Wellhayes Vineyard

Award-winning wine, hand-made in Mid Devon

Nestled in the rolling hills of Mid Devon, Wellhayes Vineyard is a testament to the passion and dedication of Alison and Simon Routh, who embarked on their wine-making journey in 2008.

They began with only 150 vines over five rows, each showcasing a different grape variety – Reichensteiner, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Bacchus. Over the years, they have expanded their vineyard to a full hectare, now boasting a total of 2,500 vines and winning a series of awards for their wonderful sparkling wines!

Simon and Alison produce their outstanding wine right on-site in their old stone barn, utilising traditional methods. The vineyard’s red Devon soil is deep and well-drained, providing the perfect conditions for the vines, whose roots thrive by diving deep down and taking in all the best nutrients! You can find out more about their production process and take a tour of the vineyard and winery at one of their esteemed tours, which run from May to September each year. The Vineyard tours £30pp which includes a glass of award-winning sparkling wine, a traditional Devon cream tea and samples of the Wellhayes liqueur truffles. If you are lucky, you can even attend a concert, which they hold in the barn overlooking the vineyard over the Summer months.

Wellhayes signature sparkling wine is an award-winning delight. But what really sets this wine apart from that produced by other English vineyards of its scale is that they undertake the whole wine-making process using solely the grapes that they grow in the adjoining vineyard. The wine undergoes a meticulous ageing process in their newly built wine store, built into the hillside. Having spent a minimum of 3 years ‘on the lees’ the wines has acquired a depth and sophistication that enhances its character. With its gentle mouse, fresh fruit and light acidity, the wine is therefore a true expression of what comes off the vineyard each year; and this means that each year’s vintage is truly unique and a genuine description of location.

Recent vintages have received a number of awards. The 2019 vintage received a Bronze medal in the International Wine Challenge and the Independent English Wine Awards, and a Silver medal in the Food Drink Devon Awards; and the 2020 vintage received a Silver medal in the Independent English Wine Awards and the Food Drink Devon Awards and a Bronze in the International Wine Challenge. In addition, the luxury liqueur truffles that they also priduce have been awarded Gold medals by Taste of the West and Food Drink Devon.

You can find their produce on their online store, or at a selected number of outlets across Mid Devon and Somerset such as: Corks & Cru, Bampton, Tantivy, Dulverton, and the Withypool Stores.