FOOD + DRINK
ALL HAIL THE GRAPE CONT .
HUSH HEATH ESTATE
MEREWORTH WINES
2020 Bacchus ‘ with a touch of sparkle ’ and a final bronze was awarded for their 2020 Bacchus , Rosé Brut and 2016 Three Graces .
Gusbourne Estates rivalled Chapel Down , winning four gold medals of their own for their 2016 Blanc de Blancs , 2019 Chardonnay Guinevere , 2014 Natural Brut and 2014 Nest Selection . The Appledore based vineyard also took home silver medals for their 2019 Pinot Noir , 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé , 2016 Brut Reserve , 2016 Rosé and a bronze medal for their 2019 Chardonnay . Gusbourne were also awarded a trophy for Best Chardonnay ( Riedel Award ) for their 2019 Chardonnay Guinevere .
Woolton Vineyard based just outside Canterbury proudly obtained a gold medal for their 2015 Cuvée No1 as well as bronze medals for their 2018 Rosé , 2018 Bacchus and 2020 Chardonnay Pet-Nat which appeared in the competition for the very first time . Woolton ’ s approach is all about focussing on small batches . They treat each year independently , only growing for themselves and focus on quality over high yields . The south facing aspect of their vineyard , which grows on river gravel soils with sandy clays beneath , is only 145 feet above sea level and is what they believe has given their wines such a distinct flavour . Their Canterbury based neighbour , naturally vegan and sustainable winemakers Folcs took home a silver medal for their 2020 Rosé and nearby Chartham Vineyard won a silver medal for their 2018 Blanc de Blancs . Also showcasing what must be the ideal winemaking conditions of this South East corner of Kent , was Barham based Simpsons Wine Estate who claimed two bronze medals for their 2020 Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir and 2020 Railway Hill Rosé .
Stretching over to the Western side of Kent , Biddenden Vineyards attained bronze medals for their 2017 Pink Sparkling , 2020 Dornfelder , 2018 Bacchus , 2018 Ortega Demi Sec and 2020 Schonburger as did Bewl Water Vineyard for their 2020 Bacchus Bronze . Mereworth Wines , which is based in Maidstone and dates back almost 500 years , were awarded a silver medal for their 2018 White from White and a bronze medal for their 2019 Sparkling Rosé . Whilst fellow Maidstone vineyard and wine-making newcomer , Yotes Court , stormed across the line as one of just 12 trophy winners for Best Newcomer for their ' Best Turned Out ' Pinot Meunier Rose , which was also awarded a gold medal , as well as silver for their ' On the Nod ' Bacchus and for ' Hands & Heels ' Pinot Blanc , and a Bronze for ' On the Bridle ' Bacchus . Representing the north of the county , Meopham Valley Vineyard took home two bronze medals for their 2020 Union Red and 2020 White .
This year , Kent also led the medal wins for the for English wines in the International Wine Challenge . A competition ‘ committed to helping consumers discover great wines ’ and perhaps to be considered the most impartial of all with its rigorous judging process consisting of blind tastes carried out by international industry experts and commercial decision makers . Every wine is assessed and scored out of 100 , with those ranking above 95 awarded a gold medal and those above 90 a silver medal . With competition from the world ’ s most revered wine houses , an amazing eight vineyards from Kent secured Gold , Silver and Bronze medals in this year ’ s challenge .
Squerryes again came up trumps winning gold medals for their 2014 Blanc de Blancs and for their 2011 Brut . Smaller scale Woolton Vineyard , proved itself to be a definite ‘ one to watch ’ by attaining a gold medal for their Sparkling Rosé and family run Hush Heath Estate , which sprawls over the hills of Staplehurst , won two silver medals for their flagship 2017 Brut Rosé and 2019 Sykes Chardonnay . Mereworth Wines from Maidstone , Gusbourne from Appledore near Ashford , Folcs from Canterbury , Chapel Down from Tenterden and Simpsons Wine Estate from Barham made up the further five medal winners , firmly establishing that Kent rightfully wears the crown of English winemaking and is fit to rival fierce competition from around the globe .
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