Lympstone Manor to plant its own vineyard

Michelin-starred Lympstone Manor will be planting its own vineyard within the 28-acre estate next month.

Marking the hotel and restaurant's one-year anniversary of opening, the team will be planting approximately 18,000 vines to produce classic Champagne-method sparkling wines.

Owner, chef Michael Caines, said: "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 Cuvée with my customers."

James Matyear has joined the Lympstone Manor team as vineyard and grounds manager and will be overseeing the project alongside Caines and operations director Steve Edwards.

The first batch of Lympstone Manor Cuvée is expected in October 2023, with the future aim to create still wines.

The venue will hold a festival from 26-28 April which will include a three-night stay and a tour of Lympstone's vineyard, with the opportunity for guests to plant their own vines, have a picnic lunch in the vineyard, a tour and tasting at Lyme Bay Winery and a gala dinner at Lympstone Manor hosted by Lyme Bay's head winemaker Liam Idzikowski. Lympstone Manor will eventually host an annual wine harvest festival from 2020.

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