Barnsole Vineyard
Award winning estate grown and bottled English wines
The story
Barnsole is a boutique Kent vineyard and winery, and a handful of passionate wine makers who strive to produce premium quality Kentish sparkling wines.
Our vineyard is one of the oldest vineyards in Kent, situated between the historic city of Canterbury and the delightful Cinque Port town of Sandwich. This is fertile land that has been farmed since ancient times. The loam soil over Thanet Sand regularly offers-up relics, such as Napoleonic buttons, musket balls and the odd clay pipe that was discarded by a farm hand long ago.
Barnsole’s situation delivers the perfect geology and climate to produce the high quality grapes that make our award winning English wines. We diligently nurture our vines throughout the growing season, listening carefully to what the vineyard tells us. Only when we have heard its whisper can we harness the goodness of each wondrous season.
We sell English sparkling and English still wines directly to the public from the winery door.
OUT IN A KENT VINEYARD
Everything at Barnsole is crafted by hand by our artisans. From preparing the soil to planting and pruning the vines that we nurture to maturity.
There have been two phases of planting. The first in 1993 when the varieties Reichensteiner, Huxelrebe were planted specifically to make Kentish still wines. Then, in 2013, a second phase of planting that included Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, specifically to make estate grown English sparkling wine. Plus Bacchus to make aromatic English white wine.
We employ the classic trellising system ‘double Guyot’ with rows and vines spaced 2 metres apart, positioning the fruit zone close to the ground to aid the ripening of the fruit.
Our philosophy is to tread softly in the environment. We endeavour to leave no trace of our time as custodians of this tranquil place. We enjoy the company of hares, badgers, foxes and many British birds, large and small. All of which are welcome to share the bounty of this land.
