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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