Lympstone Manor will be marking its one year anniversary with the planning of a vineyard within the beautiful 28-acre estate on the East Devon Exe estuary this April. The team will be planting approximately 18,000 vines to produce classic champagne-method sparkling wines, helped by the microclimate at the site that is suited to growing grapes.
“From the first time I viewed the property in July 2014, my intention was to establish a vineyard on the site. The great vineyards of Europe are all located on rivers, the Médoc châteaux of Bordeaux on the Gironde, wine estates along Rhône, Loire, and Rhine rivers, the great port vineyards of the Douro. Why not the Exe estuary? Our climate is mild, and the success of other local vineyards has convinced me that it will be possible to produce outstanding wines here. Wine is a huge passion of mine and is an integral part of what we offer at the hotel, so I can’t wait to share our very own Lympstone Manor Cuvee with my customers,” said owner and chef Michael Caines.
Overseeing this project alongside Michael and Operations Director, Steve Edwards, will be James Matyear, who has joined the Lympstone Manor team as Vineyard and Grounds Manager. He will play an important role in the ongoing growth, pruning and harvesting of the vineyard for the eventual release of the first batch of Lympstone Manor Cuvee in October 2023 with the future aim to create still wines.
Wine is an integral part of the Lympstone Manor experience. There are two basement cellars comprising of 600 bins, as well as a wine tasting and dispense room opposite the dining rooms located on the ground floor.
Lympstone Manor will hold a series of events throughout 2018, including a three-day ‘Festival of Vine Planting’ from Thursday 26th of April until Saturday 28th of April. Guests will experience a three-night stay at the country house hotel, a tour of the vineyard and the opportunity to plant their own vines, a picnic lunch in the vineyard, a tour and tasting of Lyme Bay Winery, followed by a gala dinner at Lympstone Manor hosted by the head winemaker at Lyme Bay, Liam Idzikowski.
