Biddenden Vineyard

Biddenden Vineyard: Kent's Original Family Winery Since 1969

Nestled in a sheltered valley just outside the picturesque Wealden village of Biddenden, a few miles from Ashford in the Kent countryside, sits a quiet English landmark. Biddenden Vineyard - or, more properly, Biddenden Vineyards - is the oldest commercial vineyard in Kent and one of the very first to be planted anywhere in England. The south-facing sandy-loam slopes of the Garden of England have, since 1969, been coaxed into producing still and sparkling wines, traditional ciders and farm-pressed juices that quietly carry the Barnes family name out of Kent and onto tables across the country. It is a true grape-to-glass estate: every grape is grown, hand-picked, pressed and bottled on site, and every bottle carries the character of one very specific 23-acre patch of Kent.

Our Story: From Apple Orchard to Award-Winning Vineyard

The story begins not with vines but with apples. The land was originally home to a 40-acre apple orchard, and for generations the Barnes family tended it in the traditional Kent fashion. As the 1960s drew to a close, however, apple prices began to slide and the family began to consider diversifying the farm. The change of direction was sparked, fittingly, by a radio broadcast: after hearing a feature on BBC Woman's Hour about English vineyards being replanted, Joyce Barnes was inspired to try her hand at viticulture. In 1969 one third of an acre of vines was planted, and Biddenden Vineyards was born.

From those first tentative plantings, production has grown to around 80,000 bottles a year, but the family ethos has not changed. Today the vineyard is run by the second and third generations of the Barnes family - Managing Director Julian Barnes and General Manager Tom Barnes - drawing on more than 55 years of accumulated experience. All vine work on the estate is still carried out by hand, including pruning, canopy management and picking, with harvest running from mid-September right through to November. Twelve different grape varieties are grown across the 23 acres, on sandy loam over clay in a shallow sheltered valley, and the combination of aspect, soil and maritime climate is what gives Biddenden's wines their signature Germanic-and-French balance.

Kent's Original Vineyard

Biddenden lays claim to being England's original commercial vineyard, and the family is keen to keep that legacy in plain sight. Their original Germanic-style Ortega label, complete with the Biddenden vine motif, has been preserved as a historical memento on the Biddenden Ortega bottle, and the success of recent vintages - Ortega Chapter 56 winning a prestigious title at the London Tasting Awards 2026, success at the 2024 Taste of Kent Awards, and consistent praise from critics including Susie Barrie MW, Simon Field MW, Matthew Jukes, Tamlyn Currin and Oz Clarke - confirms that the original vineyard can still mix it with the best of modern English wine.

The Wines

Every Biddenden wine is single-estate, made from grapes grown, picked and pressed on the property. Twelve varieties are planted, with Ortega - a German crossing of Müller-Thurgau and Siegerrebe - the flagship and covering just over half of the vineyard. Other varieties include Bacchus, Dornfelder, Gamay, Pinot Noir, Reichensteiner, Scheurebe, Schönburger, Huxelrebe, Gewürztraminer and Riesling. The range divides naturally into still wines, sparkling wines and limited-release special bottles.

Still Wines

The still wine portfolio centres on Ortega and a clutch of single-varietal wines that showcase the breadth of varieties Biddenden grows.

