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’, which 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. The vineyard managers will be keeping a close eye on the ripeness of the grapes because they need to predict when the fruit will be harvested. As most fruit is picked by hand in Kent, it is sometimes difficult to get the staff to do it at the right time. If you would like to get involved with harvest, Gusbourne is looking for staff for a three week period in October; email harvest @ gusbourne. com.
One of the best vineyards to visit in September is Biddenden( biddendenvineyards. com)- the oldest vineyard in Kent, with 55-yearold vines. The Barnes family is now up to their third generation of winemakers and have consistently delighted in making crowdpleasing wines, served from 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 near Charing is a must( westwellwines. com). 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 dog shows.
Further West is Squerryes in Westerham( squerryes. co. uk). 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 planning a 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.
REVOLUTIONARY APPROACH TO NUTRIENT-RICH ICE CREAM
Artisan ice cream producer Simply Ice Cream is proud to announce an inspiring partnership with My Doctor’ s Recipe- a groundbreaking brand bringing vitamin-enriched ice cream to the UK market.
Founded by a leading oncologist and published chef, My Doctor’ s Recipe was created from a deeply personal journey. After sadly losing his wife to cancer, one of the co-founders discovered that ice cream remained one of the only foods she could tolerate during her illness. In honour of her memory, and in a quest to help others going through a similar journey, he wanted to create a product that was comforting and nutritionally valuable.
Now, three innovative product ranges have launched: Nutri- Ice ® and Nutri-Scoop ® for adults, and Smile Heroes ®, created specifically for children. Hand-whisked and carefully formulated, every tub is enriched with a powerful blend of essential nutrients that play a key role in supporting immune health, energy levels and overall wellbeing.
“ This partnership is especially close to our hearts,” said Sally Newall, founder of Simply Ice Cream.“ It represents everything we believe in- food made with love, purpose and integrity. We’ re honoured to play a part in bringing this meaningful and innovative product to people across the UK.”
Wherever you are in Kent, there’ s a vineyard near you. Go explore!
Until next time, cheers!
Jo
JO GINN, BRAND MANAGER WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
jo @ winegardenofengland. com winegardenofengland
110 • www. insidekent. co. uk