Devon’s best food and drink experiences – tours, tastings, workshops and more

Visit a distillery in Devon and explore the world of gin

Thunderflower Distillery  | Near Cullompton
Join Thunderflower to explore their new distillery and sample theiaward-winning spirits. After a welcome gin and tonic, you’ll be taken on a behind-the-scenes tour, where you’ll learn all about the distillation process and the history of the distillery. After the tour, you’ll enjoy a guided tasting of their range.

Finish with a double G&T of your favourite gin from the tasting and enjoy 10% discount on purchases made on the day. Selected Saturdays £25 per person. 10% discount on purchases made on the day.

Gotland Gin | Beaworthy
This unique experience begins in Gotland’s outdoor covered bar with a G&T or soft drink overlooking stunning rolling countryside of west Devon. Then head into the nano-distillery to learn how Gotland Gin is produced.

Next meet the flock of black Gotland sheep – and lambs during lambing season – and relax back in the al fresco bar to learn all about the botanicals while enjoying a few more tasters – and the opportunity to purchase sharing platters to enjoy with your tipple of cheeses, charcuterie and smoked salmon sourced from local artisan makers. £25 per person.

Quayside Distillery | Exeter Quay
Join the gin experts in the lab for a 90-minute experience learning about the fundamentals of a well-balanced gin whilst creating your own unique gin recipe and take home a 70cl bottle of your creation £70. Or opt for an hour with a master distiller where you’ll taste your way through Quayside’s flagship range. £25. Both run on Fridays and Saturdays.

Salcombe Gin School | Salcombe
Take charge of a beautiful mini copper pot still to develop and distil your own 70cl signature bottle. Learn about how Salcombe Gin is produced and what it takes to create a balanced and harmonious gin whilst enjoying a complimentary ‘Start Point & Tonic’ on arrival and a ‘Rosé & Tonic’ whilst distilling. Tour the waterside distillery, develop your own recipe, personalise your label and wooden presentation box. There’s also a chance to enjoy an additional G&T of your very own gin back at the bar, where the expert team will add tonic and garnish to complement your recipe.

For lovers of vines and wines

Most vineyards are delighted to show your round their little patch of heaven and take you on a guided tasting through their vines and wines…but be quick as most tours take place May to September befire the harvest.

Huxbear Vineyard | Chudleigh
Join a walking tour where owner, Lucy, will talk you through the story of Huxbear, their vineyard calendar and winemaking processes. You’ll learn lots in around 90 minutes, followed by a free tasting. Non-walking tours are also available on request and are suitable for people with limited mobility.

Torview Vineyard | Beaworthy
Torview goes a step further than most vineyards and lets you get hands-on at their Winemaking Days. Make six bottles of your own sparkling rose, using the traditional champagne method. Torview’s winemaking day is split over two mornings, spread out over 14 months. Meet the winemakers, pick, destalk, crush, press, ferment, disgorge, cork and cage your own six bottles of sparkling wine.

Sandridge Barton Winery | Stoke Gabriel
The Home of award winning Sharpham Wine near Stoke Gabriel offers several different types of tasting experience, from their Vineyard Safari, to casual self-guided options to in-depth guided tastings and tours for those wishing to learn more about the processes they use in their stunning sustainable vineyard and winery on the banks of the River Dart.

Pebblebed Vineyard Tours | Marianne Pool Farm, Clyst St George.
At Darts Farm’s Pebbled Vineyard, every Thursday & Saturday from May – September. Enjoy a glass of sparkling, before setting off with head winemaker and viticulturalist Alex, for a guided tour of the vineyard followed by an in-depth tasting of all our wines. To finish, enjoy a selection of artisan cheese and charcuterie with a glass of wine in hand, whilst looking out over the beautiful views of the vineyard. £30pp.

Venn Valley Vineyard | near Barnstaple
Vineyard Tours from spring to early October 2024. Tours will run at 10.30am and 2.30pm every Friday and Saturday with a maximum of 10 people per tour.

Alder Vineyard | near Okehampton
April to October £15pp. Embark on an adventure through their Devon vineyard, where laughter and lush vines create unforgettable memories. Savour the essence of Dartmoor with every sip and fall in love with wine like never before

Old Walls Vineyard | Bishopsteignton
Tours run throughout the year, begin at 11am with coffee and finish at approximately 3pm, on Fridays, Saturdays and every first and third Sunday of the month. Arrival and welcome, walk around the vines followed by winery talk, guided tasting, Ploughman’s lunch with wine. £96 per couple (£48 single).

