FOOD + DRINK
THE GRAPE ESCAPE
SAY GOODBYE TO BEING THE DESIGNATED DRIVER AND SAY HELLO TO SAMPLING SOME OF KENT ’ S FINEST WINES . TEAM iK SPENDS THE DAY WITH WINE TOURS OF KENT TO DISCOVER WHAT THE COUNTY ’ S AWARD-WINNING VINEYARDS HAVE TO OFFER - ALL WITHOUT A CAR IN SIGHT …
As the largest wine producing county in England with more than 50 vineyards creating world-class wines , it ’ s no wonder that Kent is firmly on the map as a wine-lover ’ s destination . But , while the county is rich in its viticulture , it ’ s also expansive - and with many of its vineyards tucked deep in the countryside , visiting without access to transportation can become impossible .
That ’ s where Wine Tours of Kent comes in . The brainchild of Tenterden ’ s Abi Ireland , it was born out of the realisation that groups had no way of touring Kent ’ s vineyards without some members of the group missing out on tasting their wares . Founded in 2019 , the company has since been offering wine aficionados and explorers the opportunity to travel to some of Kent ’ s finest vineyards and sample their wines - crucially , without anybody in the party having to be the designated driver . So , whether you ’ re a Kent native or visiting from further afield , a minibus will collect you , transport you , and then drop you home at the end of your celebrations .
Today , team iK has gathered at iK ’ s HQ in Ashford , ready to hop aboard the Wine Tours of Kent minibuses and head to a selection of the county ’ s top vineyards .
Once aboard , we make our way to our first vineyard of the day - Chapel Down , just outside of Tenterden . As wineries go , this is a pretty strong start - as the largest producers of English wine in the UK , Chapel Down has gone from strength to strength ; launching when English wine was seen by some as laughable , and proving critics wrong by now producing over two million bottles a year with vast expansion plans on the horizon .
The beauty of Wine Tours of Kent is during your visit to each vineyard , you can choose to make your experience as formal or informal as you please . We opt for the latter approach , so after leading us into the first vineyard where rows of Bacchus grapes grow , our guide Danielle pours us each a glass of Chapel Down ’ s sparkling Bacchus and gives us a brief overview of the vineyard ’ s history and future visions , before leading us to the Herb Garden , where we soak up the sunshine and sample three more of Chapel Down ’ s offerings : the Kits Coty 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 stroll through Chapel Down ’ s manicured grounds and make our way back to the buses , which are ready to transport us to our next destination - an all important pit stop for lunch .
The eatery in question is 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 aren ’ t paying the vineyard a visit during our trip , we decide to complement our lunch ( included in the Wine Tours of Kent package ) and 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 is a tasting of their Leslie ’ s Reserve Red - a sparkling red wine which is both unusual and delicious .
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