New wine available from Elham Valley Vineyard

Our Vineyard was cultivated and planted by the original owners in 1985-86. Over recent years the health of the vines has declined, with the 2010 harvest being extremely disappointing and the support stakes have inevitably rotted and need replacement. The Trust also wished to change the varieties of grapes grown to be able to produce improved quality wines and an increased range of wines.  With the generous support of the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and The Brook Trust we are now embarking on a replanting project.

Approximately 1600 vines will be planted, with three different grape varieties:

PINOT NOIR  -  A red grape, highly prized and grown in the Champagne and Burgundy regions of France.  Now successfully grown in the UK from French grafts.

SEYVAL BLANC  -  A white grape, developed in France in the 1920’s. Popular in English wine and resistant to the main problem for English vineyard, mildew.

BACCHUS  -  A white grape, originally a German wine.  Probably the most popular grape variety for English wines.  Aromatic and similar to Sauvignon Blanc.

The Wines

Depending on the quality of the annual harvest the Vineyard would hope to produce a sparkling Rosé wine from the Pinot Noir and a white Bacchus, as well as differing blends.  The vines should produce fruit from the summer of 2013 onwards.  Meanwhile we still have stocks left to sell from previous years.

You can follow our progress via the Family Investment Homes website.