Jo
FOOD + DRINK
On The Grapevine
Your local vineyard is brimming with fruit during August, so it’ s the perfect time to visit. The grapes will still be looking green and they will taste very bitter, but over the next few weeks they will start to ripen, a period called véraison. Right now it’ s important that we have less rain and as much sun as possible, to ensure we get the desired sugar accumulation and colour on the skins. Too much humidity will be a challenge for the vineyard manager, as this can often lead to mildew on tightly packed bunches such as these. It’ s not easy to own a vineyard in this country, but Kent is slightly easier than most places as we have more sunshine hours. That’ s why Kent has always been known for its suitability for growing produce- the Garden of England!
This month, I want to focus on event spaces. Chapel Down( chapeldown. com) has just opened a brand-new tasting room called The Hythe, with a private viewing terrace overlooking their oldest vines. It’ s set amongst their charming herb garden, right in the centre of their estate in Tenterden. This has been designed for parties of about 20 guests and is not available for walk-ins. It’ s a beautiful space that will inspire you to think of a reason to use it. Chapel Down is the largest producer of English Wine, but when you visit their estate, you feel like part of the family. You can walk in and enjoy a glass of wine at any time, but they also offer a vast range of tours and tasting experiences. The Swan at Chapel Down is an excellent fine-dining restaurant that should definitely feature in your plans when you visit.
Gusbourne( gusbourne. com), near Rye, has a number of options that would suit any size group, inside or outside. I love their stretch tent that overlooks the chardonnay vines, surrounded by gorgeous perennials. There’ s also a room that opens out onto a viewing deck which you may have already seen if you’ ve enjoyed their Estate Tour. The team at The Nest is flexible and attentive; you can build an event to your exact specifications and know that you can relax and enjoy it when the time comes. Gusbourne is an excellent vineyard to visit if you love sparkling wine. They offer a sparkling flight that takes you through their classic range and this is available most days. During the summer they are open late at weekends, too.
EDDIE GADD NAMED PARLIAMENTARY BREWER OF THE YEAR 2026
Eddie Gadd, founder and head brewer of Gadd’ s The Ramsgate Brewery, has been named the Brewer of the Year 2026 by the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group( APPBG). The award recognised Eddie’ s unwavering commitment to independent cask ale culture, regional heritage and local agriculture.
Chair of the APPBG, Tonia Antoniazzi praised Eddie for championing local ingredients, supporting the brewing community and mentoring the next generation of brewers. She also highlighted his commitment to quality, advocacy for the independent brewing sector and loyalty to his employees.
Since founding the brewery in 2002, Eddie has spent more than two decades establishing Gadds’ East Kent local ales as a benchmark for quality. He is widely recognised for his dedication to using Kentish hops wherever possible, helping to support and safeguard the region’ s hop-growing industry.
“ To be recognised by parliament and our industry peers is an incredible honour,” said Eddie.“ This award isn’ t just for me, it’ s a testament to our fantastic team at the brewery and the brilliant Kentish hop growers who make our beer possible. Independent cask ale is a vital part of British culture and we will keep fighting to keep it thriving.”
All vineyards can boast sweeping views across their vines, and Yotes Court( yotescourt. co. uk) is the poster child. The modest entrance does not prepare you for the awe-inspiring scene that opens up as you drive in. Their paddock lawn is a perfect vantage point, under the watchful eye of their life-size racehorse adorned in the colours of their prize-winning jockey silks. The tasting room affords the same view, with colourful home comforts curated by owner Susannah Ricci. Yotes Court has gained a reputation for excellent still wines due to the ripeness of the fruit grown on their sunny south-facing slopes. Recently, they have impressed us with their Annie Power Classic Cuvée- a traditional method sparkling that’ s a fitting tribute to their favourite winning mare.
Now all that’ s left to do is think of a reason to get your friends together. Have a great August.
Cheers!
Jo
JO GINN, BRAND MANAGER WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
jo @ winegardenofengland. com winegardenofengland
124 • www. insidekent. co. uk