Yearlstone Vineyard - Devon's Oldest Vineyard

Welcome to Devon's Oldest Vineyard!

Latitude 50 Degrees 42 Minutes - the Exe Valley lies on an almost identical latitude with the Moselle Valley yet enjoys milder springs, and milder autumns. Steep and thickly wooded to the north as the River Exe runs off Exmoor, by the time it reaches Bickleigh the Valley opens out into a broad river plain.

Here, on steep slopes as the River turns due south in its run to the regional capital, Exeter, is our vineyard, at around 200 feet above sea level. Red Devon sandstone breaks up into shale, the hills on three sides create a natural amphitheatre where light levels are high.

In summer, early morning mists rise up from the riverbed creating a subtropical effect but burn off by midday. Even in peak summer this part of mid-Devon is sleepy and quiet, apart from the sounds of various birds of prey and corks popping in the café-winebar.

A perfect stopping off point on a long journey turning off the motorway, Bickleigh itself is a noted beauty spot with thatched pubs on the riverfront, although the best food and wine is on offer at the vineyard!

Devon Wine Week begins May 23! full programme of events on www.devonwineweek.co.uk

Updated: information about Tours

Guided Tours every Sunday and Weds 2.30pm - meet the owners and winemaker Juliet White, includes guided tour of vineyard, history of Yearlstone and English wine talk, tour & demo in winery, and full tasting of all wines... £10 per person....

Getting to the Vineyard

Find us on the A396 between Tiverton and Bickleigh - look out for the brown tourist signs.

Leave the M5 at Junction 27 - into Tiverton. Then follow the signs for the A396 Bickleigh/Exeter - or the brown signs for the Devonshire Centre (now defunct but useful as a guide!).

Yearlstone Webmovies

Our friend Markus Kinch of Film 41 has published several Yearlstone web movies on YouTube:
Oz Clarke is a well known fan of English sparkling wine. Here he visits Yearlstone and samples our award-winning Vintage Brut 2006 along with BBC reporter Lotte Duncan.... Our fizz is later tasted to rave reviews by the whole BBC Countryfile team:

In our second Yearlstone web movie, filmed in spring 2008, you can watch the team screwcapping our 2007 wines through our 2500 bottle an hour bottling line brought back from the Mosel in 2007.
Compiled & edited by Film 41.

Yearlstone's first webmovie, topics: practical pruning of vines in a commercial vineyard, vineyard siting, and update on Yearlstone news - filmed autumn 2007.
Compiled & edited by Film 41.