FOOD & DRINK
Bacchus 2020 - a complex white made from grapes sourced from their 100-acre Kit ’ s Coty vineyard on the North Downs of Kent , the rich Kits Coty Chardonnay 2020 , and finally the Three Graces 2017 - a delicious sparkling wine created using traditional grapes ( Chardonnay , Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier ) and traditional methods .
Every last drop consumed , we strolled through Chapel Down ’ s manicured grounds and made our way back to the buses , which were ready to transport us to our next destination - an all important pit stop for lunch .
The eatery in question was The Woolpack in Tenterden - a 15th century inn offering a traditional , yet contemporary feel . The pub is owned by Balfour Hush Heath Estate - another Kent winery , located in Staplehurst . So , although we weren ’ t paying the vineyard a visit during our trip , we thought that to accompany the food ( included in the Wine Tours of Kent package ), we ’ d order their sparkling wine flights (£ 10pp ) to sample some of Balfour ’ s finest wines . Along with the Leslie ’ s Reserve Gold and Rosé wines , also included in the flight was a tasting of their Leslie ’ s Reserve Red - a sparkling red wine which was both unusual and delicious .
Lunch and wines devoured , it was back to the minibuses to make our way to our final destination of the day - Herbert Hall winery in Marden .
In stark contrast to Chapel Down ’ s slick appearance , Herbert Hall is a boutique , rustic winery where just 20,000 bottles of their organic , single estate , traditional method sparkling wines are produced a year . Owned by Nick Hall , whose great grandfather Herbert Hall once owned the farmland where the vineyard is situated , what the site lacks in facade , it more than makes up for in charm .
Nick himself acted as our guide - talking us through the brand ’ s history , offering insightful anecdotes , and generously topping up our glasses , too .
Nick , a former journalist is a captivating storyteller and lively character , and while we sipped on Herbert Hall ’ s 2018 Brut ( made from Chardonnay , Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes ) and their limited edition Brut Rose , Nick regaled us with tales of his family ’ s farming history , how he came to find a passion for winemaking , and how Herbert Hall ’ s wines found themselves to be a firm favourite of Highgrove House - the residence of His Majesty King Charles III .
In the summer months , Herbert Hall ’ s grounds are opened up for visitors to enjoy picnics in the sunshine , all washed down with their phenomenal sparkling wines - and we ’ re sure a repeat visit will be on the cards in the not-too-distant future .
Sadly , this marked the end of our Wine Tours of Kent adventure - we reluctantly climbed aboard the minibuses and set our sights on home , while revelling in what an enjoyable day we ’ d had .
If you love wine and want to sample some of Kent ’ s finest offerings with your nearest and dearest before your nuptials , then we can ’ t recommend a day out with Wine Tours of Kent enough . We did the private wine tour with two vineyards and lunch (£ 120pp ) but there are lots of other options too , including more vineyards , overnight stays and even in-house tastings where the team comes to you and offers you a guided tasting of a range of Kent wines .
www . winetoursofkent . co . uk
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