FOOD + DRINK
Vineyard Discovery cont...
There are vineyards in Kent where history is woven into every bottle and at Squerryes( squerryes. co. uk), those stories remain very much alive. For nearly three generations, the Warde family has lived at Squerryes Court in Westerham and in 2004, the Champagne house Duval-Leroy visited the estate in search of England’ s chalk-rich soil. Inspired by the potential of the land, the Warde family decided to plant their own vines, starting a new chapter for the centuries-old estate.
Today, Squerryes’ award-winning vintage sparkling wine is recognised among the world’ s finest, including their newest, Patience 2014, which was released July 2026. This ultra-premium sparkling wine has been ageing for 11 years, with flavours of fresh lemon, floral notes and a notable chalk intensity.
Did you know?
Squerryes is one of the last vineyards in Europe to harvest its fruit, reaching prime ripeness; the flavour is unlike any other.
Subtle intervention is at the heart of Westwell Wines( westwellwines. com). Running since 2008, the family-run estate is pioneering a new age of low-intervention wine, with wild fermentation and minimal chemical additions. Every single ferment has a distinct taste and at its heart? Westwell’ s winemaker Adrian Pike who has refined his craft, earning a rightful reputation as one of England’ s most exciting and innovative winemakers.
Adrian’ s wife Galia Pike is equally involved, creating ultra-detailed illustrations for the wine bottles on-site in their cellar door. Creativity and thought are poured into every inch of the process, from organically grown grapes to the decorative labels and the warm, welcoming environment. This year, Westwell’ s dedication has not gone unnoticed at the WineGB Awards 2026, where the vineyard was named Best Small Cellar Door, a fitting testament to their continued authenticity and hands-on approach.
For something a little more daring, join the estate on Saturday 5 September, for an afternoon of Sabrage Olympics at Westwell( from £ 20pp). Expect a touch of friendly competition as The Society of Silver Swords showcases the art of opening sparkling bottles with a single sweep of one seriously sharp sword.
First established in 2016, Yotes Court( yotescourt. co. uk) is home to one of the most spectacular views in Kent and makes some spectacular sustainable wines with a racing theme. September’ s events start with The Veraison Party(£ 25pp) taking place on Saturday 5 September; the party will celebrate the estate’ s grapes’ change in colour, marking the shift from hard green growth to sweet fruit- a special moment known as‘ veraison’. Begin the annual celebration with a welcome glass of Yotes Court sparkling wine followed by live music; you’ reinvited to bring your own picnic for a memorable evening under the Kentish sky.
Did you know?
Master of Wine Stephen Skelton hailed Yotes Court the best site he had planted in 45 years, deeming it an ideal location for vines with a frost-free and sheltered setting.
Nestled in the Elham Valley, Simpsons’ Wine Estate( simpsonswine. com) started with just 10 hectares and has now grown into an estate rich in award-winning chardonnay, pinot meunier and most notably, their still pinot noir.
Among the standout wines is the Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2024, which was crowned Best Still Pinot Noir at the WineGB Awards 2026. The wine captures the estate’ s distinctive chalk soils, delivering fruity notes and a delicate spice.
Go Behind the Glass with Biddenden Vineyards
Join us for a unique behind the scenes production tour and tasting at Biddenden, Kent ' s Original Vineyard.
Available October- November and January- March, our winery tours offer something different. Gain an insight into our production methods and family vineyard history, followed by a tutored tasting of 3 ciders and 3 wines from across our range and a 250ml bottle of juice to enjoy.
Each tour is unique, as no day in the winery is the same. Discover the secrets of the apple press and how we produce our famous ciders and juices, the techniques used in the production of our still and sparkling wines and our state of the art bottling line and labelling machine. Designed like a traditional brewery tour, with a Biddenden twist!
Complete your visit with a delicious sharing board of local cheese, charcuterie, crackers, chutney and seasonal produce, available to order in advance.
£ 30 per person Book now via our website www. biddendenvineyards. co. uk
Looking for the perfect couples getaway? Discover The Grape Escape at Biddenden Vineyards
01580 291726 | info @ biddendenvineyards. co. uk
104 • www. insidekent. co. uk