These are exciting times for the British wine industry. It has quickly moved from hobbyists, eccentrics and romantics producing amusing, strange and often undrinkable wine, to an emerging player on the world stage. It is a story of coming of age. English wines have been consistently winning international awards in competition with renowned and respected houses and Kent is at the heart of this renaissance. The Garden of England, once the county of apples, hops and soft fruit, is rapidly transforming into the engine room of this new era. An increasingly attractive microclimate for growing wine and a mixture of chalk, sandy loam and Wealden clay soils, make conditions ideal for winegrowers. This four-day tour aims to provide a strong representation of both large and small, family run and corporate wine producers. Our aim is to provide a leisurely and entertaining insight into the range and quality of wines now available and how the industry is likely to develop in coming years, in the company of Will Lyons, a recognised and accessible wine expert. The main emphasis of the tour will on sparkling wines as they currently dominate production and have been the mainstay of the developing an international reputation. We will taste vintage, non-vintage, luxury cuvees, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Sparkling Rose. Where available we may also sample still reds and whites. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, this tour combines a tour of bucolic countryside with ancient towns, whilst staying in comfort at the four-star Chilston Park Hotel.
Dates:
12 September 2022
Prices:
All prices listed are per person
Twin/double share: from £1995
Double room for sole use supplement: £220
Deposit: £350