Unfortunately, we were unable to celebrate Lympstone Manor’s fourth birthday this month but I did raise a glass for a different reason.
For last week I was privileged to taste the fruits of our labours - literally.
Myself, our operations director Steve Edwards and a journalist were able to sample the wine that has been fermented from the first crop harvested from our vineyard.
Our Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier grapes will be blended by Lyme Bay Winery to create a high quality English Lympstone Manor Cuvée.
The first batches are incredible and on a par with anything being produced in the UK at the moment.
It was a hugely exciting moment for me and the team who have been working so hard to turn this dream into a reality.
We expect the first bottles of Pinot Noir, next spring and we will have to wait until spring 2024 for the sparkling wine.
Back in Exmouth we finally opened Café Patisserie Glacerie.
This is the first franchise from my partnership between myself and Sylvain Peltier, who I have worked with for more than two decades
Café Patisserie Glacerie is a celebration of Sylvain’s artisan skill, creativity and originality, Italian inspired gelato and artisan coffee.
Sylvain’s modern French pastries are totally unique and testament to that is the fact that we sold out every day in the first week of launch!
I apologise to anyone who missed out and we are working hard to meet demand but all of our cakes and pastries are hand crafted and can’t be mass produced.
Our machinery is also going at full capacity to provide our range of delicious gelatos made with Devon milk and cream in our gelato laboratory within the cafe.
Meanwhile, because they are self contained, we have been able to reopen shepherd's huts at Lympstone Manor - and they have been fully booked.
It’s rewarding to see these green shoots appearing after the last traumatic 12 months.
I realise not everyone is as lucky as I am however, and that the future for many is looking uncertain.
My sincere hope is that the recovery from this terrible pandemic is swift and that life will soon return to normal.
Let’s do all we can to help and support each other to make that happen.