Sandridge Barton: A South Devon Vineyard and Winery on the River Dart
Set into a hidden south-facing bowl on the east bank of the River Dart, just south of the village of Stoke Gabriel in the South Hams, Sandridge Barton is one of the most distinctive English wine producers of the past decade. The 450-acre estate has been home to vines since 2008, while the winemaking legacy behind it stretches back to 1981 and the pioneering Sharpham Wine brand. Today, with a state-of-the-art winery, a contemporary restaurant, three vineyard sites, self-catering holiday accommodation and a year-round calendar of vineyard events, Sandridge Barton has become a flagship destination for English wine tourism in the South West.
The Dart Valley Estate
The Sandridge Barton estate spreads across 450 acres of rolling South Devon countryside between the River Dart and Stoke Gabriel. The site has a long and remarkable history: it was the childhood home of the Elizabethan navigator John Davis, who mapped the Davis Strait between Greenland and Labrador and the Falkland Islands in the late 1500s. His ship Desire appears on the Falklands' coat of arms. During the Second World War, US forces were stationed at Sandridge Barton, and carvings on beech trees along the river still record their presence, as do the remains of an Auxiliary Unit Operations Base in the woods.
Despite that history, the estate is best known today for its vines and the wines made from them. Three distinct vineyard sites, all within a short walk of the visitor centre, produce over 80 tonnes of fruit a year, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Madeleine Angevine, Chardonnay, Bacchus, Pinot Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc.
Sandridge Barton Vineyard
First planted in 2008, three kilometres downriver from the original Sharpham vineyard, the 32-acre main Sandridge Barton vineyard sits in a south-facing bowl that gently slopes towards the Dart, benefiting from the warming influence of the tidal river and the Devon sunshine. The geology here is varied: most of the sandy loam topsoil sits on volcanic tuff called Schalstein, but there are also pockets of limestone and slate. This patchwork of soils gives the team an unusually broad palette of fruit characters to work with.
Stonyfield Vineyard
In May 2021 the team planted a new eight-acre vineyard on a raised limestone bed - once a shallow tropical reef, one of only a few in the UK - using Burgundian and Champagne clones of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier that thrive in limestone soils. The first crop was harvested in 2024 and the wines are currently in barrel.
Reservoir Field Vineyard
The most recent planting, completed in May 2023, is Reservoir Field, an additional eight acres on the site of a former reservoir next to the main vineyard. Here Madeleine Angevine, Bacchus and Pinot Noir Précoce are grown on a mixture of volcanic tuff and limestone bedrock with sandy loam topsoil. The first crop is expected from this site in 2026, marking the third and final piece of the estate's terroir story.
From Sharpham to Sandridge Barton: A 40-Year Story
The Sandridge Barton wines carry a heritage that goes back to the early 1980s. The story begins on the Sharpham Estate, where Maurice and Ruth Ash purchased the property in the 1960s. The couple famously brought their Jersey cows down from Essex by train and began making French-style soft cheese from the milk. They also began planting vines on the sunny south-facing slope overlooking the River Dart.
In 1981, thirteen grape varieties were trialled. The little-known Madeleine Angevine showed the most promise, and the first vineyard was established from it. The first wines were released in the late 1980s and were well received. Crucially, they stood apart from the more Germanic styles then common among UK producers, and the Dart Valley Reserve became the first - and for a long time the only - English wine to be selected as the Co-op's own-brand English wine, selling over 10,000 bottles.
Through the 1990s and 2000s the business grew under Maurice's nephew Mark Sharman. New varieties including Pinot Noir, Dornfelder and Phoenix were planted, expanding both production and the range. Duncan Schwab - still Sandridge Barton's head winemaker and now CEO - joined in 1992, beginning in the vineyard before moving into the winery as a winemaker. The reputation of the wines grew further under vineyard managers Ian A'court and Peter Sudworth, with three consecutive gold medals at the Sommeliers Choice Awards and a Gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards.
