Devon Has a Wine Scene, and It Is Brilliant
Something remarkable has happened to English wine over the past decade. What was once a polite curiosity has become a serious, award-winning, internationally recognised industry. And Devon is right at the heart of it. The county's rolling hills, mild maritime climate, and south-facing slopes turn out to be rather good at growing grapes, and a new generation of winemakers is producing sparkling wines, crisp whites, and delicate rosés that genuinely rival their Continental counterparts.
The best part is that you do not need to fly anywhere to experience it. Within a short drive of Exeter, you can walk through working vineyards, taste wines where they are made, and spend an afternoon doing something that feels special without feeling pretentious. Wine tasting in Devon is refreshingly down-to-earth — muddy boots, vineyard dogs, and winemakers who are just as happy chatting about the weather as they are about terroir.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone who already knows their way around a wine list, this guide covers the best wine tasting experiences in and around Exeter for 2026 — vineyard tours, wine schools, tasting events, cheese pairings, and everything in between.
Vineyard Tours Near Exeter
Devon has more vineyards than most people realise, and several of the best are within easy reach of the city. A vineyard tour is one of the best day trips from Exeter and one of the most enjoyable ways to spend a few hours — walking through vines in the open air, learning how wine is actually made, and finishing with a tutored tasting that makes every sip more interesting than the last. If you have never visited a working vineyard, you are in for a treat.
Pebblebed Vineyard, Topsham
If you only visit one vineyard near Exeter, make it Pebblebed. Located at Clyst St George near Topsham — roughly fifteen minutes from the city centre — this award-winning single estate vineyard produces sparkling and still wines that are genuinely world-class. The setting is gorgeous, the wines are excellent, and the whole experience feels like a proper afternoon out rather than a quick pit stop.
Tours run on Thursdays and Saturdays through the summer season. You are greeted with a welcome glass of Pebblebed sparkling wine, then guided around the vineyard where you will learn about the different vine varieties and the particular challenges of growing grapes in Devon's maritime climate. The tour finishes with a guided tasting of their sparkling and still wines, paired with farmhouse cheese and artisan charcuterie — a combination that works beautifully. Tours can be booked through the Darts Farm website.
Pebblebed is at Marianne Pool Farm, Clyst St George, EX3 0NZ. Combine your visit with a walk along the Exe Estuary trail or lunch in Topsham, which has some of Devon's best food and drink. If you enjoy the cheese pairing, our Devon cheese guide covers the producers behind the boards.
Pebblebed tours run even in poor weather — this is Devon, after all — so bring a layer. Children are welcome at no extra charge, and wines are available to buy from the cellar door. The sparkling wine makes an excellent gift if you are visiting friends.
Swanaford Estate, Teign Valley
Just six miles from Exeter in the beautiful Teign Valley, Swanaford Estate is a family-run vineyard producing award-winning sparkling and still wines from grapes grown on south-east-facing slopes looking towards Dartmoor. It is one of the closest vineyards to the city and one of the most relaxed.
Guided tours and tastings run every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. The tour walks you through the vines before returning to the tasting barn to taste through the range. Call ahead on 07956 306 872 — they are open most days but it is worth checking.
What makes Swanaford special is the informality. You can book a guided tour, or simply drop in for a self-guided wander with a wine flight, visit the shop, or just enjoy a glass or a cheese or charcuterie board. The Friday tours are particularly lovely — there is something about tasting wine in a vineyard with the sun on the hills that makes a working week feel properly finished.
Kenton Park Estate
Kenton Park Estate does things differently, and that is exactly why it is worth visiting. This boutique vineyard near Powderham — about twenty minutes south of Exeter — has built a reputation for experiences that go well beyond a standard tour and tasting.
Their Wine and Cheese Experience includes a vineyard walk, tastings of at least four wines, artisan sparkling cider, and a proper deli feast platter served in one of their unique dining spaces — the outdoor Olive Tree Courtyard, the Pavilion with vineyard views, or African-style safari huts set amongst the vines. Groups are kept small for a more intimate feel.
Kenton Park also runs Wine Safari experiences and relaxed summer evenings with Devon seafood and cocktails amongst the vines. Larger groups and private bookings can be arranged directly.
Huxbear Vineyard, Chudleigh
Huxbear Vineyard is a family-run estate in the Teign Valley near Chudleigh — about twenty minutes from Exeter — producing low-intervention, estate-grown wines that have won awards for letting the fruit speak for itself.
