Yearlstone Vineyard - Devon's Oldest Vineyard

A small well-made range of white, rosé and red wines - along with a fine sparkling Brut. So says David Moore, the Louis Roederer and Glenfiddich wine writer of the year in his new book A Guide to The Wines of England & Wales (cowritten by Philip Williamson and Neville Blech, available from Amazon). As readers of David's well-known series Behind the Label know, these give in depth tasting notes on the top wines of most wine regions. We'll show you what David thought of some of our top wines below.

We are proud that Yearlstone won more awards at this year's national English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008 and regional South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008 than all but four other english vineyards.... We show the awards our wines have won against each wine, and again at the end.

The first batch of our new fizz, 2006 Vintage Brut, is now available, and selling really well after being recommended by Oz Clarke last year! Later batches, including a pink fizz, will be bottled over the summer after 15, 18 and 24 months on the lees. English wine is light and fresh with wonderful aromas - making it perfect as an aperitif or to accompany light seasonal English food - as served in Charlotte's Kitchen.

Yearlstone's Number 1 2007 - typically English mouthwateringly refreshing dry white wine... great with spicy nibbles or seafood.....

Zingy, grassy dry white wine made from Reichensteiner. A perfect aperitif, also goes well with seafood and light dishes.

2007 Vintage now on sale.

The prizewinning 2007 vintage won Highly commended in the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008 and a Silver Medal in the South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008.

GRAPES: Reichensteiner.
Regional Wine Status. Alcohol 11.5%.

Yearlstone Number 2 2007 - Soft and Floral Dry White

Light, floral and easy drinking, this muscaty white wine goes well on its own, or with fish or chicken.

2007 Vintage now on sale.

GRAPES: Madeleine Angevine and Bacchus.
Regional Wine Status. Alcohol 11.5%.

Yearlstone Number 3 2007 - Delicate Dry Rosé

David Moore writes: A fresh and immensely enjoyable rosé, a blend of Pinot Noir, Madeleine Angevine and Seyval Blanc. The white grapes add a floral and fresh edge to the structure and soft grip of the Pinot Noir. Enjoy this as an aperitif or with food

The prizewinning 2007 vintage won a Silver Medal in the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008 and a Highly Commended in the South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008.

GRAPES: Pinot Noir, Madeleine Angevine and Seyval Blanc.
Regional Wine Status. Alcohol 11.5%.

Yearlstone Number 4 2007 - Light Fruity Red

David Moore writes: Produced from Rondo and Dornfelder this has a typically full, juicy almost brambly fruit character. Soft and approachable with excellent underlying acidity holding everything together.

2007 Vintage now on sale.

This vintage won a Bronze Medal in the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008.

GRAPES: Rondo and Dornfelder.
Regional Wine Status. Alcohol 11.5%.

Yearlstone Number 5 2007 - Aromatic Dry White

David Moore writes: This is a varietal Siegerrebe, not dissimilar to a Gewurztraminer, with a very aromatic quality. It's essential to drink as young as possible to benefit from these spicy as well as fragile aromas.

This vintage just won a Bronze Medal in both the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008. and the South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008.

2007 Vintage now on sale.

GRAPES: Schonburger.
Regional Wine Status. 11.5% alcohol.

Yearlstone Number 6 2007 - Barrel Aged Dry White

David Moore writes: Arguably the best of the whites. A fine blend of Pinot Gris and Reichensteiner and Madeleine Angevine. An impressive weight and minerality here. The wine benefits from a limited period in small barrels adding both depth and structure. This is less obviously aromatic than the the other three whites.

The 2007 vintage is now on sale, and won a Silver Medal in the the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008 and a Highly Commended in the South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008.

GRAPES: Pinot Gris, Reichensteiner and Madeleine Angevine.
Quality Wine Status. Alcohol 12%.

Yearlstone Vintage Brut 2006 - Traditionally made Sparkling Wine

David Moore writes: From 100% Seyval Blanc. Classic Champagne method vinification with whole bunch pressing and only the first 50% of the juice used. Good fruit purity and depth with additional complexity offered by 15 months on the lees.

The first batch (9 months on the lees) of our 2006 fizz is now on sale, and won Bronze Medals in both the the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2008 and the South West & Wales Wine Competition 2008. The second release of the 2006 Vintage Brut is due in July - 15 months on the lees. A pink Vintage Brut will also be available in midsummer - and further releases of 2006 fizz will be made after 18 and 24 months on the lees. We hope these later batches will be even better than our first batch.

GRAPES: Seyval Blanc. Quality Wine Status. 12% alcohol.

Wine can be ordered and will be packaged up for collection at the vineyard. Wines can be mixed. We usually run out of many of the wines by September.

Complete List of 2007 Vintage Awards

Here's a complete list of all the awards our 2007 vintage wines have won in both the national and regional competitions of 2008:

English and Welsh Wine of the Year		South West & Wales Wine
No 1: Highly commended award. No 3: Silver Medal winner. No 4: Bronze Medal winner. No 5: Bronze Medal winner. No 6: Silver Medal winner. Vintage Brut: Bronze Medal winner.		No 1: Silver Medal winner. No 3: Highly Commended award. No 5: Bronze Medal winner. No 6: Highly commended award. Vintage Brut white: Bronze Medal winner. Vintage Brut rosé: Bronze Medal winner.