When Mark and Duncan were approached by the owners of Sandridge Barton in the mid-2000s about planting their own Dart Valley vineyard, a partnership was forged that allowed Sharpham to grow while honouring its ethos of wine made with Dart Valley fruit. After the original Sharpham vineyard was retired, the Sharpham Trust re-wilded the site and turned the wider estate fully organic.
The final transition came with the move across the River Dart to the new Sandridge Barton estate near Stoke Gabriel. A state-of-the-art winery was purpose-built and the first harvest there was completed in 2020, with the visitor centre opening its doors in June 2022. The Sharpham heritage continues under the new Sandridge Barton label: as the team put it in 2025, "the same team and the same commitment to excellence - now with even more freedom to innovate, explore, and elevate the wines we produce."
The Winery
The new winery was completed just in time for the 2020 harvest. Starting from scratch allowed the team to design it to their exact specifications, with sustainability and minimum intervention at its core.
Alongside the existing press and tanks brought over from Sharpham, the winery has invested in a larger press, a sorting table, more stainless steel tanks ranging from 1,500 to 14,000 litres, additional French oak barrels and two 1,000-litre wooden foudres for experimentation. A dedicated riddling and disgorging line allows sparkling wine production to be completed entirely on site, from grape to finished bottle - and the team now also takes on contract work for smaller local wineries.
The winemaking philosophy is gentle. A sorting table ensures only the best fruit makes it to the press, and temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks allow each fermentation to be carefully managed. French oak is used to mature the reds, just as in old-world cellars. All fermentations rely on indigenous yeast - making winery hygiene paramount - and the team does not use fining agents, gently filters only three of the wines and adds minimal sulphur at bottling. The aim is to honour the fruit and express the climate in each bottle.
Sustainability and Regenerative Viticulture
Regenerative practices are woven into everything at Sandridge Barton. The estate is a proud member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain and a participant in the higher-level Countryside Stewardship Scheme, which means enhancing biodiversity through tree planting, 10-metre wildflower margins and dedicated wildflower meadows. Sections of the estate have been deliberately re-wilded to encourage native wildlife.
In the vineyard, no pesticides or herbicides are used, and from 2025 the team stopped under-vine tilling altogether, relying instead on cover crop plantings to manage weeds and enrich the soil. Spontaneous ferments using only indigenous yeasts, low sulphur additions and gentle handling in the winery continue that approach once the fruit leaves the vineyard.
The buildings reflect the same philosophy: solar panels, rainwater harvesting, air-source heat pumps, a closed-loop aerobic digestion waste system and on-site spring water extraction all help reduce the estate's carbon footprint.
The Wines
Sandridge Barton produces a varied range of still and sparkling wines from its Dart Valley fruit. Current favourites from the shop include:
- Classic Cuvée Rosé 2022 - Bottle £34.00, a Gold-medal sparkling rosé in the new Sandridge Barton livery.
- Dart Valley Reserve 2023 - Bottle £14.95, the estate's longest-running and best-selling wine, synonymous with Devon food.
- East Field Madeleine Angevine 2024 - Bottle £24.00, a single-vineyard white from the iron-rich Devon red soils of the East Field block.
- 'Little Bee' Skin Contact Pinot Gris 2025 - Bottle £23.00, a soft, fruit-driven orange wine from the experimental Don't Feed The Ponies range.
The full range is available from the Sandridge Barton online shop, which also stocks gift cards and vouchers, wine gifts, and the long-running Sharpham cheese range, hand-produced by Sharpham Partnership Limited. A subscription Wine Club is in development, promising exclusive events, members' workshops, access to limited releases and regular member-only offers.
Recent releases and award highlights have included the inaugural New Release 2024, launched annually on the third Thursday of November; 'Sonny' 2022, a Fino-Sherry-inspired white that took Best Innovative Wine and Best Creative White at the Wine GB Awards; the Sandridge Barton Pinot Noir 2022, which took Silver at the Global Pinot Noir Masters 2025 judged by nine Masters of Wine; and 'Chub' Nouveau 2025, the estate's first ever nouveau red.
