Chapel Down Wines: England's Leading Winemaker in the Garden of Kent
Set in the rolling chalk hills of Kent, just outside the picturesque market town of Tenterden, Chapel Down has spent more than two decades establishing itself as England's leading wine producer. Its mission is to change the way the world thinks about English wine. From a flagship winery estate in the village of Small Hythe, Chapel Down crafts traditional-method sparkling wines and cool-climate still wines that collect trophies at the International Wine Challenge, Decanter World Wine Awards and WineGB year after year. The estate is one of the country's most popular wine tourism destinations, welcoming visitors seven days a week for guided tours, tutored tastings, vineyard walks and seasonal dining at its two-AA-Rosette restaurant, The Swan.
Location and setting
Chapel Down's home is the Chapel Down Winery Estate, Small Hythe Road, Tenterden, Kent, TN30 7NG, in the heart of the so-called Garden of England and within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The site lies close to the medieval town of Tenterden and roughly an hour from London, making it a popular day-trip destination. The estate lies within reach of Headcorn and Ashford International stations, which offer taxi and coach links to the winery.
Visitors can drop in without a booking to enjoy the self-guided vineyard walks, herb garden and tasting bar, although tours, tastings, the Wine Sanctuary and the Festival weekend are ticket-only. The Winery Shop is open every day from 10am to 5pm, with extended hours to 7pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. The Swan Restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Retail and tourism enquiries are handled on 01580 766111, and shareholder enquiries on 01580 763033.
The story behind Chapel Down
Chapel Down sits on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Kent Downs, where the same free-draining chalk formations found 200 miles south-east in the Champagne region of France give English sparkling wine its characteristic finesse and acidity. The company owns, leases and sources from more than 1,000 acres of vineyard in South East England, of which 777 acres are fully productive. Grapes are grown predominantly on single and double Guyot pruning systems across chalk, clay and loam soils in Kent, Sussex and Essex, all benefiting from a warm, maritime climate.
The business is led by CEO James Pennefather, who joined Chapel Down in February 2025 and was subsequently named to the Walpole Power List of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury. Head Winemaker and Operations Director Josh Donaghay-Spire has been recognised as English Winemaker of the Year in the Drinks Business awards and has won a place on the Walpole Power List of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury. The winemaking team produces a core range, the premium Kit's Coty single-vineyard range, and an experimental Discovery Series launched in 2021.
Chapel Down listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange in 2021 and is incorporated as Chapel Down Group PLC. The company is also a founder member of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme, taking a long-term view on land management and the generations of vintages to come.
The Chapel Down wine collection
Chapel Down's portfolio is divided into several ranges, all available online and at the cellar door shop. The sparkling wines are made using the traditional method, the same process used in Champagne.
Flagship sparkling wines
- Brut (Case of 6, 75cl) - £186. A best-selling classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc with notes of apple, citrus and strawberry and fine persistent bubbles. Recent awards include the Great British Food Awards 2025, Global Travel Retail Masters 2025, WineGB Awards 2025 and IWC Awards 2025.
- Rosé (Case of 6, 75cl) - £204, reduced to £150. The Decanter Best in Show 2024 and IWC Gold Trophy winner. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Early Pinot Noir, with aromas of redcurrant, citrus and wild strawberry.
- A Touch of Sparkle Classic 2024 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £96. A gently carbonated, easy-drinking blend of Bacchus and Chardonnay with grapefruit and elderflower aromas.
- A Touch of Sparkle Rosé 2023 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £96. A lighter, fruitier take on the A Touch of Sparkle style, with raspberries and strawberries-and-cream notes.
- Sparkling Best Sellers Case (Case of 6, 75cl) - £162. A curated mixed case of the most loved sparklers.
- English Sparkling Intro Case (Case of 6, 75cl) - £210. A tour through the core sparkling range for newcomers.
- Favourites Case (Case of 6, 75cl) - £129. A staff selection of the most popular bottles.
Still wines
- Bacchus 2025 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £96. The new vintage of Chapel Down's flagship aromatic white, billed as England's answer to Sauvignon Blanc. Bursting with elderflower, grapefruit and tropical fruit, sourced from 82 per cent Kent and 18 per cent East Sussex vineyards.
- Flint Dry 2024 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £96. A blend of Chardonnay, Bacchus, Pinot Blanc, Schonburger, Siegerrebe and Reichensteiner with intense green apple, pear and citrus notes. Awarded at IWC 2025 and Decanter 2025.
- Chardonnay 2023 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £96. A crisp, fresh single-varietal white from Kent's North Downs, with notes of ripe apple and pear and a creamy texture. WineGB Awards 2025.
