Guide to Devon White Wines
At this time of year, we tend to seek out fresher, lighter wines – zesty, fruity whites and rosés, rather than full-bodied reds – and, while it’s tempting to reach for continental and new-world favourites, it might surprise you to learn that there are plenty of wines being produced right here in Devon that’ll fit the bill perfectly. At Greendale, we’re proud stockists of wines grown, harvested and produced in Devon, where – thanks to a temperate maritime climate and a varied landscape that includes moorland, lush river valleys and dramatic coastlines – we have more small vineyards than anywhere else in the UK. Mostly family enterprises, these carefully-nurtured vineyards produce a variety of exceptional, award-winning wines. Read on to discover our favourite picks for summer, and to learn a little more about some of these pioneering businesses.
SUN AND SANDSTONE
A short hop from our Farm Shop here in East Devon, Lily Farm Vineyard occupies the sunny, south-west facing sandstone slopes of Knowle, near Budleigh Salterton. Planted in 2005 by owners Alan and Faye Platt (with help from their two sons), Lily Farm’s very first grape harvest resulted in an award-winning red wine; since then, more grape varieties have been added, including Pinot Noir Precoce, Bacchus and Seyval Blanc, and the vineyard now produces a range of award-winning red, white and sparkling wines. We can highly recommend a chilled glass of Lily Farm’s Coastal Dry 2023 – crisp and elegant, with sunny hints of melon and grapefruit, it’s perfect paired with simple seafood dishes and lazy summer lunches.
VINES ON THE MOOR
Travel west across the county and it’s not far before you come to the Swanaford Estate vineyard, near Dunsford on Dartmoor. Although the typical image of Dartmoor is of windswept moorland unsuited to viticulture, the Swanaford Estate enjoys an enviable position, nestled into the sunlit south-east facing slopes of the Teign Valley, where a variety of different grapes thrive, from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to Bacchus and Siegrebbe. Planted in 2013 and run ever since by Ben and Caroline Goulden, Swanaford is known for its award-winning sparkling, white and rosé wines, as well as offering wine tours and hosting foodie events popular with locals and visitors alike. We especially like this vineyard’s classic, oak-aged Chardonnay (served with Greendale lobster, of course!), while for special celebrations, it’s hard to beat the sunny sparkle of their double gold-award winning Classic Cuvée.
DART VALLEY IDYLL
Follow the River Dart down from Dartmoor to the beautiful South Hams – a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that plays host to several vineyards, with perhaps the most important being Sandridge Barton, at Stoke Gabriel in the Dart Valley. Recently relocated from its original site at the Sharpham Estate, just 3km away, Sandridge Barton is one of the earliest pioneers of the English wine industry, with a history stretching back more than forty years; it’s also one of the most heavily garlanded, boasting numerous national and international awards. Several grape varieties flourish at Sandridge Barton’s south-facing vineyard, including Madeleine Angevine, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Bacchus Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, all benefiting from the Dart Valley’s unique climate. The entire site is managed with sustainability in mind, and pesticides and herbicides are banned, with cover-crop plantings used for natural weed control. It's quite hard to pick a favourite from Sandridge Barton, but if you’re after a little bit of summer in a glass, try the aromatic dry white Kingfisher Bacchus 2022, or the made-for-picnics Pinot Rosé.
A MATCH MADE IN DEVON
Citrussy, off-dry, fruity, oak tannins; these are the wine flavour notes that we lean towards when the sun shines, and there’s definitely an affinity between these flavours and the types of meals that taste best in summer. Food and wine ‘pairing’ can seem a bit daunting, but we think a good guide to enjoying these excellent local wines at their best is simply to serve them with other Devon produce – at Greendale, you’ll find seafood fresh from our boats, artisanal cheeses, charcuterie and home-made pies from our Deli, all of which would sit perfectly alongside any of the wines mentioned here. So next time you’re planning a picnic or a summer celebration, why not pick up a bottle of Devon’s finest to complement your meal?
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