Devon


<h2 class="wp-block-heading">1/ The really knowledgeable one: <a href="https://shop.dartsfarm.co.uk/products/pebblebed-vineyard-tours?_pos=2&amp;_sid=2fc52b1c3&amp;_ss=r&amp;variant=39386065535053">Pebblebed Vineyard</a>, Clyst St George</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302.jpg" alt="Pebbledbed Vineyard sign " class="wp-image-57041" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4302-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>I&#8217;ve just road-tested the Pebblebed Vineyard tour and it&#8217;s ideal for anyone who loves rustic venues, a compact vineyard and a really knowledgeable host in Alex, the head wine-maker. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312.jpg" alt="glasses of wine at a vineyard tour" class="wp-image-57042" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4312-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>It kicks off with a tasting of their excellent sparkling rosé, then it&#8217;s a quick stomp around the vines and on into the small barn winery to taste their range of sparkling and still white, red and rosé, all while Alex (who&#8217;s been at Pebblebed for 10 years and knows it back to front) talks you through how the wine is made, while describing the various aromas and flavours of each. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331.jpg" alt="Alex , head winemaker at Pebblebed Vineyard" class="wp-image-57043" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4331-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>It&#8217;s a slightly sad story in that Pebblebed&#8217;s popular founder, Geoff Bowen, passed away in 2018, but the committed Alex remains to run it (just he and one other prune and care for 20k vines!), with help from nearby Darts Farm who gamely took the vineyard on, as was Geoff&#8217;s wish. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350.jpg" alt="glass of wine and plate of cheese and charcuterie" class="wp-image-57044" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/07/IMG_4350-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Afterwards, there&#8217;s a chance to buy their wine at a discounted tour price, then you&#8217;re treated to a plate of cheese and charcuterie (such good quality it&#8217;s obviously from Darts Farm), and generously, yet <em>more</em> wine, served on a picnic table next to the vines. It&#8217;s an idyllic way to spend an afternoon, and being located just a few miles outside Exeter makes a great outdoorsy addition to a city day trip. Tours run every Thursday and Saturday, May to September, lasting around 2 hours, £30pp</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-2-the-sunset-tour-alder-vineyard-lewdown-okehampton">2/ The sunset tour: <a href="https://www.aldervineyard.uk">Alder Vineyard</a>, Lewdown, Okehampton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder.jpg" alt="vineyard tour at Alder Estate in Devon " class="wp-image-56540" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/alder-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Alder run a variety of tours but it&#8217;s the Sunset Tour at 6pm on Saturdays which caught our eye, especially as Alder have just won a raft of Devon Tourism Awards. Imagine wandering among the ripening bunches with head wine maker Tom (who&#8217;s an amusing raconteur by all accounts) sipping a welcome drink as the shadows lengthen across their five thousand vines. Just the thought makes us feel positively Keatsian! The family-run vineyard specialise in the Madeliene Angevine grape variety, perfect for fans of dry and fruity French vibes. The tour is topped off with a sharing platter loaded with local cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit and a sweet treat. £39.50pp</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">3/ The new-old one: <a href="https://sandridgebarton.com" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Sandridge Barton</a>, Stoke Gabriel</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/sandridge-2.jpg" alt="logoed doors to Sandridge Barton winery" class="wp-image-42438" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/sandridge-2.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/sandridge-2-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/sandridge-2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2022/04/sandridge-2-787x525.jpg 787w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>The long-established Sharpham Estate vineyard marked their big four-oh with a move across the River Dart to the 32-acre vineyard (where they&#8217;d been producing their grapes already for years) and a change of name to match the new location. It&#8217;s the same old knowledgeable crew in charge and the same fabulous range of red, white and sparkling, with the addition of a rustic-luxe Gallery Bar and an ethical eatery called Circa. Choose from casual self-guided tasting flights to an hour-long guided tastings of three wines, a tour of the winemaking facilities finished with a sampling of cheese. A new range of tours are currently being devised, so watch this space. £22pp  </p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">4/ The rustic one: <a href="https://www.huxbear.co.uk">Huxbear Vineyard</a>, Chudleigh</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear.jpg" alt="blackboard sign at Huxbear Vineyard" class="wp-image-56548" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear-768x768.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear-525x525.jpg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/huxbear-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Owned by Ben and Lucy Hulland, Huxbear grow their vines on 14 acres of south and south west facing slopes in the Teign Valley and produce vegan wines in an off-grid winery (where nearby Swanaford Wine is also produced). One field is devoted to 9,500 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, producing grapes for their popular sparkling wine, and a further 7,000 vines from which they make a mixture of still and sparkling wines. If you want to get your teeth into the growing side, Lucy is your gal as she&#8217;s a great talker. Their regular walking tours are very reasonably priced and topped off by a tasting in their rustic barn. £12.50pp</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">5/ The sparkler with cream tea: <a href="https://www.wellhayesvineyard.co.uk/wellhayes-vineyard-tours/">Wellhayes Vineyard</a>, Clayhanger</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="750" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/wellhayes.jpeg" alt="Wellhayes Vineyard entrance in Devon" class="wp-image-56559" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/wellhayes.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/wellhayes-800x600.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/wellhayes-768x576.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/wellhayes-700x525.jpeg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Fan of fizz? Hotfoot to Wellhayes near Tiverton for Simon Routh&#8217;s entertaining insight into producing their English sparkling in the time-honoured Champagne method in an old stone barn from a unique blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Reichensteiner. Once you&#8217;ve walked the vines and been shown the champagne process, you&#8217;re whisked off for a home-made cream tea accompanied by generous pourings of Wellhayes wine. Added bonus points for their regular music nights, organised by Alison Routh. £25pp</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">6/ The one with added gin: <a href="https://heron-farm.co.uk/product/vineyard-tour/">Heron Farm</a>, Honiton</h2>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2.jpg" alt="man pouring sparkling wine into a Champagne flute" class="wp-image-56513" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2-768x512.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/devon/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2023/06/heron-farm2-788x525.jpg 788w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Twice as nice! Heron Farm produce not only white, rose and sparkling wine from their 3000 vines but also their own spicy Ma La Gin from Szechuan Pepper grown on the farm. So, the 90-minute tour includes not only an insight into wine-making, but also a visit to their apple orchards, Kitchen Garden and Gin Orchard to hear about their juice making and gin side hustle, ending up in their contemporary Vineyard Kitchen with a wine tasting. Not bad for £15pp</p>



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Grape ideas! Pebblebed and 5 other Devon vineyard tours to try

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