A couple want to put the fizz back into farming in the Canterbury countryside with a corking new business.

While land is increasingly under threat from being carpeted with solar panels, Charles and Ruth Simpson have bought almost 90 acres on the Barham Downs to create a winery.

They will be planting vines and growing a variety of grapes to produce high-quality sparkling wine.

They are not newcomers to the business and already own a successful, award-winning winery in the Languedoc in southern France, which sells wines here in Waitrose and Majestic.

Now they plan to bring their expertise to the Canterbury area and are investing up to £2million in the project, which will create numerous jobs.

Charles, 42, and 41-year-old Ruth, who have two young girls, left high-flying international jobs 11 years ago to set up their first winery, Domaine Sainte Rose in France.

They used their considerable marketing and business skills to make it a commercial success and now produce 360,000 bottles a year, which they export to 14 countries.

"We chose Kent because it has the most sunshine hours in the UK, and then we found farmland at Barham, which had the ideal free-draining, chalky limestone soil conditions, identical to the champagne region, and with south-facing slopes..." - Charles Simpson

Charles said: "First, we chose Kent because it has the most sunshine hours in the UK, and then we found farmland at Barham, which had the ideal free-draining, chalky limestone soil conditions, identical to the champagne region, and with south-facing slopes.

"Our aim is to produce a premium product, priced between £25 and £35, and market it internationally in the same vein as luxury brands which Britain is famous for, like Aston Martin and Burberry,

"But we also want them to have a distinctly local identity, so they will be from the Simpsons' Wine Estate at Barham Court Vineyards and the wines themselves could have names like White Cliffs or Canterbury Rose.

"We plan to grow three grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. You have to go with what the market wants."

Charles believes the winery could produce 300,000 bottles a year when in full production.

The couple are currently renting a home in Barham, but looking to buy in the village, which they say has welcomed their plans after a presentation to the parish council.

Ruth, who used to work for the charity board of the National Lottery, said: "We are very excited, but it is also a huge financial and personal commitment.

"It will create jobs and we also believe we can create rural tourism opportunities to visit the winery and have tasting sessions."

Charles added: "Unfortunately, wine production is a frustratingly slow process so while we are preparing the soil at our first site now, we won't plant the new vines until next year and it will be 2016 until we get the first crop and 2018 until we actually pop the first cork.

"However, we are sure it will be worth waiting for."