Modbury, Ivybridge, Devon

Lot 3: The Vineyard & Winery

Calancombe has an impressive and comprehensive winery & event space to complement the extensive south facing vineyard with its far-reaching views. The vines really add to the charm and character of this delightful valley setting and form the basis of an award-winning established business. The winery and venue are thoughtfully set around 180 metres (590 feet) away from the residential properties along a private driveway.

Calancombe’s viticulture journey began in 2011 when Caroline & Lance Whitehead bought the Calancombe Estate with a vision to enhance and develop its glorious setting and excellent winemaking qualities. Caroline & Lance identified a unique microclimate, which coupled with its south-facing slopes and free draining soil, means the Estate is ideally suited for its award-winning wine production.

Caroline & Lance produce the finest quality white, and rosé wines, both still & sparkling, from grapes grown exclusively on the Estate. All aspects of production from picking the grapes to making, bottling and labelling the wines, are undertaken in house using the purpose-built winery. The Estate also makes the finest quality gins (Dartmouth English Gin and Dartmouth Navy Strength Gin), still and sparkling cyders, cassis and Calvados-method apple brandy, from apples grown on site.

Vineyard plantings extend to about 23 acres and commenced in 2012 with approximately 5,800 Pinot Noir vines, followed in subsequent years with 3,400 Bacchus, 1,100 Pinot Gris, 3,900 Madeleine Angevine, 2,000 Pinot Noir Précoce, 1,000 Chardonnay and 2,250 Ortega with a final planting of 3,500 Pinot Noir in 2022. The range of grape varieties enables the Estate to create a fascinating range of high quality still and sparkling wines, including the possibility of red wine in a good year. In addition, Caroline and Lance have planted over 1,500 cyder apple trees (all traditional South-West varieties), plus damson and mirabelle trees, and 3,000 blackcurrant bushes.

The business, still in its infancy, is well structured, stocked and organised to enable further growth and development.

The top-quality and well-maintained equipment (available by separate negotiation) includes everything required for winemaking, distilling, bottling and labelling, for both still and sparkling wines cyders, cassis, gin and cyder brandy. The winery includes a 20kw roof mounted solar array enabling much of the equipment to be operated at zero cost. There is also a diesel generator for three-phase power.

The vineyards continue to develop and increase in yield year on year. The harvest in 2023 produced approximately 30,000 bottles of wine. When the field of pinot noir (planted in 2022) comes into production, annual wine production could be in the region of 45,000 bottles per year. Similarly, the apple harvest is getting larger as the trees mature which will allow the development of bespoke still and sparkling cyders and brandy. In the same year the Estate also produced 3,000 bottles of cassis from home grown blackcurrants.

The business also includes a 230 litre Müller Brennereianlagen Aromat copper still, incorporating a unique patented design which make an exceptionally smooth spirit. This produces the award-winning Dartmouth English Gin and Dartmouth Navy Strength Gin as well as apple brandy from apples grown on the Estate. The Gin School has proved to be a popular attraction with up to 20 guests making their own gin with 10 copper alembic stills.

The winery includes an inspirational space for tasting and dining including a cellar door shop which is also available for family parties, office gatherings and celebrations, with tailored menus produced by amazing chefs. There is a fully equipped commercial kitchen set up for catering for events (up to 60 guests) as well as for restaurant service and to support tours and tastings.

The wines, gins, cassis and cyder have all won awards including Wine GB, Independent English Wine Awards, Taste of The West Gold Awards, Great Taste (one and multiple two star awards), Craft Distilling Gin of the Year 2018, Food and Drink Devon Gold Awards, Small Visitor Attraction Of The Year 2023 for Devon and third overall for the whole of the South West of UK.

There are many ways in which the business could be developed from the excellent foundation achieved by the current owners. If you would like to discuss any of these, please contact the selling agent. Further details of the business are available following first inspection.

All the machinery, winery and distilling equipment is available to purchase by separate negotiation, as is the wine stock.

The property is situated between Dartmoor National Park and the South Devon coast, just 2 miles from the pretty town of Modbury and 14 miles from Dartmouth and Salcombe. South Coast beaches are 8 miles away. Calancombe is therefore perfectly located for travellers, tourists and locals alike.

Tourism and business opportunities abound in this area, which is favoured for its highly attractive rolling countryside, its proximity to several excellent beaches, towns and villages and a choice of premium hotels, retreats, pubs, bars and restaurants.

Calancombe Estate is just 4 miles from the A38, the main arterial route through South Devon, offering very good access but well away from any traffic noise.

General

Method of sale:
The Calancombe Estate is offered for sale as a whole or in lots by private treaty.

Tenure:
The property is sold freehold with vacant possession on completion.

Services:
Winery: Mains electricity plus Solar PV plus 3 phase generator; Private Water; Klargester; Satellite broadband.

Wayleaves, easements and rights of way:
The property is being sold subject to and with the benefit of all rights including; rights of way, whether public or private, light, support, drainage, water and electricity supplies and other rights and obligations, easements and quasi-easements and restrictive covenants and all existing and proposed wayleaves for masts, pylons, stays, cables, drains, water and gas and other pipes whether referred to in these particulars or not.

There are no public rights of way.

In the event of a sale in lots, the purchaser of Lot 3 will be required to create a new access track to the south of the stream.

Sporting, timber and mineral rights:
All sporting timber and mineral rights are included in the freehold sale, in so far as they are owned.

Planning:
All prospective purchasers are to rely on their own planning enquiries. The winery operates from a building granted approval under prior notification for an agricultural building in 2014 with an extension approved under full planning (ref 1373/16/FUL) in 2021 for storage associated with the work of the farm and vineyard.

Fixtures and fittings, machinery, equipment & stock:
The vineyard & winery/visitor centre machinery and equipment and all stocks and all items usually regarded as tenant’s fixtures and fittings and equipment, including fitted carpets and curtains, together with garden ornaments and statuary, are specifically excluded from the sale. These may be available to the purchaser by separate negotiation.

Covenants and/or restrictions:
There may be restrictions/ covenants listed on the Land Registry Title deed, details of which will be made available by the vendors’ solicitors on request.

Local authority:
South Hams District Council.

VAT:
Any guide price quoted or discussed is exclusive of VAT. In the event that a sale of the property, or any part of it, or any right attached to it, becomes a chargeable supply for the purposes of VAT, such tax will be payable in addition.

Health and safety:
Given the potential hazards of a working estate & vineyard we ask you to beas vigilant as possible when making your inspection for your own personal safety, particularly around the buildings, equipment, machinery and water.

Viewing:
Strictly by confirmed appointment with the vendors’ agents, Strutt & Parker in Exeter .