Swanaford Estate Wine

Swanaford Estate Wine Beautiful Devon vineyard producing award-winning sparkling and still wines. Guided tours available. Pop-up food events throughout the summer.
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Guided Tours with Tasting Experience three times a week. Private tours available on request. Drop in for informal tastings or wine-by-the-glass. Cellar door sales including local hin and beers.

Never have we picked in August before, but the numbers are the numbers and you've got to trust them. Absolutely bang on-...
25/08/2026

Never have we picked in August before, but the numbers are the numbers and you've got to trust them. Absolutely bang on-point Siegerrebe. As suspected, not a crazy yield after the frost (about a third down on potential), but delighted to have great quality grapes with zero issues. They'll make great w**e. Top tip - Find 2026 Estate White from next year.

Blackadder said it best: "I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel." This master plan ...
19/08/2026

Blackadder said it best: "I've got a plan so cunning you could put a tail on it and call it a weasel." This master plan of cunning aims to scare off all the birds - including the woodpecker - who start munching grapes about now. The problem is, we're not 100% sure Keith looks very cunning. Or indeed, like a predator. In fact, there's a fair chance the bird population is not convinced Keith is even a threat. Watch this space.

A triumphant visit to Binifadet vineyard yesterday where great food was had, nearly all w**es were tried and quiet envy ...
16/08/2026

A triumphant visit to Binifadet vineyard yesterday where great food was had, nearly all w**es were tried and quiet envy of tanks was felt. Not that we don't love our own tanks. Our own tanks are awesome. But we like a good ceiling height and a tank to match.

If you drive to Swanaford from Mortonhampstead on the moor, you hit this incredible stretch of tree-lined road. The ligh...
13/08/2026

If you drive to Swanaford from Mortonhampstead on the moor, you hit this incredible stretch of tree-lined road. The light is dapply. The curve is glorious. It's very often only you and the trees. It's my fave road. Everyone's got one, right? And if you park at the bottom near Steps Bridge, you can walk up through the fabulous Bridford National Trust wood to the actual doors of the vineyard. Bring the dog, pick bilberries, listen to splash of the River Teign in the gorge below. Bliss.




**etasting

In 13 years, we have rarely seen the grapes go through veraison so early. What's veraison? It's the time when the hard, ...
09/08/2026

In 13 years, we have rarely seen the grapes go through veraison so early. What's veraison? It's the time when the hard, green grapes soften,change colour, and ultimately ripen. A rough estimate is that this whole process takes about 45 days. So that means we'll be picking in early to mid-September! Given that these are secondaries (bunches that formed after the first buds were killed by frost in April), that's insane. We'd better start thinking about volunteering picking days - that's you lot (😀). If you fancy joining us, head to the website, sign up to the (very infrequent) newsletter, and we'll send out dates when we know them.

One of the most asked questions from Swanaford visitors this sumer has been: "Do the vines struggle in this heat?" And t...
24/07/2026

One of the most asked questions from Swanaford visitors this sumer has been: "Do the vines struggle in this heat?" And the answer is: "no... definitely not... but... maybe" (which is also, paradoxically, the answer to almost any question is vineyard management).

We have so far seen no signs of vine stress this summer despite three intense periods of heat, where temps in the vineyard were well over 30° for days. The canopy is vigorous, green and protecting the developing fruit from the sun, plus let's not forget that Devon had double the average rainfall in Jan/Feb and was cold enough to freeze (Grrr - literally and metaphorically) on April 26th. One minute you're scrambling for frost protection, the next you're considering an irrigation system!

Vines are very clever and have a couple of natural defence procedures for extreme heat - they make special proteins to protect cells and they shut their leaf pours to limit water loss. This second defence only happens at about 38/39°C which, thankfully, hasn't quite happened in the UK this year, and that's great because shutting down also stops growth and sugar accumilation.

For us, careful canopy management and established root structure have, thus far, seen the plants push through. And, thankfully, the high temps are over for a bit. We haven't over leaf- stripped or over trimmed... yet. With a potential fourth heat wave predicted for mid August, we'll be keeping a close eye on things. Because despite being frosted, the super temps have seen the secondary grapes develope at insane speed. It won't be a bumper yield this year, but the quality could be noteworthy.

N/B when you enjoy a bottle of English 2026 in the future, raise your glass to the guys who stood out in the vines in pounding heat to bring you those grapes. 🥂

We are open all week for drop in drinks, food and self guided tours. And there's a guided tour by Robbie at 2pm as well ...
21/07/2026

We are open all week for drop in drinks, food and self guided tours. And there's a guided tour by Robbie at 2pm as well (see today's story for the latest review). If you'd like to book a spot or two on that, just send us a message. 🥂

Open 9.30 till 5 tomorrow for great Devon food and w**e in glorious countryside. Drop in and find us. **etasting ...
14/07/2026

Open 9.30 till 5 tomorrow for great Devon food and w**e in glorious countryside. Drop in and find us.

**etasting

Harvest 2018 was insane. Luckily, we had a valley full of friends to help us pick! And what a crop it was - our 'From Sm...
02/07/2026

Harvest 2018 was insane. Luckily, we had a valley full of friends to help us pick! And what a crop it was - our 'From Small Acorns' Classic Cuvée is from that great year. Now six years on it's lees*, it is a creamy, full bodied,

It is a bit of a privilege to have planted our vineyard on the boundary of one of Dartmoor's best villages. My kids went...
30/06/2026

It is a bit of a privilege to have planted our vineyard on the boundary of one of Dartmoor's best villages. My kids went to school in Dunsford, my best friends live hereabouts, I fried 300 eggs in the village hall one morning, while pregnant, to raise funds for the school (a PTA breakfast charity event). And now comes the 30th anniversary of the Dunsford Show. It should, by rights, be small: a tombola, a meat bingo, a tractor drive by... but it's anything but! It's like a County Show but run by mums and dads who have given up their time to gather and welcome as many people as possible. So if you live in Devon and are looking for something to do this Saturday, find the village and have an exceptional countryside fête experience. There's a cake-filled tea tent, a bbq, a bar, a dog show, music, maypole, games, stalls, stunt displays, shopping, crafts, best veg, best flowers... the list goes on. Masses of parking too.

Address

Teign Valley
Exeter
EX67HG

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 4pm
Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+447956306872

Website

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