Kent Vineyards to Visit: Tours, Tastings & Top Estates

Kent is best known as the 'Garden of England', a nickname first used by Henry VIII to describe its abundant fruit-growing and fertile farmland. Famous for landmarks such as Canterbury Cathedral, Leeds Castle, Dover Castle, and the renowned White Cliffs, which are the first sight for those entering the country by ferry. Kent also claims to be the oldest county in England, with around 17,000 listed buildings; however, a recent addition to the 'Kent scene' is its rapidly expanding vineyards.

Like neighbouring Sussex, Kent boasts a cool climate and limestone-chalk soils, akin to those in the renowned Champagne wine region of France. This has led to the growth of many wineries and vineyards, producing some outstanding sparkling wines. The county hosts both well-established and new wineries; some of the biggest names in English wine are based in the South East of England, ready to rival the best in the world.

With many award-winning wines produced in the region, Kent is one of the top areas to visit for English Wine enthusiasts. If you're planning a trip to Kent and exploring the numerous vineyards, now is an ideal time, as many have built impressive visitor centres and tasting rooms. To assist you in planning your visit, we have chosen some of the very best wineries to explore in Kent!

Balfour Winery

Address: Five Oak Lane, Staplehurst, Tonbridge, TN12 0HT
Website: https://balfourwinery.com/
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Is there a tour of Balfour Winery? YES
Site Size: 161 Hectares
Established: 2002

Balfour Winery spans 400 acres of impeccably maintained vineyards, apple orchards, and ancient oak woodlands teeming with wildlife in Tonbridge, Kent. Since their first harvest in 2004, producing 10,000 bottles of Balfour Brut Rosé, they won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2008. Since then, the company has grown steadily, expanding its collection to include a range of sparkling and still wines. In 2010, they completed a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room designed to attract visitors from across the country, firmly establishing their presence on the UK wine map.

Biddenden Vineyards

Address: Gribble Bridge Lane, Biddenden, Ashford, TN27 8DF
Website: https://biddendenvineyards.com/
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Is there a tour of Biddenden Vineyards? YES
Site Size: 9 Hectares
Established: 1969

Biddenden Vineyard is Kent's original vineyard (Est. 1969); they pride themselves on being family-run, with the second and third generations now managing the estate. Today, the single estate vineyard covers 23 acres of south-facing land outside the picturesque Wealden village of Biddenden.

Biddenden grows 11 varieties of grapes and produces a range of award-winning White, Rosé, Red, and Sparkling English wines. Since the first bottled Biddenden wine in 1973, production has increased to around 80,000 bottles annually. All vineyard work, including pruning, canopy management, and picking, is done by hand, with harvest season from mid-September to November.

Chapel Down

Address: Small Hythe, Tenterden, TN30 7NG
Website: https://chapeldown.com/
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Is there a tour of Chapel Down? YES
Site Size: 385 Hectares
Established: 2001

Founded in 2001, Chapel Down is England's leading winemaker offering a premier selection of sparkling and still wines, along with a range of premium spirits and an award-winning selection of Curious beers and cider. Chapel Down is the UK's largest wine producer, covering 950 acres (385 hectares) of land, including its own vineyards and grape supply contracts from nearby areas.

Chapel Down continues to expand and compete not only against other English wines but also on a global scale. They supply Gordon Ramsay's and Jamie Oliver's restaurants and are the official supplier to No 10 Downing Street. Over the next 25 years, they plan to produce up to 1 million bottles of sparkling wine annually once mature, to meet customer demand and further growth.

Chartham Vineyard

Address: Burnt House Farm, Station Rd, Chartham, CT4 7HU
Website: http://charthamvineyard.co.uk/
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Is there a tour of Chartham Vineyard? YES
Site Size: 2 Hectares
Established: 2012

Chartham Vineyard is a recently established, family-run winery located near Canterbury in the heart of Kent. Established in 2012, the vineyard spans around 2 hectares (5 acres), with vines first planted in 2013. Initially focused on producing still wines, the estate specialises in classic and aromatic varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Bacchus. In recent years, they have expanded their plantings and introduced a sparkling wine to their range, reflecting the growing reputation of English sparkling wine. Visitors can enjoy guided tours and tastings, offering a relaxed and intimate way to experience this boutique Kent vineyard.

Gusbourne Estate Vineyard

Address: Kenardington Rd, Appledore, Ashford, TN26 2BE
Website: https://www.gusbourne.com/
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Is there a tour of the Gusbourne Estate? YES
Site Size: 90 Hectares
Established: 2004

Gusbourne Estate was founded in 2004, but it was not until 2010 that they quickly gained a reputation for producing exceptional quality wines when they first released their debut vintages. With over 60 hectares of vineyards at Gusbourne Estate in Kent and an additional 30 hectares across West Sussex (totaling 90 hectares / 220 acres), all are planted with the three classic grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.

Simpsons Wine Estate

Address: The Barns, Church Lane, Barham, Canterbury CT4 6PB
Website: https://simpsonswine.com/
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Is there a tour of Simpsons Wine Estate? YES (Selected Dates)
Site Size: 30 Hectares
Established: 2012

Founded by husband-and-wife team Ruth and Charles Simpson, Simpsons Wine Estate is located in the picturesque Elham Valley in the North Downs of Kent. Having previously produced award-winning wines in France, the Simpsons established their Kent estate in 2012, with the first vines planted in 2014. The vineyards sit on chalk soils similar to those found in Champagne, making them ideal for growing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Producing both still and sparkling wines exclusively from estate-grown fruit, the winery has received international acclaim, including a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards for its Roman Road Chardonnay.

Squerryes Wine Estate

Address: Beggars Lane, Westerham TN16 1QP
Website: https://www.squerryes.co.uk/
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Is there a tour of Squerryes Wine Estate? YES (Selected Dates)
Site Size: 14.5 Hectares
Established: 2006

The Squerryes Estate has remained in the same family for seven generations. The site near the market town of Westerham was first planted in 2006 and covers 36 acres. They pride themselves on using only grapes from their own vineyard, unlike some competitors who use grapes from various sites and vineyards. They are similar to the "Côte des Blancs" region of Champagne, making them ideal for growing the classic sparkling wine varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier. Their hard work was recognised in 2019 when they received a Platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards for their 2014 vintage Brut.

Locations of Vineyards in Kent

The locations and distances between the Vineyards in Kent mentioned earlier can be seen below. The Vineyards are generally close together, except for Squerryes Wine Estate in the northwest of the county, with Chartham Vineyard on the outskirts of Canterbury in northeast Kent.

Like the bordering county of Sussex, Kent benefits from some of the warmest and driest climates in the UK; its plentiful countryside and diverse soils provide excellent conditions for grape growing.