Ready To Go Wine Tasting In The English Countryside?
When you think about wine tasting or touring vineyards, your mind immediately thinks of a Cabernet from Napa, a Chianti from Tuscany, and maybe even a Malbec from Mendoza. But it goes without saying, English wines aren’t something that tend to end up on your radar. Admittedly, I knew very little about English wines before my trip, but I was curious as to why English wines are rising in popularity.
Aside from the fact that climate change has positively impacted UK growers creating the perfect environment for English sparkling wines, what makes these wines so unique?
Seeing as we had seven days to explore London and the surrounding areas, we booked an English wine tour and ventured into the countryside of Kent.
Initially, I thought this would be something we could easily plan ourselves. We would take the train to Kent and grab an Uber to travel to the various wineries. After doing a little research, it wasn’t as easy as that. The roads are incredibly narrow, and not a Uber in sight….at all! When they say countryside, it’s literally countryside. If wine tasting interests you, I’d recommend booking with English Wine Tours as they plan every detail, allowing you to truly enjoy the day.
Pricing and Logistics:
English Wine Tours charged us 485£ for a private tour for two people.
The tour included the following:
Transportation to and from the train station
Tastings at three wineries in Kent
Wine lunch at local pub The Bull Inn Rolvenden
There was a bit of flexibility offered when it came to the wineries. Still, given the distance between the various estates, it was almost impossible to squeeze in four tastings and make it to the train station at a reasonable hour.
Note: All bookings are final, and refunds are not offered.
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard
Our first stop was Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, England’s first organic vineyard, established in 1979. Not only was Sedlescombe the first organic vineyard, but they are also home to the oldest biodynamic in England. The estate is comprised of roughly 22 acres and produces approximately 30,000 bottles annually.
Given how chilly it was outside, we didn’t wander through the vineyard; instead, we jumped right into the tasting room. We sampled five wines from their collection, with my favorite being the first we tasted, Sedlescombe Brut Rosé NV.
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard | Brut Rosé NV + 2019 White Solaris + 2017 Old Vine
Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard | 2019 Pinot Noir Rosé + Regent Red
Our second stop was by far my favorite. The wines were incredible, and the hospitality was second to none. Welcome to Wayfarer Wines, a family-run vineyard created by the Ashford family. They currently manage two vineyards totaling over eight acres with intentions of expanding this by seven and a half acres in the future.
Wayfarer Wines
Unlike our other two tastings, Wayfarer Wines produces only still wine. Our tour, led by Emma Ashford, allowed us to sample some wines within the wine portfolio. Not only was Emma a wealth of information, but it was lovely to speak with a fellow WSET member. Even though the space in my suitcase was INCREDIBLY limited, I managed to snag a couple of bottles of the Wandering Wayfarer Bacchus. Talk about a stand-out. It was incredible that I’d gladly pay the overage fee to get this back to Nashville. The Bacchus had an exciting wine composition as it had elements that reminded me of a Sauvignon Blanc but had notes of elderflower on the nose.
Wayfarer Wines | 2019 Bacchus + 2020 Chardonnay
Wayfarer Wines | 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé (Pilgrims Way) + 2020 Pinot Noir Rosé (Hedgerow)
Next, we stopped for lunch at The Bull Inn Rolvenden, which was quite lovely. Fortunately, Nicola pre-ordered our lunch so we could relax and enjoy a glass of wine while we waited.
Once we finished lunch, we hopped in the van for one final stop at Chapel Down. Chapel Down, located in the heart of Kent, produces a variety of still and sparkling wines. Given that they are one of England’s leading wine producers, it’s likely that you will see these on restaurant menus and available for purchase at various places within the United States.
Chapel Down offers a variety of tasting options for guests. However, we were fortunate enough that Nicola hosted our tasting with some wines from her private collection. I enjoyed sampling Chapel Down’s Bacchus and seeing how it compared to the Wayfarer wine. Each vintner has its own interpretation. While many characteristics overlapped, I preferred the Wayfarer wine. The price point of 18£ each is a little easier on the wallet than Chapel Down’s price point of 72£.
Once our tasting concluded, we had a chance to wander throughout the garden and see the property. All in all, a lovely day!
Chapel Down | 2017 Kit’s Coty Blanc de Blancs + Rosé Brut + 2020 Chardonnay
Chapel Down | 2016 Three Graces + 2020 Bacchus + 2019 Kit’s Coty Chardonnay
All Smiles After A Day Of Wine Tasting
Chapel Down Garden
If you want to taste your way through the English countryside, I highly recommend booking a tour with English Wine Tours. Nicola and her husband were the most wonderful hosts. Not only did we have the opportunity to explore some of the more boutique wineries within Kent, but we enjoyed some delicious wine and learned quite a bit about the history of English wine. My only regret is not visiting Gusbourne. If I had it to do all over again, I’d skip Sedlescombe and replace it with a visit there.
I’ll be the first to admit that this isn’t similar to tasting in Napa Valley. You won’t find sprawling estates serving big, bold Cabernets and pushing their wine clubs. Instead, you’ll find family-owned vineyards with a handful of people making the magic happen. These one-of-a-kind experiences are worth savoring as you never know what sort of wine you’ll enjoy.
If you have any questions about the tour or visiting Kent, drop them in the comments below or send me an email. I would love to hear from you!
Until Next Time!
