Author: Faye

5 March 2018

As well as being situated in the East Devon AONB and part of the Jurassic Coastline the vineyard is also situated in what is known as Raleigh Country, named after the Elizabethan courtier and explorer,
Sir Walter Raleigh, who was born at Hayes Barton in East Budleigh.

Events to honour Sir Walter will be taking place throughout 2018 and our new 2015 Quality Sparkling Wine is named ‘Raleigh Brut’ in celebration of Raleigh 400 marking the 400^th anniversary of his death.

28 January 2017   

A fantastic start to 2017 when Faye received an invitation from Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall to a Reception at Clarence House celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the United Kingdom Vineyards Association.  Every guest was introduced and given the opportunity speak with the President.  I mentioned that Lily Farm is one of the smallest commercial vineyards in England and that we produce a whole range of wines including award winning red wines, HRH said that she would certainly keep an eye on us!

Highgrove Cuvee was the chosen sparkling wine for the occasion and the evening culminated in the cutting of a cake which was fashioned in the shape of a large green bottle of sparkling wine. For security reasons photographs were not allowed.

13 December 2015                                                                              

What a humbling experience to be voted by the readers of Devon Life Magazine into the finals of the Food & Drink Awards 2015. On the 5 November we attended a splendid awards ceremony held at Sandy Park, home of Exeter Chiefs and won! Thank you to everyone who voted for us, we are so pleased that you enjoy our wine.

Once again we say a big thank you to all of the volunteers who helped us with the harvest, we could not manage without you and we look forward to catching up every year with our friends. Bringing in a good harvest is always a huge relief as it is what we work for all year and although 2015 gave up a little less than we normally pick, the sugars were just right and for Rondo and Pinot Noir, were the highest we have ever achieved going into the press at the winery with Steve Brooksbank, our winemaker, confirming an astounding 101Oechsle.

Harvesting the grapes does not mean that our work is finished as winter is a busy time of year with many essential tasks to perform in the vineyard. Immediately after the grapes have been picked we wind in the nets that have protected them before the vine growth turns woody and becomes difficult to remove. Following on swiftly, we remove the tendrils wrapped around the wires for exactly the same reason.   As soon as the vines have lost their leaves and moved into their dormant state we start to prune and tie them down. Rebalancing the soil with fertilizer and manure, replacing wooden posts where needed, trimming hedges and keeping the stream clear of leaves and debris, servicing machinery and equipment, we can’t wait for the summer when things quiet down!

The vineyard shop is open every Friday and Saturday before Christmas and if you happen to be passing by at other times and see us working in the vineyard, do call in, but if we do not see you then we take this opportunity to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous NewYear.

16 June 2015                                                                                                                               

We seem to move through the vineyard year now with some rapidity and it seems only yesterday that we were pruning the vines followed by a visit to Bagborough and Steve Brooksbank our winemaker, to taste our three new wines BacchusDry, Rosé and our first white Sparkling Brut.

In March we welcomed our MP The Rt Hon Hugo Swire to Lily Farm and a week later we experienced the eclipse taking some memorable photographs of the whole experience.

The vineyard visiting season is now well upon us with Saturdays sometimes very busy and we have had to run a tour in the morning as well as in the afternoon.   Many of our visitors notice with some surprise the amazing variety of birds around the vineyard.  Woodpeckers, buzzards, kestrel, the hobby and its amazing high speed aerial manoeuvres, the grey heron fishing the pond in the early morning and in the evening the tawny owl using the vineyard posts to aid the hunting of small mammals are just some.  Alan and I love to watch them all and we believe that they rather enjoying watching us too.

31 December 2014                                                                                                                  

2014, proved to be an exceptional year for the English Wine Industry with perfect growing conditions and record yields of top quality grapes at harvest time.  For Alan and I, it was a year that exceeded all our expectations at Lily Farm with our first entry in the International Wine Challenge achieving a Silver Award and a first Gold Award, in the South West Vineyards Association Competition.

We do have some sad news to convey to our many helpers who know us well and we are sorry to inform you that Uncle Fred unexpectedly passed away on Boxing Day.  He was a fountain of knowledge and always a pleasure to see, we enjoyed his visits and valued his advice and help, particularly at harvest time, when weighing in the crates.  Fred Tregay RIP,  he was one of the old school and our condolences go to Ann, Peter and all their family, we will miss him.

As we move into 2015 the vineyard shop will continue to open on Friday and Saturday 10.30am – 3.30pm but if you are passing by you may well find us working in the vineyard most days as we start the important job of pruning, do pop in.  It all seems to come around so quickly but, it is true to say that each year is quite different keeping everyone in the industry on their toes!

Finally, I would like to thank you for all your wonderful support and help this year and to wish you all a Happy And Prosperous New Year!

23 October 2014

Dear Ann, Peter, Fred, Chris W, Wendy, Andy, Riki, Karen, Andy, Kate, Debbie P, Roger, Helen, Paul, Rachel, Diana, Gina, Joan, Sue, Matt, Mike, Pauline, David, Tony, John, Ian, Carol, Freddie, Debbie, Chris M, Simon, Maggie, John, William, Kyrie and Lesley.

Thank you for your help and support during an intensive 16 days, a critical and crucial time of this 2014 vineyard year.  We could not have brought in a record 6 tonnes of grapes from our 4 harvests without you and every one of you made it ‘A Good Year’ at Lily Farm.

7 June 2014                                                                                                                              

The month of May has just flown by and we have seen many visitors, a sure sign that East Devon is a great place to holiday.  Alan and I enjoyed our evening at Westpoint  on 21 May 2014 celebrating the Devon Farm Business Awards where we were one of the three nominees for ‘Best Diversification Award’.  Congratulations to Greg Page-Turner of Woodhayes Farm, Honiton who took the Award and to our neighbours Peter and Di Wastanage of Tidwell Farm who are Devon Farmer of the Year.  Our coffee morning for Budleigh Salterton Age Concern raised £100 despite the rain and many thanks to everyone who supported the event.  We are rather proud that our 2010 Sparkling Rosé is now available in John Lewis at Oxford Street, W1.

The vineyard and guided tours have received a Certificate of Excellence from Trip Adviser and I had great pleasure in delivering a Guided Tour Gift Voucher to the Archant competition winner Mrs S. Springthorpe of Exmouth, we look forward to showing her and her guests around Lily Farm.  A big Thank You to Archant who do such a great job in supporting all things local in this area.

17 May 2014                                                                                                                                       

Three new 2013 wines are now available (see Our Wines) and they will be joined by a 2013 Lily Farm Red in time for English Wine Week,  24 May 2014   to   1 June 2014.  The vineyard shop will be  open all week 10.30 am to 4.00 pm and Guided Tours of the Vineyard, priced at £7.50 per person, will take place at 2.30 pm every day, booking is advisable by contacting 07977 057864.

Also, this week is Lions Gala Week in Budleigh Salterton and we will be holding a Coffee Morning in aid of Budleigh Salterton Age Concern on Friday the 30 May 2014 10.30 am to 12.30 am.

18 April 2014                                                                                                                                         

Lily Farm Vineyard has been nominated for the ‘Best Diversification Award’ as
part of the 2014 Devon Farm Business Awards.  Organised by the farming charity
Addington Fund in association with Stephens Scown Solicitors and Devon County Agricultural Association, the Awards celebrate the important role of farmers and food suppliers and their contribution to the economy of Devon.  We will bring you further news at the end of May.