One of the county's top winemakers has launched a new sparkling rose exclusively with the Co-op.

Eight Acres is the supermarket chain's first premium English rose fizz and is made by Hush Heath Estate near Staplehurst.

The company, which was founded by Richard Balfour-Lynn in 2002, has 400 acres of vineyards producing an ever-growing range of Balfour still and sparkling wines, beers and ciders and opened a new state-of-the-art building this time last year with a 200-seater tasting room, shop and upstairs terrace bar.

Its flagship Balfour Brut Rose has won many awards, became the first English wine to be served in British Airways First Class and was the official choice at the London Olympics 2012.

He said of Eight Acres, which costs £18 a bottle: "It's the delightful fruit coming through, red berries, strawberries, blackberries. And then you have this wonderful acidity and length, really long length... 30 seconds after, you're still getting your mouth puckered from the acidity, the freshness, clean as well. It's very, very precise," he said.

Of the business he said: "We're a family business, we're authentic, we grow the grapes here, we make the wines here, we sell the wines from here and our greatest passion is people visiting the estate and understanding the authenticity of the product."

"We want to share the journey of English wines with visitors. People want experiences. We're open every day of the year, you don't have to pay, you don't have to book, it's free to go round the estate and you can taste our wines... and we're a generous estate. It's not just generous in pouring wine, but it's the time our team have to talk to people."

"We feel we're sharing this adventure with people who come here and that's what I think sets us apart.!

Eight Acres Sparkling Rose, costs £18 is available in all Co-op stores.

To find out more about Hush Heath click here.

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