WELCOME TO THE WINE GARDEN OF ENGLAND!
Welcome to Kent wine country! We are lucky enough to be in the sunniest county of the UK, with the largest and oldest English wine producers right on our doorstep. Kent has always had a reputation for growing fruit, hence the apt moniker: the Garden of England. We are now entering a new phase of history where we are producing wine that is rivalling Champagne and Burgundy- arguably the best in the world. What a privilege to witness the dawn of a new era.
This handbook is more about travel than wine. You don’ t need to be a wine expert to enjoy visiting the diverse range of vineyards in Kent. If you have an appetite for exploring your own countryside and learning what is possible under the sunshine in this county, you are already half way there. There are nine vineyards that form the friendly collaboration that is Wine Garden of England. The first phone call was made back in 2017, when Charles Simpson, freshly landed in Canterbury from his vineyard in France, wanted to make contact with other Kent vineyards to share stories and their experience. Today, all nine wine producers meet regularly to share the burden of winemaking in a marginal climate and to plan the future together.
The vineyards are:
• Chapel Down in Tenterden
• Biddenden Vineyards in Biddenden
• Yotes Court in Mereworth
• Squerryes in Westerham
• Simpsons’ in Barham( near Canterbury)
• Domaine Evremond in Chilham
• Westwell in Charing( near Ashford)
• Balfour in Staplehurst
• Gusbourne in Appledore( near Rye)
As a group we promote wine tourism to Kent, which has over 50 vineyards that welcome visitors; you’ ll see us at tasting events, all over social media and in our favourite local magazine, insideKENT. Our biggest event is the Summer Celebration, which takes place in June every year at wonderful venues across Kent.
If you love visiting vineyards, our Members’ Club is for you. For just £ 210, you and a friend can visit all nine vineyards for free over 12 months. There are also savings to be made on events and wine at the cellar door. We even throw a party in February to brighten up those dark days before we welcome in spring.
For more information on any of the above, subscribe at winegardenofengland. co. uk and keep up to date on our ever-evolving events calendar and membership benefits.
I hope to see you at some of our vineyards this year.
Cheers!
Jo
Jo Ginn Brand Manager, Wine Garden of England
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