Jo
FOOD + DRINK
On The Grapevine
The vineyards in Kent are glorious in September. The grapes are changing colour and fully ripening in a process called véraison. This is when the sugar levels rise and they get ready for fermenting. The black grape varieties such as pinot noir and meunier will be turning from green to purple, and the white varieties such as chardonnay will take on a translucent golden hue. We are unusually early this year, due to the long, warm summer, so much of the fruit will be ready to harvest this month. Gardeners will be glad of some rain, but the vineyard managers would prefer it to hold off until all the fruit is safely picked, or we risk disease which will affect the crop.
One of the best vineyards to visit in September is Biddenden( biddendenvineyards. com). This is the oldest vineyard in Kent, with 56-year-old vines. The Barnes family is now up to their 3rd generation of winemakers and they have consistently delighted in making crowd-pleasing wines, served on their working farm terrace and farmshop. There are acres of vineyards to explore either as a guided tour or independently. If you’ re looking for laid-back authenticity and genuinely delicious wines at accessible prices, Biddenden is for you.
Continuing with the laid back vibe, Westwell Wines( westwellwines. com) near Charing is a must. It has just won the Best Cellar Door award at the Wine GB Awards. Tucked away in the North Downs on the Pilgrims’ Way, you might not know it’ s there until you arrive, where you’ ll be greeted with an agri-building with 30-foot letters confirming you are in the right place. The wine tanks and cellar door seem to merge, and wherever you choose to sit, you’ ll feel very involved in the workings of the winery. The staff are delightful and the wines and accompanying snacks are delicious. Check their website for regular events not to be missed, like their Friday pizza nights, open air cinema, DJ nights and Sabrage Olympics on 5 September.
BALFOUR LAUNCHES NEW STRAWBERRY ROYALE WITH MARKS & SPENCER
Balfour Winery in Tonbridge has partnered with M & S to launch a second Royale cocktail, with its new Red Diamond Strawberry Royale now available in more than 500 stores.
The first-of-its-kind, Red Diamond Strawberry Royale was developed over a year and combines sparkling wine with the concentrated flavours and aromas of Red Diamond strawberries from M & S Select Farms, some of which are grown just minutes away from the winery.
Balfour has worked with M & S for more than 18 years and is part of its Plan A Farming programme, through which it receives expert training in soil health to improve water and nutrient intake for individual vines. Balfour is also creating wider corridors along its hedgerows to improve habitats for nesting birds and insects.
“ We have an amazing partnership with M & S,” said director or wine, Fergus Elias.“ They’ ve been a massive supporter of English wine over the years, long before it was the popular thing to do. When we get together to develop a product, we always start with the question: What’ s the most exciting thing we can make?’ We’ re incredibly proud of this new Royale and it’ s a fantastic feeling to see it on the shelf.”
Further West is Squerryes( squerryes. co. uk) in Westerham. Owned by the Warde family, who have been custodians of the estate for 300 years, Squerryes offers a range of experiences, depending on your mood. If you are looking for celebration, the Squerryes’ restaurant is a double AA Rosette fine dining experience overlooking the vines. Or, you can pop in to the very smart Tasting Bar to enjoy a flight of sparkling wines paired with some of the small dishes from the restaurant. If you are short on time, visit the deli, which is full of amazing local produce and wines from all over Kent, then stop for a coffee on the terrace. Whatever your reason for visiting Squerryes, make the wine your priority. As the vineyard is at the highest altitude in Kent, the grapes take longer to ripen, which means the sparkling wines produced have a concentrated flavour and lively acidity.
Wherever you are in Kent, there’ s a vineyard near you. Try the wine, meet the makers and immerse yourself in the world’ s most exciting new wine region!
Cheers!
Jo
JO GINN, BRAND MANAGER WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
jo @ winegardenofengland. com winegardenofengland
114 • www. insidekent. co. uk