little intervention by the winemaker to create a gentle, dry crisp, award-winning wine.
‘Two Beat Trot’ Chardonnay
The term “Two Beat Trot” in dressage signifies perfect balance, harmony, and precision in motion. This inspiration carries through to our “Two Beat Trot” Chardonnay, embodying an exquisite variety of flavours and textures.
Just like a well-executed dressage movement, our Chardonnay is a testament to balance and sophistication.
‘Best Turned Out’ Pinot Meunier Rosé
This is a term that refers to the prize awarded to the horse that looks the best in the parade ring before a race; a horse in peak fitness and with a beautiful shiny coat.
The wine? Well, who doesn’t think a Rosé is a thing of beauty? And ours has won the WineGB Best Newcomer Trophy so it is not simply lovely to look at, it is delicious on the nose and palate too.
‘Starter’s Orders’ Pinot Noir Reserve
Racehorses are under “starter’s orders” when waiting for a race to begin. The Pinot Noir vines were the first to be planted back in 2016 in block 1, right in front of the Paddock Lawn.
This marked the start of a new chapter for owner of Yotes Court, Susannah Ricci. We have called it ‘Starter’s Orders’ to reflect the beginning of our vineyard and winemaking journey.
‘The Favourite’ Divico
Divico flowers later than other grape varieties, giving it better frost protection in the spring. In the lead up to harvest, the grape bunches are more spaced out giving it natural resistance to many diseases like Powdery and Downey Mildew.
The Divico grape is set to change the face of English red wine and Yotes Court are the first to release a single varietal Divico in the UK with the first vintage selling out in weeks. With a huge future ahead of it, could it be anything but The Favourite?
“As a massive horse racing fan, I can’t recommend Yotes Court Vineyard highly enough. Susannah was very generous with her time. The wine is amazing too and a great gift for anyone especially racing fans.”
