Award-winning Devon vineyard offers a taste of the Dartmoor terroir

Swanaford Estate is making waves in the wine world … ride the surge for yourself with a tour of the Devon vineyard

A picturesque, south-east-facing, ten-acre plot in the Teign Valley was the birthplace of Swanaford Estate’s Devon vineyard when, in 2013 – with viticulture qualifications under their belts and an ambition to produce English wines of distinction – Ben and Caroline Goulden embarked on the job of nurturing 10,000 new plants into highly productive vines.

Their drive and hard graft has paid off: the family-run Devon vineyard is now a thriving centre of winemaking, complete with bespoke tasting barn where the public flock to learn the pair’s story about growing grapes in this corner of the country.

South West wines of distinction

A selection of easy-drinking sparkling and still wines have proved gold-standard not only to Swanaford’s league of loyal sippers, but also to the judges at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA), who crowned the estate’s Classic Cuvée and Sparkling Rosé with the top accolade. The former is a delicate and balanced single-vintage sparkler made from a trio of classic Champagne varieties and containing delightful orchard apple and patisserie notes, while the latter is an elegant, salmon-pink sip with a fine mousse and citrus notes, packed with summer berry flavours thanks to a blend of estate-grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meurnier.

There’s also the Kingfisher Bacchus, an aromatic and dry wine with a light touch of oak and peach, and the Estate White which is crisp, fresh and fruity, made from a blend of Siegerrebe and Schonberger grapes.

For a proper showstopper, however, plump for the ‘From Small Acorns’ English sparkler. This rare and exceptional bottle was made with a carefully chosen blend of single-vineyard, single-vintage Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes, and makes for a true celebration of the Devon vineyard’s journey.

Tours and tastings

To truly get a taste of what Swanaford has to offer, the team’s tour and tasting experience is a must. The relaxed and friendly 90-minute sessions give guests the chance to stroll amongst the vines, enjoy the stunning countryside and enjoy a talk on how the grapes are grown, before heading over to the tasting barn to try four Swanaford wines (including two fizzes) and discuss how they are made.

At £14.50 per person this is a delicious way to spend a summer’s day – they’re also available online as a gift if you fancy scoring some serious brownie points with a oenophilic friend. Dogs are welcome and children under 18 can come along for free. The tours usually take place on Wednesday afternoons, Friday evenings and Saturday mornings throughout the summer – check the website for the most up-to-date information.

Events for foodies

In the spirit of summer, Swanaford is welcoming in the season with the return of its Summer Socials events. Check the website for the latest foodie events, which include the likes of indie food truck residencies, pizza nights, Asian-inspired nights and more.

swanaford.com