(written exclusively for Kent Life and published in their August 2024 edition)
Picture this: stunning views over rolling hills and the English Channel, the sweet aroma of ripening fruit filling the air, and you with a glass of sparkling rosé in your hand and your special someone by your side, both laughing about how you’ve finally found a good excuse to drink before noon! Before the summer is over, swap the usual weekend routine for a romantic escape at Terlingham Vineyard - named in The Times as one of the top UK vineyards to visit!
Terlingham Vineyard is a boutique estate perfectly located in the Kent’s North Downs just above Folkestone, with views worthy of a postcard. The vineyard is run by the Wilks family, originally from South Africa, who have been relentlessly pouring their passion into crafting unique wines since 2011, priding themselves on their sustainable and earth-friendly farming practices. Their unique location enjoying south facing slopes, chalky soil, and sea breezes creates the perfect conditions to grow high-quality grapes. With 5,500 vines planted across four and a half acres, they are small but they are punching well above their weight, regularly winning silver and gold medals at national competitions, including the WineGB Awards, Great British Food Awards, and International Wine & Spirit Competition to name a few!
Start your day with a guided wine tasting experience hosted by Jackie Wilks, one of the incredible minds behind Terlingham Vineyard. To kick off, Jackie will give you a quick tour of the vineyard while letting you in on behind-the-scene details of how they grow grapes and run the estate. You will then taste a selection of their still and sparkling wines (and their gin!). Sit by the table overlooking the vineyard, relax, and sip on award-winning tipple, as Jackie tells you all about winemaking methods, grape varieties, and the remarkable skill of the winemaker Poppy that go into these fabulous wines that - I promise you - will wow you with their intensity and complexity (I still cannot get over the nose and long finish on some of them!). The wines will be complemented by a generous board of cheeses, bread, and crackers, and finished off with a slice of cake of the day. Now that’s what I call being spoiled.
After the experience, you are more than welcome to take a self-tour of the estate or, if you are feeling lazy, just order a bottle of bubbly and enjoy it as you sunbathe in the midday sun. There are a number of picturesque walking trails nearby, including along the stunning Saxon Shore Way, if you feel like burning off those wine and cheese calories! History buffs may also want to pop over to the Battle of the Britain Museum that is just a 5-minute drive away. In the evening, head over to London and Paris in Folkestone for an unforgettable dining experience. Their menu always features locally caught seafood expertly prepared by their talented chefs. The head chef James recommends that you try their popular market fish pithivier (aka. fish pie!), stone bass with wild garlic butter sauce, or spiced monkfish.
As the day wears on, head back to Terlingham Vineyard to settle in for the night at their gorgeous Lane Cottage. Luxurious, cosy, and charming - it’s a perfect setting to unwind and have that last glass (or two!) of rosé. The cottage has its own lovely patio area for you to sink into its peace and quiet, as you enjoy the last rays of sun. Clinking glasses with your special someone as the sun sets, you cannot help but feel like a character in a rom-com, and let’s admit it, you are digging that!
Comments