Chapel Down Winery

Features

  • Tours Tours
  • Bar Bar
  • Shop Shop
  • Clubs Clubs
  • Wheelchair Access Wheelchair Access
  • Child Friendly Child Friendly
  • Dog Friendly Dog Friendly
  • Public Transport within 5 miles Public Transport within 5 miles
  • Harvest Days Harvest Days
  • Eco Initiatives Eco Initiatives

Tour details

Individuals

The vineyards and herb garden are open for self-guided tours with a map picked up from the Wine & Fine Food Store.

Guided tours are available daily from June to September and at the weekends in May and October

Find out about the history of English wines, the varieties of grapes planted and how Chapel Down harnesses the English climate to its advantage as you walk the vineyards. Tour the winery and finish with a tasting in the Wine & Fine Food shop.

Groups

Group tours by prior arrangement.
Joint itineraries are available with Smallhythe Place (NT), the Kent & East Sussex Railway, and Godinton House and Gardens

Wheelchair access

The Guided Tour route, Wine & Fine Food Store

Wine & Fine Food Store

Includes all Chapel Down produce plus an extensive range of other British food and drink, including 30 cheeses, beers and ciders, handmade chocolates, cakes and preserves and smoked meat and fish.

Public Transport

Bus: Limited service from Tenterden, 312
Station: Headcorn, 12 miles

Course details

School visits for A-Level and college students: contact Store

Opening times

Wine & Fine Food Store

Mon-Sun: 10am-5pm
Bank Holidays: 10am-5pm

Prices

Tours

Adults: £9
Students/senior: £8
Students: 12–17: £2
Under 12: Free

Get in Touch

Tel: 01580 766111
Email: retail@englishwinesgroup.com
www.englishwinesgroup.com

Twitter: ChapelDownWines

Chapel Down Winery
Small Hythe Road Tenterden Vineyard
Tenterden
Kent
TN30 7NG
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Chapel Down based in Tenterden Kent is one of the UK's longest established wineries and makes for a great day out. With its enchanting walled herb garden, extensive shop, in addition to its vineyards and wines, the little Kentish village of Tenterden has quite a draw in its midst.

Underneath – because that's where it all begins – there's a chalk seam akin to that found underneath Champagne which holds the key to the wines' quality and success over the years.

Six acres of vines were initially planted at this spot by English wine guru Stephen Skelton MW (check out his website www.englishsparklingwine.co.uk) in the late 1970s and, after a few changes of ownership, the vineyards became the heart of the Chapel Down empire. Pioneers of the drier style of wines, they were the first to "think big" for English wine, achieving a listing on British Airways in the 1990s, for example. Now the talented viticultural and winemaking team can call on nearly 500 acres of vines, grown and managed by them and other long-term suppliers.

Don't miss

Bacchus – England's answer to Sauvignon Blanc and long a speciality, Bacchus excelled in 2009, scooping three Golds and a trophy in the 2010 UKVA awards

Silverware

  • Bacchus 2009 – Jack Ward 2010 Trophy for best wine from previous vintage, UKVA Wine of the Year Awards
  • Best Leisure & Tourism Business 2010 – Kent Excellence in Business Awards, ahead of the likes of Leeds Castle
  • Chapel Down Rosé Brut – Gold, 2011 International Wine Challenge
  • Chapel Down Pinot Chardonnay 2006 – 2011 Int Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards, International Wine & Spirit Competition

Eco-friendly initiatives

  • Local sourcing policy for restaurant and store

Club

If you choose to get involved with the Vine Lease Scheme (one-year and three-year leases available) you will be able to:

  • Visit your vines year round (by prior arrangement) and harvest grapes from the Bacchus vineyard
  • Attend an annual wine tasting event held at the vineyard in May/June, after which you can take away your own bottles with personalised labels
  • Claim 10% off all wine

Community

Chapel Down supports Demelza Hospice Care for Children

Trade bodies

Produced in Kent, The Guild of Fine Food Retailers, Visit Kent, Tourism South East

last visited: 2009