• Biddenden Ortega 2023 - £15.95. Semi-aromatic on the nose with fresh aromas of green apple, grapefruit, cut grass and flora; medium-bodied, crisp and deliciously fruity. The signature wine, in production since 1972.
• Biddenden Ortega Chapter 56 - £17.00. A fully dry example of Ortega from vines over 50 years old - the oldest and most established on the estate. Praised by Oz Clarke and Tom Surgey as "absolutely benchmark old-vine Ortega from the masters!".
• Biddenden Bacchus 2023 - £16.70. Dry, full-fruit and aromatic; the English alternative to Sauvignon Blanc. First planted at Biddenden in 2003, with further plantings in 2018.
• Gribble Bridge Ortega Dry 2024 - £15.95. Soft apple blossom and gentle apricot on the nose, with rounded citrus fruits on the palate. Just-dry, easy-drinking and excellent with white fish and salads.
• Gribble Bridge Rosé 2024 - £15.95. Medium-dry, full and well-balanced, produced from Ortega, Dornfelder and Pinot Noir. Refreshingly full of English strawberry flavour.
• Gribble Bridge Dornfelder 2025 - £16.95. A light, off-dry red brimming with raspberries and summer fruit. Drink lightly chilled for a summer refreshment or at room temperature with Mediterranean dishes.
• Biddenden Gamay Noir 2025 - £22.50. A new varietal release, continuing the trend of planting French varieties alongside the Germanic staples.
• Biddenden Huxelrebe 2025 - £16.70. Dry and fruity with strong Muscat-like aromas and a rhubarb tartness. Huxelrebe was first planted at Biddenden in 1972.
• Biddenden Schönburger 2025 - £17.00. A 50cl late-harvest sweet white with honey, lychee and elderflower; described by Oz Clarke as "lovely, lush, juicy wine".
• Biddenden Riesling 2024 - £17.00. Light-bodied, citrus and floral, from grapes planted in 2018 on clay over sandstone along the sheltered slopes of Gribble Bridge Lane. Currently listed as "Back Soon".
• Biddenden White Pinot Noir 2024 - £17.00. A Blanc de Noirs from fully ripe, hand-picked Pinot Noir; pale peach, baked apple, pear, honey and ginger. Currently listed as "Back Soon".

Sparkling Wines - The Gribble Bridge Range

The Gribble Bridge range is Biddenden's traditional-method sparkling line, named after the lane on which the vineyard sits. The sparklings are bottle-fermented in the classic Champagne style.

• Gribble Bridge Sparkling White 2023 - £28.00. Good structure with a clean finish, attractive bready and baked notes; made from Pinot Noir, Reichensteiner, Scheurebe and Ortega.
• Gribble Bridge Sparkling Rosé 2020 - £28.00. Off-dry, with damask rose tones and a palate of strawberry, raspberry and pear. Made from Pinot Noir and Reichensteiner.
• Gribble Bridge Sparkling Ortega Demi-Sec 2022 - £28.00. Floral and aromatic, with sweet green apple undertones. Made by the traditional method from grapes grown on some of Kent's oldest vines.
• Gribble Bridge Sparkling Pinot Reserve 2019 - £40.00. The prestige cuvée: dry, rich and creamy with hints of brioche, named in memory of founder Joyce Barnes. Praised by Susie Barrie MW and Simon Field MW at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 for its "delicate and appealing" baked peach, hedgerow and orchard fruit character.

Special Releases

• Biddenden Ortega Late Harvest 2018 - £122.00 (37.5cl). A limited-edition sweet Ortega from the spectacular 2018 harvest, with 122 g/L residual sugar - believed to be the highest naturally occurring sugar levels ever recorded by a UK vineyard. Scored 17 ("Superior") by Tamlyn Currin on JancisRobinson.com and described by Matthew Jukes as "mind-bendingly stunning". Released in an elegant navy presentation tube.

Mixed Cases and Selections

For those who want to taste across the range, Biddenden offers a number of curated mixed cases:

• Gribble Bridge Sparkling Mixed Case - £168.00 - three bottles each of the Sparkling White 2018 and Sparkling Rosé 2020.
• Sparkling Selection - £123.50 - one bottle each of the four sparkling wines: White, Rosé, Pinot Reserve and Ortega Demi-Sec.
• Biddenden Trio - £49.00 - a showcase of the Gribble Bridge range with a white, red and rosé plus branded glasses and a corkscrew.
• Gribble Bridge Mixed Half Case - £97.50.
• White Wine Mixed Half Case - £99.00.
• A Taste of Biddenden - £113.00.
• Best of Both - Sparkling & Still - £145.00.
• Biddenden Senior - £267.00 - the most extensive selection in the cellar.

Ciders and Biddies

Biddenden sits in a traditional apple-growing area, and the Barnes family have been crafting cider from their orchard-fruit juice for over 40 years. As with the wines, the cider is made only from the juice of carefully selected culinary and dessert apples grown by local farmers in the Garden of England, giving it a more wine-like style than the West Country ciders produced from bittersweet apples. Every cider is pressed and fermented on site.

