As the English wine industry anticipates a bumper 2018 harvest, vineyards across Kent are gearing up for action.

At Hush Heath in Staplehurst, however, there's extra activity.

The 400-acre vineyard is set to officially launch its new winery and tasting room - and visitors can pop along and get a taster this weekend.

The boutique, family-owned company is set to open The View at its open weekend on Saturday, September 22 and Sunday, September 23, which has 200 seats, doubling the size of the previous facilities and includes a new shop and upstairs terrace bar.

During the open weekend, you can pop in and explore, when there will also be live jazz, local cheese tasting and winery tours plus talks and masterclasses with producer Richard Balfour-Lynn, winemaker Victoria Ash and vineyard manager Catherine Smith.

Visitors will be able to purchase sharing platters and wines by the glass or bottle and, specially for the weekend, there will be a complementary shuttle bus taking guests on the 10 minute trip between the estate and Staplehurst station, between 10am and 5pm.

Richard said: “This is more than developing a new building to house our winery. It’s been a year in the making and a labour of love – that’s true.

"But what we are doing at Hush Heath Estate is growing in line with the English wine industry as it develops, because we are all still at the beginning of our wine story."

The winery is open seven days a week, with tastings for those who want to find out what English wine is all about.

The first vines were planted at Hush Heath back in 2002, and now produces a selection of wines and ciders made from fruit grown in the vineyards and apple orchards, which will soon cover 130 acres.

To find out more and book a complementary reservation for the shuttle bus this weekend, go to hushheath.com