Tours run on specific dates from April to September, lasting around 90 minutes with a tasting, and it is one of the more relaxed and unfussy vineyard experiences in the county. Non-walking tours are available on request for people with limited mobility, and dogs are welcome. Check their website for 2026 dates, as they book up. Huxbear also pops up at events including English Wine Week celebrations at John Lewis in Exeter.
Wider Devon Vineyards Worth the Trip
Sharpham Wine at Sandridge Barton, near Totnes
About forty-five minutes south of Exeter, Sandridge Barton is home to Sharpham Wine — one of the most established producers in the English wine scene. Their visitor centre offers a proper destination experience.
Guided tours take you through the vineyard with tastings, finishing with Sharpham's own cheese — the dairy is on the same estate, making this the most genuinely local wine-and-cheese pairing in Devon. Self-guided tasting flights are also available.
The on-site restaurant ROAM serves seasonal menus featuring estate-reared meat and kitchen garden vegetables. Pair it with a trip to Totnes for a full day out.
Lyme Bay Winery, Axminster
Lyme Bay Winery in Axminster is one of Devon's most decorated producers. What sets them apart is the range — alongside still and sparkling wines, they produce fruit wines (elderflower, cherry, strawberry), cider, mead, and spirits.
The Cellar Door is open through the week — check current hours before you set off — and guided tastings (one to two hours) cover how to taste, where the grapes are grown, and how each wine is made. Pre-booking is essential. Lyme Bay is two miles west of Axminster off the A35 — pair it with a visit to the Jurassic Coast.
Lily Farm Vineyard, Budleigh Salterton
Lily Farm is a small, family-run boutique vineyard established in 2005, producing award-winning wines within walking distance of Budleigh Salterton and the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is tiny, it is charming, and the wines — still whites, reds, rosés, and sparkling — punch well above their weight.
Guided tours run from Thursday to Saturday, end of May through September, and last around 90 minutes including a tasting of three still wines. Outside of tour times, you can visit the cellar door to buy bottles, and in spring and summer you can enjoy a glass at the foot of the vineyard. Wine tasting here is an adults-only experience.
Lympstone Manor
For the luxury end of the spectrum, Lympstone Manor near Exmouth offers vineyard tours as polished as you would expect from a hotel of its standing. The estate vineyard holds 17,500 vines — Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay — producing single vineyard status sparkling wines.
Tours run every Tuesday and Friday between May and September, lasting around 45 minutes, finishing with a guided tasting of their Classic Cuvée. The real draw is the dining: upgrade to the eight-course signature menu, or opt for a three-course meal in the Pool House Restaurant overlooking the Exe Estuary. Few experiences in Devon match it for a celebration or date night.
Most Devon vineyards run tours from roughly Easter to September, so summer is peak season. Book ahead — popular time slots at Pebblebed, Swanaford, and Sharpham fill up weeks in advance, especially on Saturdays. Weekday tours tend to be quieter and easier to get.
Wine Schools and Courses in Exeter
If you want to go deeper than a single tasting — to understand why you like what you like, and how to talk about it without feeling like a fraud — Exeter has some genuinely excellent options for wine education. These range from casual evening sessions to internationally recognised qualifications.
Devon Local Wine School
The Devon Local Wine School runs fun, accessible wine courses at all levels. Their motto is "wine tasting for everyone," and they mean it. Courses cover everything from introductory tastings through to professional qualifications for people looking to develop wine careers. Sessions are designed to be sociable as much as educational — you will taste, compare, discuss, and almost certainly leave having discovered something new.
Rebecca Mitchell Wines
Rebecca Mitchell is a consultant sommelier and WSET-accredited educator with 25 years in the wine trade, and she runs some of the most respected wine courses and events in Devon.
For formal qualifications, she teaches the WSET Level 1, 2 and 3 Awards in Wines, plus WSET Level 1 and 2 in Spirits, in person and online. The WSET Level 2 is a serious but worthwhile commitment if you want structured knowledge — ask her directly about dates, venues and fees.
For something more relaxed, Rebecca hosts private and corporate tasting events in Exeter, including informal tutored tastings and comparative blind tastings. If you are organising a group outing, a birthday, or a team event, a hosted tasting with Rebecca is hard to beat. For more ideas on hosting social evenings, see our guide to cooking classes and supper clubs.
