A new chapter is taking root at Hever Castle as work begins on the Estate’s first vineyard, with 12,500 vines now planted in the south-facing field to the north of Hever Castle.
The three-hectare vineyard has been created with an exciting ambition: to produce Hever Castle’s own wines, which will one day be served and sold exclusively on site for visitors and guests to enjoy.
The idea was first championed by Hever Castle owner Richard Guthrie, who recognised the potential of the Estate’s landscape for growing grapes and the opportunity to create something truly unique.
Situated in the south-facing field to the north of the Castle, overlooking it across the adjacent river, the site was carefully chosen for its natural advantages. The gentle slope maximises sunlight exposure while helping to protect the vines from frost.
The vineyard has been planted with the three classic grape varieties used in traditional sparkling wine production – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – with a selection of different clones that will allow both sparkling and still wines to be produced in the future.
One of the project’s biggest advantages is that Hever Castle already has a ready-made audience. Unlike many vineyards, which must find routes to market for their wines, Hever will be able to serve and sell its wines directly to visitors, by the bottle and by the glass across the Estate.
Duncan Leslie, Chief Executive of Hever Castle, said: “To be planting a vineyard at Hever Castle is incredibly exciting. The idea has been talked about for some time and it’s wonderful to see it finally becoming a reality.
“We know visitors are increasingly interested in English wine and we’re in the fortunate position of being able to grow, harvest and make our own wine right here in Kent. There’s still a long journey ahead, but we’re looking forward to watching the vineyard develop and, one day, raising a glass of Hever Castle wine, grown overlooking the Castle.”
The South of England shares the same chalk soils as the Champagne region, making it ideally suited to growing grapes for sparkling wine. While England has traditionally been cooler, recent warmer growing seasons have created conditions similar to those that produced some of Champagne’s greatest vintages. This potential has attracted renowned Champagne houses such as Taittinger and Pommery to plant vineyards in England. Today, English sparkling wines regularly win awards and have even beaten leading Champagnes in blind tastings.
The project has been developed with the support of East Sussex-based vineyard specialists VineWorks Ltd, who will oversee the vineyard’s ongoing management. The vines were sourced from specialist nurseries in France and planted following extensive preparation work, including soil analysis and improvements to reduce acidity.
The site sits on the Wadhurst Clay Formation, part of the ancient Weald landscape that stretches across Kent and Sussex. Combined with the field’s high organic matter and favourable aspect, the conditions provide an excellent foundation for growing grapes.
The recent spell of warm weather followed by welcome rainfall has helped give the young vines a strong start. Trellising and deer fencing will be installed over the coming months as the vineyard begins to establish itself.
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Once fully mature, the vineyard is expected to produce around 15,000 bottles a year. While sparkling wine will be the main focus, warmer vintages may also allow for the production of high-quality still wines, making the most of each harvest.
For now, visitors and locals can watch the vineyard grow and develop over the coming years. In time, those vines will produce a wine that is unmistakably Hever Castle – grown on the Estate, overlooking the Castle and enjoyed in one of Kent’s most historic settings.
Book your visit to Hever Castle & Gardens.
Within the grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, there are two opportunities for you to stay the night with us.
Hever Castle has played host to many important events and celebrations for over 600 years. In 1903 when William Waldorf Astor set about restoring Hever Castle to its former glory, he added the Astor Wing, to accommodate his family and guests, before creating a lake and the spectacular Italian Garden to house his impressive collection of ancient Greek and Roman statuary.
There are multiple places to eat & drink across the Hever Castle Estate. Select between the Castle & Gardens and Golf Club below to discover more.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, Hever Castle Golf Club is a 27 hole Kent golf course that will encourage and inspire all golf enthusiasts.
Set in the mature grounds of the Hever Castle Estate, the Wellbeing Centre consists of five smart treatment rooms.
