Our rolling landscape is home to some of the most exciting wine producers in England. Whether you’re already partial to a tipple of Kentish wine, or you’re just popping the cork on the best our county has to offer, now is the time to visit the vineyards, so take a peak and raise a glass to this year’s harvest (Kentish, of course).
Remember, if you're out and about exploring Kent's vineyards this season, don't forget to share your stories with us on Instagram and Twitter using #winegardenofengland. To find out more about Kent's vineyards, visit the Wine Garden of England website.
Kent's oldest vineyard welcomes their visitors to embark upon a self-guided tour by immersing into the vines at their family owned business. The self-guided tour includes a tasting flight of 3 of their wines, as well as a fruity insight into their family vineyard history and the grape varieties they grow to make their exclusive Biddenden wines. Another tour that might tingle your taste buds is the Meet the Winemaker. Upon arrival you will be greeted and refreshed, before being taken on a journey around the vines to discuss the wines with the person who made them.
As England’s leading vineyard, no tour of Kent’s wine country would be complete without a visit to Chapel Down. 22 acres is waiting to be explored in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so don’t expect to cover it all in one visit. The best way to capture the taste of the renowned vineyard is to take the tour, so book on for a visit to the winery and a tutored tasting, or why not sit and sip over a delectable dinner in the Swan Restaurant and just take it all in?
Gusbourne’s Kentish vineyard rolls across more than 60 hectares, so keep your eyes peeled and see if you can spot their three grape varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, on a tour this season. Speaking of Chardonnay, in celebration of English Tourism Week, Gusbourne are thrilled to see the launch of their new vintage Chardonnay Guinevere 2020. You will also find one of their Michelin-starred Chef Series pop-ups at the Fordwish Arms on June 24th!
Tucked away in the countryside, Balfour Winery at Hush Heath Estate offers a tempting mixture of award-winning wine, vineyards, and laden apple orchards on their exclusive evening tours. Harvest celebrations don’t come much better than this, so take the tour and sip on their sensational selection of wines and ciders for the ultimate late summer shindig. For a more relaxing taste of fun their Cellar Door Tasting Masterclass could be the tour to book. The tour involves tasting six Balfour Wines, where you can learn the technique of wine tasting without the bravado.
To toast the arrival of English Wine Week, why not join one of Simpsons Wine Estate’s weekday Tasting Experiences? Nestled in the elegant Glass House Tasting Room, which offers a wonderful vantage point overlooking Simpsons’ world-class winery, discover more about the story of the Estate and enjoy a guided tasting of award-winning still and sparkling wines. Visit their website to discover more. Booking is essential.
Why limit yourself to one vineyard while exploring the Wine Garden of England? SmoothRed Wine Tours allows you to travel across Kent through its many vineyards, experiencing the very best in bespoke, tailor-made wine tours for the budding sommelier. With meticulously researched itineraries that include luxurious award winning hotels, acclaimed Kentish pubs, and of course, tasting a wide range of the country's finest wine produce every day, a SmoothRed tour is a must for the oenophile.
Set in the Kent countryside at Hawkinge, with views across the English Channel, Terlingham Vineyard is a family-run vineyard. In just ten years, owners Graham and Lorna Wilks, together with their daughters Jackie, Caroline, and Ashleigh, have poured their passion for wine and sustainability into creating an eco-friendly vineyard that’s winning awards for its wines. With tasting tours, wellness retreats, and accommodation all on the onsite menu, Terlingham offers the ultimate escape in Kent.
With so many vineyards to discover in the West Kent countryside alone, you may fancy some much needed electric pedal power to send you on your way! Grab a map and an electric bike from Biddenden-based UK Electric Bike Centre and effortlessly pedal through some of Kent's most picturesque Wealden villages on-route to tastings and tours at some of our favourite vineyards. Whether you choose to take on one of their self-guided routes, or fancy gathering a group together for a bespoke tour, it's the perfect way to get together and explore.
Many of Kent’s very best vineyards sit right on the doorstep of Romney Marsh Shepherds Huts, and they’ve partnered with Wine Tours of Kent who will collect you from your Shepherds Huts and take you on a day long tour with tastings, with lunch included too! Nearby, explore Biddenden, Chapel Down, Gusbourne and Woodchurch to name just a few, and once you’ve finished your day there’s little better than enjoying a glass or two of local wine whilst taking in the countryside views from the huts. A bottle of Biddenden Ortega is also included with every stay, so if you’re looking to fully immerse yourself in the Wine Garden of England, this is the perfect place to stay.
Sit back, relax and let Wine Tours of Kent take you on your journey to discovering the finest of Kent's wineries. Take in the views of the picturesque countryside whilst traveling in a tour mini bus, until you arrive at one of England's award-wining vineyards. Choose from one of their Tours and Tasting experiences designed for you to discover, taste and enjoy the day!
