Barnsole Vineyard: A Boutique Kent Estate Carrying on Two Millennia of English Wine
Tucked into the gentle farmland of east Kent, between the historic city of Canterbury and the medieval Cinque Port of Sandwich, Barnsole Vineyard is a small, artisan estate that quietly does things the old way. Its single-estate, hand-made English sparkling wines have earned a string of awards, but the team behind Barnsole are far more interested in listening to their vines than in shouting about themselves. Drop in for a tasting, walk the rows, and you quickly understand why this is one of the most quietly impressive boutique vineyards in the Garden of England.
A 2,000-year-old wine tradition, carried forward
From the vineyard, the Roman walls of Richborough Fort rise across the flats. It was at Richborough in 44 AD that the legions of Rome first brought Pinot Noir vines to Britain, and so began a viticultural tradition that has ebbed and flowed across two millennia. Barnsole sees itself as a custodian of that tradition, growing Pinot Noir alongside other classic grape varieties to make wines that are unmistakably English in character yet rooted in a much deeper history.
The site itself is ancient farmed land. The loam soil over Thanet Sand has a habit of yielding up relics of earlier generations of farm workers - Napoleonic buttons, musket balls, the odd clay pipe discarded during a long-forgotten lunch break. Beneath your boots you are standing on a working landscape that has produced food and drink for centuries; today, that drink is English sparkling wine.
The story of a boutique Kent vineyard
Barnsole is, in its own words, a boutique Kent vineyard and winery, run by a handful of passionate winemakers who share a single ambition: to produce premium quality Kentish sparkling wines. The estate is among the older vineyards in Kent, and its situation - south-facing, sheltered, and sitting on free-draining geology - delivers exactly the climate and soil combination that high-quality English grapes demand.
The team tends the vines by hand throughout the growing season, paying close attention to what the vineyard tells them. Only when the fruit has fully ripened, and the season has whispered its approval, do they harvest. That patience is the through-line of everything produced under the Barnsole label.
Two plantings, two purposes
The vineyard has been shaped in two distinct phases.
Phase one: 1993 - the heritage block
The first vines went into the ground in 1993. These were the varieties Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe, chosen specifically to make still Kentish wines with character and balance. More than thirty years later, those heritage vines are still producing grapes that go into Barnsole’s most distinctive cuvées.
Phase two: 2013 - the sparkling block
A second phase of planting in 2013 added the classic Champagne varieties - Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - grown specifically to make estate-grown English sparkling wine. The same planting also included Bacchus, planted for aromatic English white wine.
Trellising and canopy management
All the vines are trained on the classic double Guyot trellising system, with rows and vines spaced two metres apart. The fruit zone is deliberately positioned close to the ground to help the grapes ripen, harnessing the warmth that rises from the Kent soil.
A gentle footprint on the land
Barnsole’s stated philosophy is to tread softly. The team aims to leave no trace of their time as custodians of the land, working to nurture the wildlife that shares the vineyard. Hares, badgers and foxes roam the rows, alongside a wide variety of British birds, large and small. All are welcome to share in the bounty.
This approach extends to the winemaking itself: minimal intervention, restrained handling, and a deep respect for the fruit.
Winemaking at Barnsole
Barnsole’s winemakers are firm believers in non-interventionist winemaking, with the ambition of letting each variety express itself honestly. As a result, they do the absolute minimum needed to refine the wines over the winter months, taking great care to preserve delicate freshness by restricting exposure to the open air.
How each wine is made
- Sparkling wine base - fruit is whole-bunch pressed.
- Still white wine - fruit is crushed and macerated.
- Red wine - fruit is destemmed and fermented on the skins.
- All juices are fermented in closed stainless steel tanks to maintain freshness and aroma.
- Sparkling base wines are bottled unfiltered in the spring following harvest. A pinch of sugar and some yeast are added to start the second fermentation in bottle.
- Cellar ageing: English sparkling wines are left for extended lees ageing and released after four years. Kentish still red and white wines are released after two years resting in the cellars.
Before any wine is released, sample bottles are sent to the industry regulator for analysis, with the team aiming for accreditation with the highest European standard, known as Quality Wine. Production is intentionally modest: around 20,000 bottles a year.
The Barnsole wines
Barnsole produces a focused range of English sparkling and still wines, all from estate-grown fruit. Every wine is built to age gracefully, and the team deliberately holds stock back in the cellar until they believe each wine is ready.
