Pebblebed Vineyard at Darts Farm: English Sparkling Wines in the Exe Valley
Set on the low, sunny slopes above the Exe Estuary just outside Topsham in Devon, Pebblebed Vineyard is the in-house wine estate of Darts Farm - the much-loved family farm shop that has been serving the Westcountry for more than five decades. Pebblebed is best known for its bottle-fermented English sparkling wines, made by head winemaker Alex, and for the relaxed, working-farm atmosphere in which visitors can taste them.
Unlike many vineyard experiences that sit alone in the countryside, Pebblebed is woven into a much bigger Devon food story. A vineyard tour here can easily be paired with a long lunch at The Farm Table, a pint on the Terrace Bar overlooking the estuary, a walk around the wetlands or a few hours pottering in the food hall.
Where Pebblebed Vineyard Sits Inside Darts Farm
Darts Farm itself is anchored at Topsham, Devon (postcode EX3 0QH), a few minutes from the M5 and the Exe Estuary trail. The farm shop has been run as a family business since the early 1970s and is now widely recognised as one of the best farm shops in the UK, famous for its Master Butchers, deli counter, fresh vegetables picked from the fields outside the door and a growing range of eateries. The 2025/2026 season is the farm's 55th anniversary, which the team marked with a Summer Festival in June.
Pebblebed Vineyard is the agricultural and winemaking arm of that estate. The vineyard itself is located at Marianne Pool Farm, Clyst St George, near Topsham, Devon EX3 0NZ - a separate site from the main farm shop, but just a short hop down the road. The Pebblebed "community harvest" model brings local volunteers into the vineyard at picking time, and the same sense of community carries through into the cellar and the bottle.
The wider Farm & Vineyard section of Darts Farm also includes the Farm Walk & Wetlands, the Play Area & Animal Corner (home to native Poll Dorset sheep, British Saddleback pigs and the famous Ruby Red Devon cattle), the fishing ponds and a hen house - so a vineyard visit can easily be combined with a full family day out.
The Pebblebed Wines
Pebblebed's core range is built around traditional-method English sparkling wine, produced from grapes grown on the sandy, free-draining soils that give the vineyard its name. The two flagship wines appear regularly on the Darts Farm wine list and online shop:
- Pebblebed Sparkling White - the classic house sparkling, sold in 750ml bottles and featured in festive selections and hampers at Christmas.
- Pebblebed Sparkling Rosé - the rosé expression of the same style, often singled out by the cellar team as a particular favourite with summer picnics and the PYO sunflowers event.
Both wines are made in the bottle-fermented style more commonly associated with Champagne, taking advantage of the cool maritime climate of the Exe Valley. The site is on the same latitude as parts of northern France, and the gentle sea breezes coming inland off the estuary help give the grapes a long, even ripening window.
In June 2026, Darts Farm announced that Pebblebed had picked up two silver and two bronze medals at the Independent English Wine Awards (IEWA) - a strong result against the wider English and Welsh wine field and a useful marker of how far the cellar has come in recent vintages. The medals were framed as part of a wider boom for Devon vineyards.
Visiting the Vineyard: Tours and Tastings
The most popular way to experience Pebblebed is via the official Pebblebed Vineyard Tour & Tasting, which returns every year for the warm months of the season.
Pebblebed Vineyard Tour & Tasting - 2026 Season
Tours run every Thursday and Saturday from May through September. Each tour takes you out into the vineyard at Marianne Pool Farm, through the winery, and ends with a structured tasting of the current sparkling wines. The full 2026 schedule can be booked online, with the next highlighted date being Thursday 17 September 2026 alongside the regular Thursday & Saturday slots.
Tickets are sold via the Pebblebed Vineyard Tours listing in the Darts Farm shop, with full details at the tour event listing. Tour bookings are taken by phone on 01392 878 355.
Practical Info for Visitors
- Address: Marianne Pool Farm, Clyst St George, Nr Topsham, Devon EX3 0NZ.
- Tour days: Thursdays & Saturdays, May - September.
- Bookings: Online via the Darts Farm events calendar or by calling the vineyard team on 01392 878 355.
- Nearby stay: The George and the Dragon, right next door and within walking distance of the vineyard, is the most convenient base, while Lympstone Manor offers a more special option.
- Pebblebed contact: Tel 01392 878355; email via dartsfarm.co.uk.
How Pebblebed Fits into a Day at Darts Farm
One of the biggest selling points of a Pebblebed visit is how seamlessly it plugs into the rest of the Darts Farm offer. A typical day might look like this:
Morning - Coffee and Pastries
Start at Cow & Cacao Café (open Monday - Saturday 9am - 5pm, Sunday 9:30am - 4pm). The café serves brunch, sourdough pizzas, smoothies, homemade gelato and the bean-to-bar chocolate that is made on site at Cow & Cacao.
Late Morning - The Vineyard
Head down to Marianne Pool Farm for the Pebblebed tour and tasting. Allow around 90 minutes for the full experience.
