FOOD + DRINK
KENT: A wine lover’ s dream cont.
SQUERRYES COURT VINEYARD The Squerryes Estate, Westerham TN16 1SL www. squerryes. co. uk
The Squerryes Estate is in a beautiful area of the Kent Downs, and takes up 2,500 impressive acres in this area of outstanding natural beauty. Not all of this land is used for grape growing; some of it is home to a 200-strong dairy herd, and more is used to produce wheat, malting barley and oilseed rape. The vineyard consists of 35 acres. It was planted back in 2006, and is now producing the most exquisite sparkling wine that has won awards. The exclusive first vintage reserve is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes, all grown on the Squerryes estate.
MEOPHAM VALLEY VINEYARD www. meophamvalleyvineyard. co. uk
Whether you choose sparkling, white, rosé, or a mixed case of wine, you know you will be getting quality from Meopham Valley Vineyard. Meopham Valley Vineyard was first started by husband and wife team David and Pauline Grey in 1991, with plenty of advice from expert grape grower Gillian Peakes. It took a little while to find the best place to start the vineyard, but the terroir of north Kent proved a winner, and now this two-hectare estate is producing some magnificent results. David and Pauline retired in 2014, and now Sirjhit and Ben Bassi are in charge. The wine made here includes Meopham Valley sparkling pinot gris, Meopham Valley sparkling brut and some lovely fresh grape juice too.
TERLINGHAM VINEYARD & WINERY Terlingham Lane, Folkestone CT18 7AE www. terlinghamvineyard. co. uk
Each different Terlingham wine has its own unique personality, and the growing methods are different too – the owners are keen to use natural farming methods to produce their wonderful grapes, and this is one of the things that makes Terlingham stand out. The wine is made using traditional methods, and the winemakers themselves truly care about what they do. This is why the White Cliffs and Saxon Shore wines that are made here are award winning.
GUSBOURNE ESTATE Kenardington Road, Appledore TN26 2BE www. gusbourne. co. uk
Award-winning wine maker, Gusbourne, is all about perfection. Sparkling, white, red, and rosé are all produced here. This includes the flagship wine, the Blanc de Blancs. This is made using hand selected grapes, and is aged for a minimum of 36 months. There is also a wonderful sparkling rosé that is summer in a bottle. The Gusbourne estate dates back to 1410, but it wasn’ t until 2004 that winemaker, Andrew Weeber, took over the estate with one clear vision – to create the ultimate English sparkling wine.
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