Swanaford Estate, Teign Valley, Exeter, Devon
Ben and Caroline Goulden planted their vineyard in 2013 and quickly realised that this was not going to be a stroll in the park. They began their venture by getting fully qualified as viticulturists and also bringing in a team of specialist German viticultural experts to plant their 10,000 vines. Looking after vines is a full-time venture and they soon discovered that squeezing in wine-making, marketing, sales and deliveries can be a pretty tight fit!
Today, Swanaford is a small, boutique vineyard producing superb sparkling and still wines from grapes grown on their southeast-facing slopes in the Teign Valley. The 4-hectare vineyard, located six miles to the southwest of Exeter, is planted with Champagne clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to create traditional method sparkling wines. The Classic Cuvée 2018 and the Sparkling Rosé 2018 both won Golds at Independent English Wine Awards. In addition, the Gouldens have a block of Bacchus and Siegerrebe which produces delicious, easy-drinking white wines.