Tours and Tastings
Three core experiences are offered at the cellar door:
Vineyard Safari - £48 per person
The Vineyard Safari is a full insight into how the award-winning wines are produced, starting in the vineyard and going all the way through to the winery. Lasting approximately two hours, it is the most in-depth experience on offer and ideal for serious wine lovers.
Guided Tasting - £24 per person
The Guided Tasting lasts around one hour, covering three of the estate's wines, a tour of the winemaking facilities and a finishing sample of cheese. Booking is required as the maximum group size is 14.
Self-Guided Wine Tasting - £15 per person
The Self-Guided Wine Tasting is a relaxed one-hour slot in the bar. On arrival guests are given a tasting-note booklet with a 'how to taste wine' guide and can select four wines to taste at their own pace. Bar snacks, cheese and charcuterie boards, coffee and cake are also available from 10am. Bookings of more than six should be arranged by emailing info@sandridgebarton.com.
Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on tours and tastings (Sandridge Barton is a working farm with livestock). Private tours can also be arranged for groups. Gift vouchers are available for both the Guided Tasting and the Vineyard Safari.
ROAM Restaurant
At the heart of the site sits ROAM, the estate restaurant opened in July 2025 and led by local hospitality veteran Ian Alexander. The kitchen is run by Head Chef Sean Blood, whose bold, bistro-style cooking draws on European and Basque traditions, while Miles Tuddenham - formerly of Noble Rot, Planque and Norman's Café - leads the front-of-house team.
The menus follow the rhythm of the land: meat from the farm, vegetables from the kitchen garden and produce from nearby no-dig growers and regenerative farms. The pale-timber dining room opens Wednesday to Sunday, 12pm - 4pm, and is open seven days a week in high summer. Reservations can be made via the ROAM reservations page or by emailing info@roamrestaurant.co.uk / calling 01803 732203 (option 2).
Events at the Vineyard
The estate runs a packed calendar of events under the umbrella Vineyard Vibes and the Ground - Wellness & Workshops programme. Highlights from the upcoming programme include:
- Exhibit: June - Brian & Sheree Sedgbeer Photography (from 1 August 2026, 10am) - Wildlife photography by the Dartmoor-based husband-and-wife team, on show throughout August.
- Dine In The Vines: Sophia Pelizzoli (8 August 2026, 5pm, £65) - A long-table dinner amongst the vines hosted by Sophia Pelizzoli with a tomato-inspired cocktail and three seasonal courses.
- Sculpt & Wine (9 August 2026, 12pm, £70) - A hand-building pottery workshop with Lizzie Kirwan, with a glass of wine in hand.
- Vineyard Vibes Saturday Sessions: Balearic House with James G & Friends (8, 22, 29 August and 5 September 2026, 4pm, free) - Open-air DJ sessions blending dub-tinted disco and sun-soaked house.
- Vineyard Vibes Presents: Sunset Social Club (15 August and 12 September 2026, 4pm, free) - Saturday afternoon house-music takeover.
- 6AM Club Yoga Pop-Up (16 August 2026, 9am, £10) - A sunrise-style outdoor yoga session in the Dart Valley.
- Mark Barnwell Spanish Guitar (30 August 2026, 1pm, free) - Acoustic Sunday with the Spanish guitarist.
- Misuzu Matsumoto Harpist (31 August 2026, 1pm, free) - Bank Holiday Monday harp on the lawn.
- Stretch & Sketch (13 September and 1 November 2026, 9.30am, £55) - Yoga and life drawing workshop led by Ashleigh and Ian.
- Fermenting Workshop (16 September and 18 November 2026, 10am, £40) - Two-hour hands-on fermenting session.
- Vineyard Vibes Saturday Sessions: James Harris Saxophone (19 September 2026, 4pm, free).
- Written in stone & stars: An evening of Dartmoor archaeology (24 September 2026, 6.30pm, £7.21).
- Fabric Block Printing Workshop (26 September 2026, 10am, £65).
- Exhibit: October - Lizzie Kirwan (from 1 October 2026, 10am) - Lizzie's first solo exhibition, 'Becoming'.
