Pebblebed winery in successful equipment test

Pebblebed Vineyards, located near Topsham, Exeter in Devon, is reporting that its “new winery and tasting room is coming on well,” says winemaker Geoff Bowen.
He says: “We tested all the equipment such as the grape press, grape destemmer and pumps yesterday – all went well,”
The good news from his investment will balance the damp conditions that have affected the vineyard.
Bowen says: “It has been a difficult year – just so wet. This affects the vines in two ways – firstly the wet weather during flowering June/July affects the flower blossom – the vines self- pollinate and heavy rain can easily wash away the pollen – and secondly the wet and warm weather is ideal conditions for disease, particularly downy mildew. This gets into the canopy and damages the grapes which have set.
“[It is not] all doom and gloom because we do grow at Pebblebed a number of disease resistant varieties such as our Seyval Blanc and Rondo Grapes. So we do have a small crop – not the 40,000 bottles we had hoped for but may be similar to last year – about 7,000 bottles perhaps – but we will see.”
On Sunday, September 9 from 11am till 5pm, the vineyard has an Open Day at its Clyst St George Vineyard. All proceeds will go to Hospiscare.