Rosé de Noir Sparkling 2022 - £31.99
A 100% Pinot Noir sparkling rosé, brimming with refreshing acidity, wild strawberry notes and a creamy, luxurious finish. 12% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Classic Sparkling Wine 2021 - £31.99
A classic-method sparkling made from 90% Pinot Noir and 10% Chardonnay. Crisp and fruity, with strawberry layered over rich summer fruits and a hint of biscuit. Matured in bottle for three years prior to release. 12.5% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Old Vine Sparkling Wine 2021 - £24.99
A bottle-fermented sparkling made from a blend of Huxelrebe and Reichensteiner, showcasing the heritage block planted in 1993. Kentish apples and pears with a zippy finish. Three years on lees before release. 12% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Pinot Noir 2022 - £18.99
A light-bodied red with a vanilla nose overlaying red fruits, delivering violets and liquorice notes on the palate alongside soft tannins. 11% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Twenty Seven Hands Sparkling 2021 - £24.99
Made from the heritage Reichensteiner vines planted at Barnsole in 1993, this is a lean, tight and zippy sparkling with notes of citrus and green apple. 10.5% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Dry Reserve 2022 - £14.30
A zippy dry white with notes of melon, peach and lemon, finished with a wisp of salinity. 11% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Sparkling Bacchanalian 2021 - £24.99
A bottle-fermented Bacchus blend - aromatic and fun, with elderflower and tropical fruit. The team describe it as “an English summer in a bottle”. 10.5% abv, 75cl. Buy from the Barnsole shop.
Buying direct
The full range is available from the cellar door and via the Barnsole online shop. Many of the wines are sold as boxes of three or six bottles, and prices shown above are per bottle.
Visiting Barnsole: tastings and tours
Barnsole is one of the most welcoming small vineyards in Kent. The tasting room sits on a tranquil, rural site, and visitors are actively encouraged to drop in.
Drop-in tasting - free
Visitors are welcome to drop in for a free tasting without an appointment during opening hours. It’s an easy, relaxed way to discover the range and chat with the team.
One-hour vineyard and winery tour - £20.00 per adult
A guided one-hour tour can be booked via email or by telephoning 07772 300 511. The tour includes:
- A sample of sparkling wine on arrival.
- A look at the vineyard, with a walk among the vines (weather permitting).
- A look inside the winery to see how sparkling, red and white wines are made.
- A tasting flight of wines to finish.
The fee is £20.00 per adult. Note that while the team try not to mix groups, you may be invited to join another group at your discretion.
Bespoke group tours
Bespoke group tours can be arranged by calling 07772 300 511, making Barnsole a strong option for private celebrations, corporate visits and small-group days out.
Corkage and on-site drinking
Barnsole wines can be purchased for consumption on the premises, with a £10.00 corkage fee per bottle. Children are very welcome, and the vineyard is dog friendly. The only rule is no picnics.
Kentish platters
Locally sourced platters are available as an accompaniment to the wines. These need to be ordered in advance so they can be made fresh for your visit - simply contact Barnsole ahead of your arrival.
- Kentish Charcuterie and Cheese Board - a selection of locally sourced artisan cheeses and charcuterie with chutney and pickles. £18.00.
- Kentish Cheese Board - a selection of locally sourced artisan cheeses with chutney and pickles. £18.00.
Visiting hours and how to find Barnsole
Barnsole is open Thursday to Sunday, 11.00am to 4.00pm, plus Bank Holidays. If the weather is poor, it’s worth calling in advance. Outside of these times, visits are considered by appointment only.
Directions
The vineyard sits south of the ancient road between Canterbury and Sandwich, close to the village of Ash. Brown vineyard signs lead the way from the A257 at Ash - follow the signs towards Staple along Durlock Road, then turn left through the village of Staple.
Address and contact
- Address: Barnsole Vineyard Limited, Fleming Road, Staple, Canterbury, Kent CT3 1LG.
- Telephone: 07772 300 511.
- Website: barnsole.co.uk.
Following Barnsole online
The vineyard is active on social media, sharing seasonal updates, harvest news and behind-the-scenes glimpses of life in the rows.
The vineyard also has a TripAdvisor listing for visitor reviews.
Why Barnsole stands out
There are now many vineyards in Kent, but few combine the qualities that Barnsole offers in quite the same way:
- Heritage - heritage vines planted in 1993 alongside a second phase from 2013, all on a site with two thousand years of viticultural history behind it.
- Single-estate, hand-made wines - every bottle is grown, made, aged and bottled on the estate.
- Restraint - a non-interventionist philosophy, long lees ageing for the sparkling wines and quiet confidence in the cellar.
- Accessibility - free drop-in tastings, affordable guided tours, dog-friendly grounds and locally sourced platters.
- Small-scale production - roughly 20,000 bottles a year, with every wine made by hand by the Barnsole team.