Exeter College Evening Courses
Exeter College runs an evening course on wine appreciation and tasting, typically on Monday evenings. The programme covers basic tasting technique, distinguishing Old World from New World wines, and identifying key grape varieties. It is designed for complete beginners — no prior knowledge needed, just an interest and a willingness to try things.
This is a good option if you want something structured but low-pressure, spread over several weeks rather than crammed into one intensive session. Check the Exeter College website for current term dates and fees.
Not sure whether a course or a tasting event is right for you? If you just want a fun evening with friends, go for a one-off tasting event. If you want to genuinely build your knowledge and confidence, a structured course like WSET Level 1 or the Devon Wine School sessions will give you a foundation that changes how you drink forever. Our beginner's guide to wine tasting covers the basics to get you started before your first session.
Wine Tasting Events in Exeter
Beyond vineyards and classrooms, Exeter has a growing calendar of wine tasting events that make for excellent evenings out — especially if you are looking for something social that does not involve standing in a loud pub.
Rendezvous Wine Bar
Rendezvous in Southernhay is Exeter's most established wine bar, and they regularly host wine tasting events alongside their normal service. Tastings can be arranged at lunchtime, mid-afternoon, or early evening, depending on minimum numbers. They can plan a tasting to suit your budget and group size, and can arrange hosted events with Rebecca Mitchell as sommelier if you can provide the venue.
For upcoming event dates, check their social media or the events board in the bar. Even without a formal tasting event, Rendezvous is the kind of place where the staff will happily talk you through anything on the list — the hidden garden out back is one of Exeter's best-kept secrets for a summer evening.
Hotel du Vin
Hotel du Vin on Magdalen Street runs regular wine tasting events with their sommelier team — small group, guided tasting, with food pairings included. These are excellent for both beginners and enthusiasts, and make a fine date night too. The hotel's entire identity is built around wine, and the list draws from every major producing region in the world. Check their events page or ask at the bar for upcoming dates.
Majestic Wine Exeter
For a relaxed, no-pressure introduction, Majestic Wine on Bridford Road runs in-store tasting events throughout the year. Their Introduction to Wine session is a short overview of basic tasting technique and key wine styles from around the world. The atmosphere is deliberately casual — you are in a wine warehouse, not a formal setting — and the staff are genuinely enthusiastic. Sign up to the Exeter store mailing list for dates.
Wine and Cheese Pairings
Wine and cheese is one of those combinations that sounds obvious but becomes genuinely revelatory when someone who knows what they are doing puts the right pairings together. Devon happens to produce both excellent wine and exceptional cheese, which makes this part of the country uniquely placed for pairing experiences. If you enjoy Devon's local produce, this is the very best of it.
Lyme Bay Winery and Quicke's Cheese
One of the standout events in the Devon food and drink calendar is the Lyme Bay Winery and Quicke's Cheese Pairing Tasting, which typically runs as part of the annual Taste East Devon Festival in September. Two of Devon's finest artisan producers come together — Lyme Bay's award-winning wines matched with Quicke's celebrated clothbound cheddars and other cheeses. If you love both wine and cheese, this is unmissable. Check the Taste East Devon website for 2026 dates.
Pebblebed Vineyard
Every Pebblebed tour finishes with a tasting of their wines paired with farmhouse cheese and artisan charcuterie. It is not a dedicated cheese event, but the pairing is thoughtfully done and gives you a taste of how wine and cheese work together in a beautiful vineyard setting.
Sharpham Wine and Cheese
Sharpham at Sandridge Barton is the ultimate Devon wine-and-cheese destination, because the estate produces both. Their guided tours include Sharpham cheese alongside the wines, and the pairing feels completely natural — the same land, the same climate, the same philosophy. Our Devon cheese guide has more on the producers worth seeking out, and our food and drink pairing guide covers the principles behind great combinations.
If you enjoy wine and cheese pairings at a vineyard, try recreating the experience at home. Pick up a bottle from the cellar door and a wedge of local cheese, then host your own tasting evening with friends. Our guide to building a monthly supper club has practical tips for making it a regular thing.
Seasonal Events and Festivals
English Wine Week (June, annually)
English Wine Week is the national celebration of English and Welsh wine, and Devon's vineyards join in enthusiastically. It runs each June — in 2026 it fell on 20–28 June. Watch WineGB for the 2027 dates.