- Spoon Carving Workshop (9 October 2026, 9.30am, £65) - Led by Alex Finberg, author of Spoon Carving: From Log to Spoon.
- Wild Words: An evening of Dartmoor stories & encounters (22 October 2026, 6.30pm, £7.21).
- Vineyard Vibes Autumn Sessions: Ambient House with James G & Friends (31 October 2026, 4pm, free).
- Fabric Wreath Making (14 November 2026, 10am, £45) - Includes a hot drink on arrival and a four-wine flight.
The full programme, including recurring monthly quiz nights, runs throughout the year.
Stay at the Estate
Three self-catering holiday properties are available on the estate:
- Sandridge Barton House - A six-bedroom Georgian farmhouse set among the vines, once home to John Davis. Sleeps up to 12, with an indoor heated pool, games barn and south-facing terrace.
- The Boathouse - A lovingly restored 1850s two-bedroom hideaway on the banks of the River Dart, accessed via 71 steps through ancient beech woodland.
- Lower Well Farmhouse - A four-bedroom converted farmhouse next to the winery, restaurant and shop. Dog-friendly and ideal for food and wine getaways.
All three properties sit in the South Hams Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, a short distance from the beaches of Torbay, Brixham, historic Dartmouth and Totnes, and National Trust properties including Agatha Christie's Greenway.
Meetings, Events and Corporate Hire
The estate also offers two event spaces for private hire:
- The Vine Room - A light, open conference space set in the heart of Lower Well Farm, with a bespoke elm table and views over the small vineyard and orchards. Half-day hire is £200 and full-day hire is £350, with coffee from local roaster The Curator and Exmoor Tea included.
- The Gallery Bar - The main tasting barn, fully renovated but retaining original features. Suitable for drinks receptions and larger conferences for up to 40 people, with a fully stocked bar and canapé-style bar snacks available.
Packages can be tailored with wine tours, tastings and lunch from ROAM.
Planning Your Visit
Opening hours
The cellar door is open daily 10am - 5pm, and 10am - 8pm on Fridays and Saturdays. ROAM restaurant serves lunch Wednesday - Sunday, 12pm - 4pm, with a bar menu available when the restaurant is closed.
Getting there
Sandridge Barton is less than a mile's walk from Stoke Gabriel. The nearest train stations are Totnes and Paignton, both five miles away and both on the main line from London Paddington; the 'Gold' bus to 'The Parkers Arms' connects with the '125' to 'Four Cross Lanes', after which it is a 0.6-mile walk. Local taxis include Torbay Taxis (01803 211611), Roadrunner (01803 732834) and Badger Cabs (01803 840400). Free parking is available in the parking barn on site, with disabled parking and gravel bays for longer vehicles.
The what3words reference for the entrance is elephant.cheered.rollover.
Contact
Phone: 01803 732203. Email: info@sandridgebarton.com. ROAM: info@roamrestaurant.co.uk. Bookings for accommodation should be emailed to stay@sandridgebarton.com.
FAQs
Common questions answered:
- Can I bring my dog? Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome - please clean up after them, as the estate is a working farm with livestock.
- Are there parking and electric-car charging points? There is ample parking in the parking barn, with disabled spaces and gravel bays for longer vehicles. EV charging is not currently available but is on the future plans.
- Can children attend tastings? Under-18s cannot drink alcohol but are welcome on the self-guided tasting, which is the most family-friendly option.
- Do you serve food? Yes - a bar menu is available every day and ROAM serves lunch Wednesday - Sunday.
- What should I bring? Suitable footwear and clothing for walking around the vineyard and winery.
Latest from the Cellar Door
Recent highlights include the introduction of a Single Vineyard Range drawn from the East Field, Stonyfield and Reservoir Field sites; an exploration of what orange wine actually is (and how the estate's bestselling 'Little Bee' came to be); and the announcement of the 2025 harvest - the earliest the team has ever picked, beginning on 10 September and finishing on 13 October, with the inaugural 'Chub' Nouveau 2025 joining the Don't Feed The Ponies range.
The winery is active on Instagram, Facebook and X (Twitter).