Pebblebed Vineyard
DEBI’s visit in September took place at Pebblebed’s Vineyard in Ebford followed by a wine tasting at Pebblebed’s Wine Cellar in Topsham. Geoff Bowen, owner of the vineyard explained that he is growing four types of grapes on this site. Seyval Blanc and Madeleine Angevine is grown to produce white wine, whilst Pinot Noir and Rondo are used in the rose and in good years a red. The highs and lows of wine making are immense, most of which Geoff explained, is out of control of the grower. This year yield of the harvest is particularly low due to wet weather in June and July which meant the vines fruit set was poor. Interestingly, the quality of the wine is often higher in a low yielding year due to the vines having fewer grapes to ripen.
Geoff has just opened Pebblebed’s Wine Cellar in Topsham which is open daily between 5:30 and 9pm. Offering Pebblebed and other Devon wines as well as local meat and cheese platters, Geoff certainly made DEBI members welcome and we all sampled Pebblebed’s, white, rose and sparkling wine. For more information about pebblebed visit www.pebblebed.co.uk.