Lunch - The Farm Table or The Yard Restaurant
Back at the farm shop, you have three main options:
- The Farm Table - the AA Rosette restaurant that takes "food off the farm & into the fire." Open for lunch Monday - Tuesday 12pm - 3pm, Wednesday - Saturday 12pm - 3pm, Sunday 12pm - 4pm, and supper Wednesday - Saturday 6pm - 9pm. Booking recommended via OpenTable.
- The Yard Restaurant - a relaxed all-day kitchen for breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and Devon scones. Walk-in only, Monday - Saturday 8am - 5pm, Sunday 9:30am - 4pm.
- The Terrace Bar - open Monday - Thursday 9am - 5:30pm, Friday - Saturday 9am - 5:30pm with the bar running until 9pm, Sunday 9:30am - 4pm. Sourdough pizzas, small plates and Pebblebed wines by the glass.
Afternoon - Farm Walk, Shopping or Fishing
Burn off lunch on the Farm Walk & Wetlands, stop by the Master Butchers and Deli, or unwind with a session on the fishing ponds (£10 for 12 hours, £20 for 24 hours, concessions £8/£18).
Late Afternoon - Drinks on the Terrace
Finish the day with a Pebblebed glass on the Terrace Bar as the sun drops over the estuary.
Events Calendar Around the Vineyard
Darts Farm runs an extensive What's On programme through the year, and several of those events either take place in or around the vineyard, or pair naturally with Pebblebed wines.
Pebblebed Vineyard Tour & Tasting
Every Thursday & Saturday, May - September. The headline event for any wine-focused visit. Book online.
Pick-Your-Own Sunflowers for Hospiscare
Open daily 10am - 4pm through the sunflower season (typically late summer). All profits go to Hospiscare, the local hospice charity. Recommended donation £2.50 per stem. The Sparkling Rosé is the Darts Farm team's go-to pairing for a PYO afternoon.
Live Sessions on The Terrace Bar
A summer-long series of live music evenings on the Terrace Bar, with wood-fired pizzas, small plates, cocktails and Pebblebed wines. Tickets include a welcome drink and run on multiple dates across July, August and September.
Kimchi Workshop with Rachel de Thample
Thursday 17 September 2026, with two sessions at 10am - 12:30pm and 2:30pm - 5pm. A fermentation workshop with Rachel de Thample, exploring kimchi as a gut-health ingredient.
Run Club
A free 5K along the Exe Estuary trail, now running twice a month. Sign up online.
Amazing Maize Maze
The seasonal family maize maze raising money for The MND Association, typically opening mid to late August depending on the weather.
Darts Farm Pumpkin Fest
Autumn pick-your-own pumpkins and family activities. Dates are confirmed closer to the season.
Tulip Fest
A spring event when the Darts Farm fields burst into colour with thousands of tulips.
Bike Hire
The Darts Farm site sits at the start and finish of the 26-mile Exe Estuary Trail. Bike hire is available for adults, children, tandems, e-bikes, tag-alongs and trailers, with helmets and locks included. Three-hour hire from £10 (child seat), full-day hire up to £85 (family 2+2 pack).
Buying Pebblebed Wines
The full Pebblebed range sits within the Darts Farm online shop under From our Vineyard. The Sparkling White and Sparkling Rosé are sold individually and are featured in seasonal hampers such as:
- The Darts Farm Hamper - raw honey, bean-to-bar chocolate and Pebblebed sparkling wine.
- Fizz, Cheese & Charcuterie Hamper - built around Pebblebed fizz for slow snacking.
- The Ultimate Darts Farm Hamper - the flagship selection, including sparkling and still wines from the Pebblebed Vineyard.
You can also buy Pebblebed by the glass at The Terrace Bar and The Farm Table, or pick up bottles from the Drinks Cellar in the food hall, which focuses on small-scale, independent producers.
Sustainability and the Wider Estate
Pebblebed sits within an estate that is increasingly built around sustainability. The Ruby Red Devon cattle on the wetlands are part of a regenerative grazing project that has featured on BBC Countryfile, the wetlands themselves have been developed with the RSPB to support native bird populations, and the team raises tens of thousands of pounds each year for local charities - £63,882 in the past year alone.
Useful Contacts
- Darts Farm main switchboard: 01392 878 200
- Pebblebed Vineyard bookings: 01392 878 355
- Email: via the contact form at dartsfarm.co.uk/contact
- Darts Farm address: Topsham, Devon EX3 0QH
- Pebblebed Vineyard address: Marianne Pool Farm, Clyst St George, Nr Topsham, Devon EX3 0NZ
Whether you arrive for a vineyard tour in high summer, a long lunch with Pebblebed fizz on the terrace, or simply to pick up a bottle of Sparkling Rosé from the food hall, the Pebblebed experience is quintessentially Darts Farm: rooted in the land, generous with the people who come to enjoy it, and quietly building a reputation as one of the most exciting English sparkling producers on the south coast.