Still and Sparkling Ciders

• Biddenden Strong Kentish Cider - Dry, Medium or Sweet, £6.50 each.
• Biddenden Sparkling Cider - £14.50. Bottle-fermented by the traditional method, the cider equivalent of a Champagne.
• Biddenden Ice Cider 2024 - £14.50. A dessert-style cider made from juice concentrated by the cold.
• Biddenden Monks Delight Mulling Cider - £6.50.
• Biddenden Special Mead - £12.50.
• Biddenden Special Reserve - £12.50.

Biddies - The Lightly Sparkling Cider Range

Biddies is Biddenden's modern, lightly sparkling 50cl cider range, designed for easy drinking at 4 to 5 per cent ABV. Each variant showcases real fruit, never from concentrate.

• Biddies 5 - £4.00. Medium-dry, gentle sparkle, crisp apple flavour.
• Biddies Berries - £4.00. 4% cider blended with blackberries and elderberries foraged from the hedgerows at Biddenden.
• Biddies Elderpear - £4.00. Kentish apples, Kentish pears and elderflower picked at the vineyard.
• Biddies Strawberry Mint - £4.00. The winner of the 2024 Challenge Tom competition, made with Kentish strawberries and freshly picked local mint.
• Biddies Kentish Kiss - £4.00. A medium 5% cider with a natural rosé blush, made from a golden apple variety with rosy flesh.
• Biddies 8 - £5.80. A stronger 8% expression.
• Biddies Noughty Pink Lady® Non-Alcoholic Sparkling - £4.00. A 0.0% sparkling launched in late 2025, named after the famous English apple variety.
• Biddies Mixed Case Selection - £45.60.
• Biddies Pick & Mix - £45.60.

Bag-in-a-Box Cider

For parties and longer drinking, several of the ciders are also available in 5-litre and 20-litre bag-in-box formats - dry, medium and sweet Biddenden, plus Bushels, Kentish Kiss and Monks Delight.

Juices

Drawing on three generations of winemaking expertise, Biddenden produces a juice range that is wine-like in style and made only from orchard-ripe Kentish fruit. Every bottle is 100 per cent Kentish, with no concentrate and no artificial ingredients, supporting British fruit growers and producers.

• Biddenden Apple Juice - £2.20. The classic still cloudy apple juice.
• Biddenden Apple & Pear Juice - £2.20.
• Kentish Kiss Apple Juice - £2.20.
• Biddenden Sparkling Apple Juice - £2.20. Awarded at the 2024 Taste of Kent Awards.
• Biddenden Sparkling Apple & Grape Juice - £2.20.
• Biddenden Sparkling Apple & Strawberry Juice with Mint - £2.20.
• Biddenden Juice Selection - £26.00.
• The premium Clearly Juice range at £4.30 each, including Cox & Bramley, Russet, Worcester and Kentish Kiss, with a Mixed Six at £25.80. The range was re-launched in January 2026 with three new British flavours, applying 57 years of winemaking heritage to a refreshed juice collection.

Vineyard Tours and Tastings

From May to September, the vineyard opens its gates to visitors for a range of experiences designed to suit every taste and pace. All tours are led by the Biddenden team, and only visitors over 18 may participate in tastings (proof of age may be required). Guide and assistance dogs only.

Self-Guided Tour - £15 per person

The most flexible way to experience Biddenden. Visitors collect a tour pack at the vineyard shop and choose between two routes: the Red Route, a 40-minute walk with several way-points explaining the grape varieties; or the Yellow Route, a 20-minute gentle stroll. A tasting flight of three wines is included, with an upgrade to six wines available for an extra £5. £5 of the ticket is redeemable against Biddenden purchases over £20 in the shop. Self-guided tours run in line with the shop's opening hours from May to September, with last entry one hour before closing. Book or gift the Self-Guided Tour.

Open Tour - £30 per person

A guided group experience for up to 14 guests. The walk begins in the flagship Ortega block and continues through the vineyard, with insights into grape varieties and growing methods, before heading into the winery to learn about pressing, fermentation and bottling. The experience concludes with a tutored tasting of six specially selected still and sparkling wines. Tour duration is approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, with time for questions throughout. Minimum booking of two guests. Pre-booking required; tours run daily from May to September. Book or gift the Open Tour.

Private Guided Tour - £48 per person / £96 minimum

An exclusive experience for your own group of up to eight guests, led by a personal guide. The tour starts amongst some of the oldest vines in England, continues into the winery for an in-depth look at the winemaking techniques passed down through three generations, and finishes with a tutored tasting of six still and sparkling wines. Total duration approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. Pre-booking required; tours run daily at 11am and 2pm from May to September, with a minimum of two guests. Book or gift the Private Tour.