Quoit-at-Cross Vineyard | Stoodleigh Nr Tiverton
A 90-minute tour and tasting twice a week between May and October. Gentle walk around the vines, discussing what it takes to run a vineyard in the UK; next to the tasting room, where you’ll try all three wines, followed by an opportunity to buy any wines or local produce. May 1st – Oct 30th, Fridays 5:30pm, Sundays 11:30am. £12.50pp.

Lily Farm Vineyard | Budleigh Salterton
A guided tour of the vineyard and the Lily Farm story, life cycle of a vine from planting and how they care for the vines throughout the year. A tasting of four award winning still and sparkling wines. The opportunity to buy wine to take home with you. Tours take place May to September – Thursday at 2 pm, Friday and Saturday at 11 am. £15pp.

Wellhayes Vineyard | Tiverton
Guided tours, including wine tasting, are available by appointment on Sundays and Wednesdays at 3pm from May to September. The tour takes about one and a half hours and costs £30pp including a visit to the winery and walk through the vineyard, a glass of Wellhayes Sparkling Wine, samples of the Wellhayes chocolates and a traditional cream tea.

Lyme Bay Winery | Axminster
Private guided tasting sessions in their Cellar Door shop, where they’ll talk you through each wine, where the grapes are grown, how it’s made and give you a few tips to buying wine. You’ll leave with Winemaker’s Notes on each of the wines sampled.

For coffee fans

Do you live with a coffee fanatic? Think you’re a born a barista? Two ethical Devon coffee businesses can help.

Owens Coffee |Ivybridge
A range of courses for coffee lovers. The popular Home Barista Masterclass will elevate your coffee-making skills, while the Latte Art Workshop encourages coffee creativity. A Coffee Tasting & Brewing Course explores different brewing methods, while the Entry Level Barista Course introduces commercial coffee machines and Owens’ Roastery Tour provides a behind-the-scenes peek at coffee production. With an on-site café and shop (dog and child-friendly) The Roastery is the perfect coffee-stop if you’re travelling through Devon on the A38.

Voyager Coffee Essential Barista Course | Buckfastleigh
Master the art of coffee-making at Voyager’s Buckfastleigh roastery with their Essential Barista Training Course. Perfect for aspiring professionals or home enthusiasts, this 3.5-hour hands-on course covers everything from espresso basics to milk skills. With a focus on practical experience, you’ll have ample time to hone your skills on their professional espresso machines. They run dates each month and are always happy to find a date that works for you. Learn more and book your spot HERE or enquire at info@voyagercoffee.co.uk.

Sweet treats

Chocolate and ice cream heaven for big and little ones…

Ilfracombe Chocolate Emporium | Introduction to Chocolate Making

This lovely workshop session includes a talk on chocolate, learn the process of turning a bean into the chocolate you recognise whilst the chocolatier demonstrates how to hand-craft, hand-dip and decorate chocolates. £65 pp. They run several other courses including a ‘Short & Sweet Tutorial’ ideal for children and parents £15pp.

Salcombe Dairy Chocolate Factory | Salchemist Experience
The Salchemist Masterclass begins in the creation kitchen. With a delicious hot chocolate or freshly-ground coffee in hand, you’ll learn the history of Salcombe Dairy and watch a mini demo on how to make delicious Salcombe Dairy ice cream.

Then, down to the Island Street chocolate factory to see the process of bean-to-bar chocolate making in action. You’ll taste the chocolate portfolio, then either make a chocolate bar, fill an advent calendar or hand spin an Easter egg, depending on the season. Lastly back to the creation kitchen to taste twenty-one flavours of ice cream and pick a favourite! Adult £79, child aged 6- 12 £39.

Exe Chocolate | Exeter
Join Nicola Knight, chief chocolate maker at Exe Chocolate, on an exciting journey. Learn how chocolate is made from bean-to-bar, taste up to eight different origin dark chocolates, learn about the makers, and test your tasting skills… then make your own chocolate bar from Nicola’s chocolate handcrafted in Exeter. The session is suitable for vegans.

Tickets cost includes all chocolate samples and materials. £30 per person 22 September at Greendale Farm Shop. exechocolate.com/classes-and-events

Darts Farm Chocolate Masterclass | Returning October 2024.
Watch out for tickets going live HERE.

Join Darts farm’s in-house expert chocolatier, Louise, and learn everything you need to know about chocolate; from origin to chocolate making. Get hands-on making your own box of beautiful truffles. Understand the six-stage bean-to-bar chocolate making process; from roasting, cracking and winnowing to conching, ageing and tempering to make the best, single origin chocolate.