Enjoy local wines with your real food

Following a fine summer for growing grapes in the UK, Devon vineyards have a lot to celebrate, and an Exeter city centre food store is promoting their success.

A range of locally produced Devon wines has just been launched at the Real Food Store in Paris Street.

Three vineyards, all within 12 miles of the city, are supplying wine to the community-owned store which opened in March 2011.

They are: Pebblebed at Clyst St George, Yearlstone at Bickleigh, and Manstree-based at Shillingford St George.

Jo Hawkins, one of the directors of the store, said they are delighted to introduce the range.“English wines have a justified reputation for quality and, with their freshness and light styles, are a delight to drink with or without food,” she said. “What could be better than serving a Devon wine with a locally-sourced meal or celebrating with a sparkling Champagne-method rosé?”

Geoff Bowen of Pebblebed said 2013 has been their biggest harvest ever.

“After an amazing effort by all our helpers, we’ve picked 45 tonnes of grapes which equates to about 40,000 bottles,” he said. “More than double our best year to date. We could not have done this without the wonderful support and help from all over our community.

“In total we must have had about 500 people help us pick the grapes over the four week harvest period.”

The wine launch at the store coincides with the opening of a new exhibition of linocut prints by Cathy King and Jeremy Speck.

The original article, written by Bridget, appears on The Express and Echo website.