More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, people up and down the country will be popping a bottle of bubbly to celebrate the end of one year and the start of the next.
If you’re hosting a gathering for the big night and want to make sure all your guests are topped up, you can grab a bottle of English sparkling wine from one of these seven Kent vineyards.
BALFOUR WINERY, Staplehurst
After being named one of the South East’s best attractions, doubling its visitor numbers to more than 40,000 and collaborating with Britain’s oldest brewer, Shepherd Neame, Balfour Winery has had quite the year. The vineyard, founded in 2002, has produced several award-winning wines and its sparkling varieties, such as the Classic Cuvee Brut and the 1503 Foxwood Cuvee, can be found in Tesco, M&S, Co-op and Waitrose. Buy online here.
BIDDENDEN, near Ashford
This family-run vineyard has been owned by the Barnes family for more than 50 years. The 23-acre site includes 12 different grape varieties to produce white, rosé, red, dessert and sparkling wines. If you’re looking for fizz, a bottle of the Glass of Bubbly 2022 trophy winner, Gribble Bridge Sparkling White 2018, should do the trick. Buy online here.
CHAPEL DOWN, Tenterden
If it’s good enough for the royals, then it’s good enough for a New Year’s Eve party. Chapel Down is one of the country’s best-known winemakers and has become popular with celebrities since being served at Buckingham Palace for Prince William and the Princess of Wales’ wedding. Earlier this year, the vineyard’s Rosé Brut was named among the top 50 wines in the world in the Decanter World Wine Awards. Buy online here.
GUSBOURNE, near Ashford
It’s been called one of the best vineyards in the country thanks to its top quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. The estate spans almost 150 acres in Appledore and 75 acres in West Sussex and has produced the gold medal-winning 2019 Rosé and its signature Blanc de Blancs sparkling wine, both of which would be perfect for a midnight toast. Buy online here.
SIMPSONS, near Canterbury
Charles and Ruth Simpson, a husband and wife team who run the Domaine de Sainte Rose vineyard in southern France, joined the English wine game in 2012. They opened the Simpsons’ Wine Estate and currently offer six sparkling varieties, including the elegant Canterbury Rose Sparkling Rosé 2021 and the citrusy White Cliffs Blanc de Blancs 2019. Buy online here.
SQUERRYES, Westerham
Eagle-eyed viewers of Netflix show Bridgerton might recognise this estate as scenes from the latest series were filmed in front of the 17th century manor house. When it comes to wine, there’s vintage Brut bottles available to buy from Waitrose and Majestic and magnums that would be enough for party guests at the ton. Buy online here.
WESTWELL WINES, Charing
Located on Pilgrims Way in the North Downs, this independent vineyard is small but mighty. It has five different grape varieties – Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Regent and Ortega – and currently has four sparkling wines on offer, including the award-winning Pinot Meunier Multi Vintage. Buy online here.
