KENT ’ S BEST
FOOD + DRINK
WINE LISTS
WHEN IT COMES TO WINE AND FOOD , SYNERGY IS THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE . AS BOTH THE GARDEN OF ENGLAND AND WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND , THIS IS SOMETHING KENT ’ S DINING SCENE HAS ACHIEVED WITH SHEER UNADULTERATED DELICIOUSNESS .
THE OLD BANK
Wine has been paired with food for centuries ; especially here in the fertile land of Kent where ancient monks cultivated vines before the Romans introduced new varieties of grapes over 1,980 years ago . Although wine making may go back as far as 8,000 years ago , recent archaeological finds place the origins of wine making to 4100 B . C . during which time it was paired with food – a much safer drinking alternative to the contaminated waters of the age .
Ever since , the power of wine and food combined has been used to create evolving and ever-the-more superior gastronomic effects . Mistakes have been made and valuable lessons learned in the process , with today ’ s experts knowing far more than just the ways in which poor pairings can destroy the flavours of the wine and lessen the overall dining experience . Afterall , a rule of thumb is that wine should always complement the food and never dominate it .
With a myriad of vineyards and a whole host of restaurants that appreciate provenance , flavour , freshness and a good glass of vino , Kent ’ s cup is overflowing with cleverly curated wine lists and beautifully selected bottles . Here are just some of insideKENT ’ s favourite places to drink wine and eat good food , together .
The Old Bank , Westerham @ theoldbankkent
A culmination of chef Adam Turley ’ s life-long passion for food and love for fresh , seasonal and regional ingredients , combined with a rich family history to create a relaxed and elegant dining experience . The beautiful vault of this renovated bank has been transformed into a unique wine cellar . Located in the basement of The Old Bank , The Vault is stocked with fantastic wines found throughout Europe , The Americas and Australasia . Guests can come and sample many different wines guided by their extremely knowledgeable restaurant manager . With the use of their Corovin and Verre de Vin systems , they can serve tasters of nearly all their wines , sparkling wines and Champagnes without the chance of spoilage . On your wine discovery , you will be taught how to decipher wine labels , given a simple guide to tasting wines , the appearance and nose
( aroma ) of the wines . Tasting sessions complete with cheese boards and breads are available . Guests can choose nearly any wine from the menu or ask the restaurant manager for guidance ; discover a whole new world of wine you have never tried before .
Dory ’ s Margate @ dorys _ of _ margate
Seafood bar serving raw , pickled , cured and baked seafood and vegetable dishes overlooking Margate main sands . Dory ’ s has a wine shop selling English and European organic , biodynamic and lowintervention wines that respect both soil and grape . Travelling around the country has allowed the owners to come to the conclusion that English wine is the perfect accompaniment to Dory ’ s seafood . Low intervention wine is signature to accompanying the food at both Dory ’ s and its sister restaurant , Angela ’ s .
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