insideKENT Magazine Issue 90 - September 2019 | Page 56

FOOD+DRINK
KENT’S GLORIOUS WINEST CONT.
Biddenden Vineyards
www.biddendenvineyards.com // 01580 291726
Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden TN27 8DF Herbert Hall Wines
www.herberthall.co.uk // 07956 163519
Poultry Farm, Plain Road, Marden TN12 9LS
As Kent’s original commercial vineyard, Biddenden has a lot to live up to, but
it seems to be doing magnificently well, and is even better today than it was back
in 1969 when it all began. Biddenden is a family run concer n, and the second
and third generations of the Bar nes family are still there, creating its award-
winning drinks. Biddenden has 23 acr es of vineyards and g rows 11 dif ferent
varieties of grapes, enabling it to produce excellent white, rose, and sparkling
wines. In addition to wine, there are juices and ciders made here too. It is sparkling wine that is created for Herbert Hall Wines at Marden Organic
Vineyard, and, as the vineyard’s name suggests, the grapes are grown organically.
That means that wine you get at the end of the traditional process will be organic
too – and its pr ovenance is completely traceab le. These handmade wines ar e
made in the ‘brut’ style, and some of it is in fermented in old oak barrels. This
adds a very special flavour and a roundness to the wine which has been described
as ‘masterful’ by Tom Stevenson, author of Sotheby’s Wine Encyclopaedia.
BIDDENDEN VINEYARDS
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