Meet the Winemaker Tour

The most exclusive Biddenden experience. On arrival, guests are greeted by either Managing Director Julian Barnes or General Manager Tom Barnes, with a glass of Sparkling Wine or Sparkling Apple Juice to begin. The winemaker then leads the group on a journey around the vines, exploring how the wines began life in the 25-acre vineyard, before moving into the winery to share insights into the production of both wines and ciders. The visit ends with a tutored tasting of six wines. Limited dates are available, with pricing on application - contact the office on 01580 291726 for availability and booking. Details of the Meet the Winemaker Tour.

Visit the Vineyard Shop

The vineyard shop is the hub of any visit to Biddenden. It is fully stocked with the estate's own wines, ciders and juices, plus a carefully selected range of local and regional products - cheese, charcuterie, condiments, snacks, beers and gins from independent and artisan producers. Biddenden Vineyards and many of the producers who supply them are members of Produced in Kent.

Sharing Boards

Between May and September, visitors can complete their visit with a delicious sharing board of local cheese, charcuterie, crackers, chutney and seasonal produce, available to order on the day in the vineyard shop.

Shop Opening Times

• 1st May - September & 17th November - 24th December: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm; Saturdays 10am - 5pm; Sundays & Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm. Closed from noon on 24th December.
• 9th February - 30th April & October - 21st November: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm; Saturdays & Bank Holidays 11am - 4pm. Closed Sundays.
• 12th January - 8th February: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm. Closed weekends.

Practical Notes

Well-behaved dogs on a lead are welcome on the vineyard walks and in the yard, but only guide and assistance dogs are permitted in the shop itself. Pre-paid order collection can also be arranged with the office Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm, or wines, ciders and juices can be ordered online for delivery across the UK.

Stay at The Grape Escape

Attached to the owners' main house and overlooking the vines, The Grape Escape is a romantic couples' cottage with a wood-fired hot tub and a secluded garden offering spectacular countryside views. Inside, a cosy lounge/diner with Smart TV leads to a compact kitchen, a shower room and a mezzanine bedroom with king-size bed. Outside, steps lead up to a patio with sun loungers, a charcoal BBQ and - best of all - a glass of Ortega in hand as the sun sets over the vineyard. The cottage can be booked with a private guided tour for the full Biddenden stay. Bookings are handled via Holiday Cottages.

Gifts, Hampers and Corporate Gifting

Whether the occasion is a birthday, a wedding, a thank-you or a corporate celebration, Biddenden has an array of ready-made and bespoke gift options. Each hamper is filled with locally produced and speciality items chosen from the vineyard shop, including Biddenden's own wines and ciders.

Ready-Made Gift Boxes and Hampers

• Pamper Gift Box - £77.00
• Biddenden Sweet Treats - £75.00
• Biddenden in a Box - £52.00
• Non-Alcoholic Selection - £35.50
• Gluten Free Biddenden Box - £38.50
• Biddenden Savoury Treats - £40.00
• Biddenden Hot Box - £38.50
• Biddenden Sweet Box - £89.00
• Biddenden Boys Box - £42.00
• Local Kentish Selection Box - £47.00
• Classic Biddenden - £47.50
• Cider Gift Box - £44.50
• Biddenden Cider Discovery Selection - £64.00

Accessories

• Wine Glasses - £6.00
• Biddenden Pint and Half Pint Glasses - £3.00
• Biddenden Corkscrew & Sparkling Wine Stopper - £5.50

Gift Vouchers

Digital gift cards can be redeemed online against any shop purchase or used to book an Open or Private Guided Tour. They can be emailed directly to the recipient.

• Digital Gift Card - £25.00
• Vineyard Voucher - £25.00
• Self-Guided Tour Voucher - £30.00
• Open Tour Gift Card - £60.00
• Private Tour Gift Card - £96.00

Corporate Gifting and Bespoke Hampers

For trade and corporate gifting, Biddenden offers bespoke hampers tailored to budget and preference. The Corporate Gifting selection highlights four signature options: the Local Produce Box, a Non-Alcoholic hamper, the Biddenden Trio (a showcase of the Gribble Bridge range with branded glassware and corkscrew) and the Biddenden Intro (Ortega, Strong Kentish Cider, Clearly Juice and savoury accompaniments). Bespoke orders can be discussed by calling 01580 291726 or emailing retail@biddendenvineyards.co.uk.

