Biddenden Vineyards

Kent’s original vineyard, Biddenden was established by the Barnes family in 1969, celebrating its 50^th anniversary in 2019.

The vineyard has remained family owned and is today run by the second & third generation, drawing on many years of experience in winemaking at Biddenden.  Eleven varieties of grapes are grown across 23 acres, producing award-winning white, red, rosé and sparkling English wines.  Ortega, Biddenden’s signature wine, accounts for approximately half of the vineyards.

Approximately 80,000 bottles of wine are produced each year and all the grapes are estate grown, with all vine work & picking carried out by hand to ensure that the very best quality grapes are selected to produce Biddenden’s wines.  Pressing, fermentation and bottling is also carried out on site, and the majority of wines are sold directly from the cellar door.

The famous Biddenden Cider is also produced on site to the Barnes traditional family recipe, using locally grown culinary & dessert apples along with farm-pressed Kentish apple & pear juices including Clearly Juice, a range of clear, wine-like juices.

Visitors are welcome at the vineyard year-round and are free to walk the vineyards on a self-guided tour, or join an open tour which runs every Saturday from April to October, providing an excellent introduction to Biddenden.  For a more personal experience, private tours are also available by prior arrangement.

The vineyard shop offers tastings of Biddenden’s wines, ciders & juices as well as stocking a wide selection of locally produced food & drink.  Sharing platters are also available on a walk-in basis along with drinks by the glass or bottle to enjoy overlooking the vineyards.