- English Rose 2025 (Case of 6, 75cl). A still rosé with raspberries and strawberries-and-cream character, available at the cellar door and online.
- Rosé Reserve 2021 (Case of 6, 75cl) - £240. A reserve-tier sparkling rosé from the Kit's Coty stable.
Kit's Coty Collection
The Kit's Coty Collection is Chapel Down's pinnacle single-vineyard range, made from grapes grown on the south-facing slopes of the Kit's Coty estate in Kent. The wines are designed to age gracefully for five to ten years and are released in limited quantities. The collection includes the Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs 2014, the Kit's Coty Blanc de Blancs 2015 Magnum, the Kit's Coty Coeur de Cuvée and the Kit's Coty Chardonnay, all of which have won trophies at the WineGB Awards, IWC and Decanter World Wine Awards. A Kit's Coty Collection Tour is available for visitors who want to taste the full range with a senior cellar hand.
Discovery Series
The Discovery Series is a collection of small-batch experimental wines that push the boundaries of English winemaking. Released in tiny parcels, the range includes the Discovery Series Pinot Blanc 2022 and the Discovery Series Chardonnay 2022 (both sold as a Case of 6, 75cl, for £156). Once a Discovery wine sells out, it is gone for good, making each release a rare find for adventurous drinkers.
Mixed cases and personalised bottles
The Mix Your Own Case builder lets customers select six bottles from across the range, while the Make It Personal service adds bespoke labels to Brut, Rosé and Brut Magnum bottles for weddings, anniversaries and corporate gifts. The Magnums and Jeroboams collection offers large-format bottles for celebrations, while the gifts collection includes gift-boxed bottles, e-gift cards from £25, and the wedding gift selection. Corporate customers can order in bulk via sales@chapeldown.com.
Tours and wine experiences
Chapel Down offers one of the most comprehensive wine tourism programmes in the UK. Tours and experiences can be booked online, with gift vouchers available for most.
Guided Tour and Tasting (from £30 per person, 2 hours)
The flagship experience. A guided tour of the vineyards and winery, followed by a tutored tasting of five signature wines, including sparkling and still. The tour introduces the vineyard cycle, the English grape harvest and the intricate process of traditional-method sparkling wine. Gift voucher: from £40.
Cheese and Wine Experience (from £70 per person, 2 hours)
A guided vineyard tour, followed by a tutored tasting of five signature wines paired with local cheeses and artisanal crackers. Each guest receives a £10 voucher to spend in the winery shop.
Wine and Dine Experience (from £120 per person, 4 hours)
A full morning starts with a guided tour of the vineyards and winery, followed by a tutored tasting of five signature wines. Guests then head upstairs to The Swan restaurant for a glass of Chapel Down sparkling and a three-course set lunch with two glasses of still wine to accompany the meal. A gift set is included to take home.
The Kit's Coty Collection Tour (from £50 per person, 2 hours)
An exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the Tenterden vineyard, followed by a talk with a senior cellar hand and a tasting of the Kit's Coty still and sparkling wines, including the Coeur de Cuvée 2016.
Luxury Dining Experience (from £150 per person, 5 hours)
An early evening guided tour of the vineyard and winery, an extended tutored tasting of five luxury wines, and a five-course tasting menu served in The Swan restaurant, paired with two glasses of still wine. Includes tea or coffee to finish.
Walk-In Wine Flight (from £15 per person)
No booking required. Drop in any time between 10am and 5pm, choose any three wines from the full range (excluding Kit's Coty Coeur de Cuvée), and enjoy a relaxed tasting at the cellar door bar. Cheese and charcuterie boards are available to buy alongside.
Corporate Away Day (from £120 per person, 5 hours)
Exclusive use of the Wine Sanctuary meeting space for the morning, with Wi-Fi, projector and screen, followed by a vineyard tour, tutored tasting of Chapel Down's award-winning wines, and a two-course lunch in The Swan restaurant with a glass of Chapel Down sparkling wine. For groups of 10 to 50.
Luxury Corporate Away Day (from £175 per person, 6 hours)
Includes an extended tutored tasting of the Kit's Coty premium wines, a three-course lunch with half a bottle of wine per person, and a Chapel Down gift per guest. For groups of 10 to 50.
Chapel Down Goes To Town (£75 per person, 2 hours)
If you cannot get to the winery, Chapel Down will bring the tasting to you. A brand ambassador delivers a glass of sparkling and an introduction to Chapel Down, followed by a fun and interactive portfolio tasting of the still and sparkling range. Available anywhere in Kent or Greater London, for groups of 10 to 30 (minimum charge £750).