Events at Biddenden

The vineyard plays host to a small but varied calendar of events throughout the year.

Meet the Winemaker Tours

Limited, exclusive tours hosted by Julian or Tom Barnes - see the Tours section above.

Bunny Hunt - Ronald McDonald House Charities

Each spring, Biddenden opens the vineyard for a charity Bunny Hunt in aid of Ronald McDonald House Charities. The 2026 event was held on 24th April, with the vineyard welcoming families to the estate and raising funds for the charity. Tickets are released each year through the vineyard shop.

Wine and Steam: Heritage Railway Day Out

On 25 June 2026, Biddenden teamed up with the local heritage railway for a special day out combining vintage rail travel with a tasting of Biddenden's English wines.

Corporate and Specialist Events

Weddings, private celebrations, corporate hospitality and other bespoke events can be hosted on the estate. The team promises that "nothing is impossible with Biddenden". Specialist Events enquiries can be made by completing the enquiry form, calling 01580 291726 or emailing info@biddendenvineyards.co.uk.

Trade Enquiries

Biddenden's wines, ciders and juices are not sold in supermarkets, but the estate works with a network of independent farm shops, delis, cafés, pubs, restaurants, hotels and B&Bs across Kent, East Sussex, South East London and parts of Surrey. Vans go out regularly across the region, with nationwide delivery also available. Trade orders can be arranged through the office.

Latest News and Awards

Recent highlights from the vineyard include:

• May 2026 - Ortega Chapter 56 wins at the London Tasting Awards.
• May 2026 - Bunny Hunt raises funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities.
• June 2026 - Wine and Steam heritage railway partnership announced.
• January 2026 - Biddenden unveils a premium juice rebrand with three new British flavours.
• January 2026 - Harvest Report 2025: a vintage year distinguished by early ripening and moderate yields.
• December 2025 - Noughty Pink Lady® non-alcoholic cider joins the Biddies range.
• June 2024 - Biddenden Sparkling Apple Juice wins at the Taste of Kent Awards.

Plan Your Visit

Address

Biddenden Vineyards
Gribble Bridge Lane
Biddenden, Ashford
Kent TN27 8DF

Contact

• Telephone: 01580 291726
• Email: info@biddendenvineyards.co.uk
• Retail enquiries: retail@biddendenvineyards.co.uk
• Office hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm

Getting Here

Biddenden sits between Ashford and Tenterden in the High Weald of Kent, an area well-known for castles, historic gardens and a heritage steam railway. Travel times from London are roughly one hour by rail (via Headcorn or Staplehurst) and just over an hour by car via the M20 and A28.

Delivery and Collection

Biddenden offers nationwide delivery within the UK only. Orders placed before 2pm are dispatched the same day on a next-working-day service. Click and collect is available from the vineyard shop the next working day. Delivery fees are calculated at checkout. Full delivery terms are detailed in the FAQs and Delivery information.

Age Policy

Biddenden operates a Challenge 25 policy. Only visitors and recipients of deliveries over the age of 18 may purchase or receive wine and other alcoholic products, and proof of age may be required.

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The vineyard's email newsletter is the best way to hear about new releases, upcoming events, exclusive offers and the latest from Biddenden.

Internships and Careers

Biddenden welcomes placement students from across Europe to learn about vineyard and winery life. Profiles of past interns - Emilie, Della, Lucile, Mélanie, Marine, Pauline, Carole, Richard, Louise, Lucy and Umberto - can be read on the Internships page. Current vacancies (Production Supervisor, Tour Guides, Retail & Tasting Assistants, Production and Vineyard Assistants) are listed on the Vacancies page.

From a third of an acre in 1969 to 23 acres and 80,000 bottles a year, Biddenden Vineyards remains a family business rooted in one patch of Kent. Whether visitors arrive for a self-guided stroll, a tutored tasting of Gribble Bridge sparklings, a holiday at The Grape Escape or simply a bottle of Ortega delivered to their door, every pour carries the result of three generations of patient, hand-tended work in the Garden of England.