Expect open days, special tastings, vineyard tours, pop-ups, and dinners across the county, including Huxbear Vineyard's pop-up at John Lewis in Exeter, Pebblebed tours at Darts Farm, and vineyard events at Swanaford and Kenton Park Estate. It is the best week of the year to explore Devon's wine scene, with many vineyards offering extended hours.
Taste East Devon Festival (September)
The annual Taste East Devon Festival is a nine-day celebration of East Devon's food and drink, typically held in September. Wine features heavily — vineyard tours at Pebblebed and Lily Farm, wine and cheese pairings at Lyme Bay Winery, and special wine dinners at venues like Darts Farm and Lympstone Manor. Watch the festival website for the current programme.
Wine Tasting as a Social Experience
There is something about wine tasting that makes it one of the best social activities going. Unlike a pub visit where the background noise makes proper talking difficult, wine tasting gives you a shared focus — something to look at, smell, discuss, and have opinions about. It creates conversation naturally, and it does not matter whether you are an expert or a complete novice. Everyone's palate is different, and that is the whole point.
Most vineyards and wine schools listed here welcome group bookings. Swanaford's Friday tours are perfect for a casual end-of-week gathering. Kenton Park Estate's small-group experiences suit celebration groups. Rebecca Mitchell can bring a hosted tasting to a venue of your choice. And a day trip combining two vineyards — Pebblebed in the morning and Swanaford in the afternoon — makes for a genuinely memorable experience.
If you are looking for a Devon cider alternative, several vineyards also produce artisan cider, and a combined wine-and-cider trail makes for an excellent day out. Pair a tasting with dinner at one of the best restaurants in Exeter — several of the city's top kitchens feature Devon wines on their lists.
Planning a vineyard day trip with friends? One person will need to drive (or you could book a taxi), as most vineyards are in rural locations. West Country Wine Tours used to run guided day trips from Exeter covering multiple vineyards with a driver — check locally for similar current offerings, as they let the whole group taste without worrying about the road home.
Practical Tips for Wine Tasting in Devon
What to wear. Vineyard tours involve walking on uneven ground and longish grass. Wear comfortable shoes you do not mind getting muddy — trainers are fine, heels are not. Bring a layer even in summer.
Booking. Most tours need to be booked in advance, especially weekends. Cellar door shops (Lyme Bay, Lily Farm) are generally open for drop-ins during published hours.
Getting there. Most vineyards are a fifteen to forty-five minute drive from Exeter. Pebblebed is the closest (fifteen minutes), followed by Swanaford (twenty minutes). Public transport is limited, so a car or taxi is recommended.
Budget. Vineyard tours in Devon span from a straightforward guided walk and tasting to a full food-and-wine afternoon — check each vineyard's own booking page for current pricing. Factor in a bottle or two from the cellar door; most people cannot resist after tasting.
For beginners. Do not feel intimidated. Devon's vineyard scene is relaxed and welcoming to complete newcomers. Nobody expects you to identify grape varieties by smell. If you want a head start, read our beginner's guide to wine tasting before you go.
Your Devon Wine Tasting Itinerary
If you want to explore Devon's wine scene properly, here is a suggested approach.
Start in the city. Visit a tasting event at Rendezvous or Hotel du Vin, or book an evening course at Exeter College to build your foundations.
Go local. Book a tour at Pebblebed or Swanaford — both close to Exeter, affordable, and give you a genuine understanding of how Devon wine is made. Pair with lunch in Topsham or a walk along the Exe Estuary.
Make a day of it. Drive to Sharpham at Sandridge Barton or Kenton Park Estate for a longer experience combining vineyard, food, and landscape. Bring friends and make it an event — or combine it with a morning at the beach for the perfect Devon summer day.
Go seasonal. Time your explorations around English Wine Week in June or the Taste East Devon Festival in September for the widest range of events. Our events and festivals guide has the full calendar.
Keep exploring. Exeter's wine bars are excellent places to continue glass by glass, and our guides to date night ideas and restaurants will help you build wine into a broader evening out.
The Devon wine scene is thriving. A decade ago, suggesting someone visit a vineyard in Devon would have raised eyebrows. Today, it is one of the best things you can do with an afternoon. The wines are world-class, the settings are beautiful, and the people making them are genuinely delighted when someone turns up wanting to learn. If you are new to Exeter, a vineyard tour is a brilliant way to discover the county. All you have to do is book a tour and show up.