8 hours ago
Luxury East Devon hotel wins awards for its vineyard and gin
A vineyard at a luxury hotel has won awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC).
Lympstone Manor Estate, part of Michael Caines' Devon country house hotel, secured a silver medal for its gin and a bronze for its Eau de Vie de Marc.
This achievement comes from the 2025 IWSC, known as the world's largest and most influential spirits awards.
This year's competition saw entries from four continents, showcasing excellence in various spirit categories.
The judges at the IWSC awarded silver to Lympstone Manor Estate's gin, scoring 93 points.
The gin was praised for its "notes of almond, cherry pie, and nuances of amaretto, with sweet almond flavours to the fore, complemented by juicy fruit and subtle citrus."
The Eau de Vie de Marc was awarded bronze, and its "rich aromas of juicy cherry" and "smooth palate of floral marzipan and sweet cherry pieces" were appreciated.
Michael Caines MBE said: "These awards from the most prestigious spirits competition in the UK mean an immense amount to me and my team.
"From the very start, I believed in the potential not just to produce outstanding wines from our vineyard, but also to craft exceptional spirits that reflect the quality and character of Lympstone Manor.
"These results are a true testament to the care and craftsmanship that go into every bottle, and to the vision we share with our partners at Lyme Bay Winery and Leigh Kearle."
Steve Edwards, director of operations and vineyard management, said: "I am immensely proud of the Lympstone Manor Estate vineyard and our ever-expanding range of beautifully crafted wines and spirits.
"It is no small achievement that every single release thus far has been recognised at the very highest level, and is testament to the quality of both the vineyard site and the team of people associated with it."
In 2018, Michael Caines planted 17,500 vines in the estate parkland to produce high-quality English wines from Champagne varietals - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Meunier.
To mark the hotel's seventh birthday in April 2024, the estate expanded into spirits with the launch of a barrel-fermented Chardonnay, a gin, and an Eau de Vie de Marc.
The Spirit of Lympstone is distilled in partnership with Leigh Kearle using the grape pomace left after pressing the estate's Pinot Noir, Meunier, and Chardonnay, resulting in an aromatic spirit with floral and cinnamon notes and cherry fruit flavours.
The gin, The Essence of the Spirit of Lympstone, is crafted from the marc spirit and flavoured with botanicals, including juniper, orris root, coriander, angelica root, and lemon verbena, creating a refined London dry style.
