I was lucky to be invited to the Terlingham Vineyards for a tour and wine tasting - I rushed back from a previous appointment and got there just as the tour started.

I had no idea we even had vineyards in this next of the woods - but it was a beautiful early Summer day and we found the vineyard quickly - being only 4 miles from where we live.

Penny and Steve Riley greeted us warmly and we joined the small group being shown round the vineyard. Steve first took us to see where the vines are growing and we could see rows and rows of 4 year old vines about 3 ft high with the beginnings of flowers already coming. Steve explained about the different varieties of grapes grown there for sparkling white, white, red and rose wine. He also explained why the clay and chalky soil was good for growing grapevines - but in some respects a little too good - because if the ground provided too much nourishment there would be too much growth and not enough fruit. To mitigate this grass was grown between the lines of vines to ’soak up’ some of the nutrition.

Then for the tasting - there was the lovely Terlingham Sparkling, Saxon Shore, White Cliffs, Samphire Hoe, Bacchus, Ceasars Camp and Riley Rose. I sampled all of them and the Terlingham Sparkling was my absolute favourite - my next favourite was Saxon Shore - the smell of this white wine alone was wonderful. All wines are named after places in and around Shepway and bear the White Horse on the Terlingham label - so no mistaking they are truly a local wine.

It was the perfect way to spend a few hours, sitting in the warm sunshine, looking out over the beautiful countryside and sipping ice cold wine.

Of course you can buy cheap wines from any large supermarket because they can buy in bulk at rock bottom prices - the short journey to the Terlingham Vineyard is worth doing just for the pleasure of the ride through the countryside - but starting from as little as around £5 for one of the Terlingham Roses these truly local wines are definitely worth paying the little extra for.

http://www.terlinghamvineyard.co.uk

Terlingham Vineyard
Terlingham Manor
Hawkinge
Folkestone
Kent
CT18 7AE

email: info@terlinghamvineyard.co.uk

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Image by Michael Flick via Flickr

English Wine Week is Saturday 29th May to Sunday 6th June.  Terlingham Vineyard near Folkestone will be starting the most important week of the year at 2pm on Saturday 29th May with free tours of the vineyard, wine tastings and sales plus one of our free range spit roast pigs served in baps.  Why don’t you bring a few friends or colleagues along and join us?

If you can’t make our opening event we will be open every day of English Wine Week 2pm to 4pm for tours, tastings and sales and thereafter by appointment only.  If you can arrange a group of at least 20 people we will lay on a selection of English cheeses for the wine tasting.

DIRECTIONS

From Folkestone - Follow A260 Canterbury Road from Blackbull Road towards Hawkinge.  Before you go over the motorway turn left into Crete Road West, first right into Gibraltar Lane, first right again into Terlingham Lane.  The winery is just after the large gates at the end of the lane.

From Hawkinge - Travel along Aerodrome Road to the end, just after the road takes a 90 degree swing to the right in the direction of Paddlesworth you should turn left into Elvington Lane, first left into Gibraltar Lane and first left into Terlingham Lane.  The winery is just after the large gates at the end of the lane.

From M20 - Take the exit for A260 Canterbury but turn towards Folkestone rather than Canterbury when you come off.  Turn right at the brow of the hill into Crete Road West, first right into Gibraltar Lane, first right again into Terlingham Lane.  The winery is just after the large gates at the end of the lane.

Looking forward to meeting you!

Penny & Steve Riley

Terlingham Vineyard

Terlingham Manor Farm

Terlingham Lane

Off Gibraltar Lane

Hawkinge

Folkestone

Kent

CT18 7AE

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