Vineyard 2: Balfour Winery
A 20-minute drive away, Balfour Winery sits on the ample grounds of Hush Heath Estate, a place that Visit England has recently recognised as one of the country’s leading tourism attractions. It costs nothing to roam the acres of land here, encompassing ancient woodlands and fields of meadow flowers – an ideal spot for stretching legs post-lunch. I take a 40-minute loop through the vineyard, past the apple orchards and into the forest, keeping an eye out for the buzzards and deer that have made this land their home. Given the amount of wine Balfour produces, it is surprisingly calm and peaceful in these woods; there is just the sound of birdsong and my own feet crunching through the autumn leaves. I head in to continue admiring the view from the terrace. Winemaking father and son team, Owen and Fergus Elias, take me through the introductory tasting. There are three wines in this session, but it is worth sampling a few more if one is not the designated driver.
Westwell Wine EstateAdy Kerry
Vineyard 3: Westwell Wine Estate
As the sun begins to set, I arrive at Westwell Wine Estate after a 30-minute drive. This vineyard has an altogether different vibe from the first two: a large corrugated black iron barn bearing “Westwell” in huge white painted letters sits wide open, revealing the winery and steel tanks within. Gaining increasing popularity with the hip London crowd, it’s an undeniably cool space, with bright overhead lighting, a pared-back design and processes laid bare for visitors to see. It is a Friday evening, a night Westwell celebrates with music (winemaker Adrian Pike often taking to the DJ decks himself) and alternating food trucks from “posh toasties” to pizzas. If I had arrived earlier, I could have booked a tour or taken myself around the vineyard – there are QR-coded points of information dotted around the grounds – but as night settles in, I am happy to sit at their benched tables and try their signature Pelegrim sparkling wine poured by “Tour Supernova” Clare Butcher. The title is Old English for “pilgrim”, an ode to its location beneath Pilgrims Way, the route to Canterbury.
