The Romans started something; they started lots of things of course and for this article we are acknowledging that they are credited with planting grapes in England way back in 43 AD.
From then on wine was very much a part of English life as viticulture thrived into the middle ages with the monasteries producing wine for sacramental purposes.
Why didn’t I grow up with vineyards around me?
Northern Europe experienced the Little Ice Age between 1300 and 1850 (way before my time) shortening the growing seasons and making grape cultivation incredibly difficult; many vineyards were abandoned and the industry declined. It took until the 1950’s (I still wasn’t born yet!) for Sir Guy Salisbury-Jones to plant one of the first modern vineyards at Hambledon in Hampshire, often credited as the start of the commercial revival.
In the 1970’s (I was around but drinking milk) vineyards such as Denbies in Surrey were established and English wine began to receive attention.
Jump forward and today there are over 1,000 vineyards in England covering approximately 4,209 hectares (10,400 acres!) and, in 2023, producing 21.6 million bottles of wine.
Many of you will already know that, at Graham John, we have a soft spot for Hush Heath Estate and Balfour Wines.
Theirs is a name that regularly appears within lists of the top ten English wine producers and they have an enviable array of medals attributed to their wines.
Through the years we’ve had a relationship with Balfour we’ve seen them grow and grow. They have created a stunning wine lovers destination amidst beautiful Kentish countryside, in the wonderful Weald.
It felt like a good thing to start the year off with a visit to their winery near Staplehurst, to enjoy a wine tasting and follow that with dinner and it was a delightful experience.
There is obviously something about working around and with wine that engenders a sense of satisfaction in the workforce. At various vineyards we’ve visited there always seems to be a joy of seeing visitors, of sharing knowledge and a passion.
I/we’ve always been impressed by the camaraderie the growing team at Balfour display. Whatever the reason for your visit or who you meet, it’s enjoyable to go there.
Our recent visit was no exception, if you are planning to visit, do book a wine tasting. We had the pleasure of spending time with Lindy Hayton, Senior Tour Guide and Conservationist.
A dark January evening came to life as we spent over an hour learning, discovering and enjoying six of Balfour’s extensive range of wines.
Afterwards we were escorted to our table in The Winemakers’ Kitchen. Here the wine is the obvious star and the chefs design and provide a menu to showcase Balfour’s finest highlighting which the dish is designed to be eaten with.
The food was exquisite.
I could wax lyrical and detail the dishes we enjoyed but it is better to just say, ‘the food was exquisite’.
For me, dining is about much more than the food and here the environment, the look and the feel of it, is hugely important. Stepping over to gaze upon the vats ensures you are very aware of why you are here.
The team serving seem to enjoy their role in making your experience special and all were very polished, knowledgeable and lovely.
Balfour is about the wine, about amazing wine and quality permeates through everything they do.
We will continue to enjoy A delightful Hush – the joy of wine and fine dining!
UK vineyards surpass 1,000 as wine sales rise 10%
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