Between the vines at Torview
When I asked owner Tim Gowan why Torview Wines produces mainly red wines, his answer was simple: he enjoys red more than white. His response perfectly captures the flexibility of a small winery and the approach at Torview, where every bottle is produced with care to suit each variety and each vintage.
Planted in 2007, the family-run vineyard in Devon is home to 7,000 vines across 10 acres, growing varieties such as Rondo, Pinot Noir, and Dornfelder. The nearby tors of Dartmoor act as a rainbelt and help moderate the wind. Even so, Devon’s wet climate, combined with rising temperatures, increases the risk of disease.
“One of the worst things you can do is leave the soil beneath the vines completely bare,” Tim tells me. By allowing weeds to grow directly under the vines, excess moisture is absorbed, and the greenery reduces vine vigor. This creates a thinner canopy, letting in more sunlight and improving airflow, overall reducing the need for chemicals. At Torview, pesticide use is limited to extreme circumstances. Spraying is capped at five times a year and only every other row needs treatment thanks to the thin canopy.
Between the vines, you’ll find tall grass reaching up to two feet high. Each year, Tim leaves the grass to grow between every other row. This is then cut at the end of the season and left to rot down to release nutrients back into the soil. What began ten years ago as a time-saving measure to allow him more time with his children has brought with it a whole host of benefits.
Since adopting cover cropping, Tim has not needed to use any artificial fertiliser on the land. Fewer tractor passes mean less diesel use and reduced soil compaction. Wildlife flourishes too, as the long grass provides an ideal habitat for butterflies, dragonflies, hedgehogs, mice and owls. And, as originally intended, it also provides the gift of time. Instead of being stuck on a tractor mowing, Tim can spend his time elsewhere – for example, experimenting with wool in the vineyard.
Last year, during a particularly wet period and a slug infestation, Tim laid fleeces under the vines to see if they would help. Slugs’ aversion to lanolin was clear: the wool-covered row had no slugs, while rows without wool averaged 3-4 per vine. Tim has also been using data loggers to measure wool’s impact on soil temperature. So far, he’s found wool to be especially beneficial under young vines, as it warms the soil, retains moisture, and stimulates root development. The trials are still ongoing, but Tim hopes to create a new market for local sheep farmers.
In the winery, the focus is on making the best of what mother nature brings each year rather than creating a consistent style. For example, the underripe grapes from 2024 were ideal for sparkling wine. Bottle lightweighting is another priority. Over the last few years, still bottles have been lowered to an average weight of 440g. Tim plans to further reduce this, but notes the challenges of sourcing lighter bottles as a small winery.
Another packaging initiative at Torview focuses on reuse. During their weekly deliveries to local restaurant customers they collect the empty bottles, resulting in a win-win: the restaurants save on the disposal charge of glass, and Torview gets free bottles. Once again, the answer is straightforward: “If I can bring the bottles back, why not?” asks Tim.
Read more about Torview Wines here.
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