Jo
FOOD + DRINK
On The Grapevine
I
’ ve been writing about Kent vineyards for this magazine for a couple of years. Sometimes it’ s good to get back to basics, especially if you’ re new to this page. Lots of people still have no idea how much wine is produced on their doorstep.
Kent is the largest wine producing region in the UK. Why? Because we enjoy more sunshine hours than any other county, so our fruit has more chance to ripen fully. That’ s why we are the Garden of England- it’ s not just grapes that thrive in our soil, but all produce. We are also blessed with a long coastline, meaning that the climate is moderated by our proximity to the sea. This means less frost risk, more coastal breezes and less damp weather which tends to bring mould and mildew. Our soil is also very suitable for vines, which is why you may have seen vineyards popping up in your area.
The North Downs has a seam of chalk exactly like that of Champagne, which means that grapes used in sparkling wine do very well in these areas. We also have Wealden clay, which retains moisture well and is rich in nutrients. These areas produce more generous, rounded tasting fruit. Another area of note is Tunbridge Wells’ Greensand, which provides great drainage, ensuring that the vines aren’ t waterlogged and reflecting heat back onto them on sunny days, helping the fruit ripen to perfection.
We’ re lucky to have the best people, too. Many of our winemakers trained at Plumpton College, just over the border in Sussex. This is the largest English-speaking college for winemaking in Europe, and many graduates settle in Kent to use their skills to make the best of our excellent conditions. Kent also attracts exciting talent from Europe and the New World, adapting practices from more established wine regions to benefit our developing wine region.
BALFOUR WINERY BEHIND NEW M & S BLACKCURRANT ROYAL FIZZ
Kent’ s Balfour Winery has partnered with Marks & Spencer to create a new Blackcurrant Royale, now available in M & S stores nationwide and online.
The new modern twist on a Kir Royale combines English sparkling wine with blackcurrant liqueur and blackcurrants, having been developed over six months to deliver the perfect touch of sweetness and sparkle.
Balfour Winery, located on the 400-acre farmland of Hush Heath Estate, planted its first vineyard back in 2002 and now specialises in a broad range of award-winning traditional method sparkling and still wines.
The vineyard has worked with M & S since 2008 and currently supplies a number of exclusive English wines for the retailer, including the popular Balfour Classic Cuvée, Cuvée Rosé, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.
“ Our new Blackcurrant Royale is the perfect pairing with canapés, bringing something special to any celebration,” said senior buyer at M & S, Dror Nativ MW.“ We’ re proud to keep growing our longstanding partnership with Balfour Winery, who share our relentless focus on quality and delivering the best possible products for customers.”
We are best placed to welcome visitors from Europe, which is a significant advantage in the growth of our reputation throughout the world. Aren’ t we lucky to live in such an exciting new wine region? We don’ t have to travel very far in any direction to find a vineyard that produces world-beating wines. If you haven’ t ventured to your local vineyard yet, I urge you to make this a new habit for 2026. You can get inspiration from our website winegardenofengland. co. uk. You can also meet a large group of Kent vineyards together at Castle Westenhanger on 6 June at our annual Summer Celebration.
If you need an idea to start you off, how about Westwell Wines( westwellwines. com) near Ashford? They are right on the Pilgrims’ Way, overlooking spectacular far reaching views of the North Downs. Their wines are exciting and experimental, and the team is welcoming and fun. It is fast becoming a favourite haunt of Londoners looking for a breath of fresh air.
Check back here once in a while for tips on the best vineyards to visit. In the meantime, enjoy what Kent has to offer.
Cheers!
Jo
JO GINN, BRAND MANAGER WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND
jo @ winegardenofengland. com winegardenofengland
90 • www. insidekent. co. uk