The Swan Restaurant
Overlooking the vineyards, The Swan at Chapel Down is a 2-AA-Rosette restaurant recommended by the Michelin Guide. The 80-cover restaurant serves Chapel Down's award-winning wines alongside locally and regionally sourced produce, cooked with care in an elegant yet relaxed setting. Guests can choose between the main dining room, a private dining Chef's Table, and an outdoor terrace with views across the Kent countryside. The Swan is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Weddings and milestone celebrations
Chapel Down offers a full wedding service, from personalised bottles for bridesmaids and groomsmen to a dedicated wedding tasting with a Chapel Down ambassador. The team can also help with menu pairings, the food pairing guide, and a full wedding gifting service. A wedding brochure is available to download.
What's on in the vineyard
Chapel Down runs a calendar of seasonal events. Bookings can be made online.
- Taste of England Chef Series: An Evening with Ethan Pack of Three Sheets (from £75 per person, 4 August 2026). Ethan Pack takes over the kitchen at The Swan for a three-course menu featuring sweetcorn sautéed in bone marrow, pork fillet with sauerkraut and oyster cream, and goat curd burnt cheesecake, paired with Chapel Down Brut Reserve 2022, Rosé Reserve 2021 and Grand Reserve 2019.
- Around the World in 80 Days (from £18 per person, 9 August 2026). An open-air theatrical adaptation of Jules Verne's classic, performed by a troupe of actor-musicians. Guests bring their own chairs or blankets; Chapel Down provides a selection of drinks and light nibbles.
- Sunset Yoga (from £35 per person, 26 August 2026). A one-hour yoga session followed by a one-hour tutored tasting of five wines in the wine sanctuary or, weather permitting, in the vineyard. Guests bring their own yoga mat.
- Chapel Down Magnum Festival (from £35 per person, Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 September 2026). The inaugural Magnum Festival celebrates big bottles, big celebrations and big experiences. Saturday runs 12pm to 8pm, Sunday 12pm to 6pm. Tickets include festival entry, a glass of Chapel Down Brut served from magnum on arrival, live music and entertainment, and a complimentary return coach transfer from Headcorn Station (or free parking). A bar pouring the full Chapel Down range, exclusive Magnum Masterclasses, and food from Kent's leading restaurants and producers complete the weekend.
- Taste of England Chef Series: An Evening with Simon Hulstone of The Elephant Restaurant, Torquay (from £75 per person, 15 September 2026). Simon Hulstone presents a three-course menu featuring hand-dived Brixham scallops, rump of Exmoor lamb with elderflower vinegar jus, and a Devon clotted cream mousse inspired by a Devon cream tea, paired with Chapel Down Brut Reserve 2022, Grand Reserve 2019 and Rosé Brut.
Accommodation partners
The winery does not offer on-site accommodation, but Chapel Down works with a curated selection of partners within easy reach of the estate:
- The Print House, Tenterden. A 16th-century inn with six boutique bedrooms. Chapel Down packages from £270 per couple (deluxe room, wine tour).
- Sissinghurst Castle Farmhouse, Cranbrook. A nine-bedroom B&B on the Sissinghurst Castle National Trust estate. Chapel Down packages from £280 per couple.
- Chilston Park, Lenham. A four-Red-Star country house hotel. Chapel Down packages from £260 per couple.
- Chart Hills, Biddenden. A Sir Nick Faldo-designed championship golf course with on-site accommodation. Stay & Play packages from £229 per person.
- Crafted at Powdermills, Battle, East Sussex. A lakeside hotel and members' club set in 78 acres of ancient woodland.
- The Little Silver Hotel, Tenterden. Rooms from £190 bed and breakfast, including a guided tour and tasting at Chapel Down.
- Hector's Hut, Small Hythe. A modern shepherd's hut set within its own private spot beside Chapel Down Vineyard, bookable via Airbnb.
Visiting Chapel Down
The estate has one main entrance with three designated disabled parking bays closest to the cellar door shop entrance, accessible toilets to the rear of the shop and in the Wine Sanctuary, and a manual wheelchair available at no charge (advance booking via retail@chapeldown.com). All tour and winery areas are level and suitable for wheelchair and mobility scooter users, apart from The Swan Restaurant, which is reached by a flight of 36 stairs with no lift. Assistance dogs are welcome throughout the vineyard and on tours.
Three self-guided walking routes wind through the vineyards and herb garden, including a downloadable vineyard trail map. The shop sells a full range of Chapel Down wines, cheeses and charcuterie, picnic favourites and Chapel Down branded accessories.
Partnerships and accolades
Chapel Down is the Official Sparkling Wine of the England & Wales Cricket Board, the Official English Sparkling Wine of Ascot Racecourse, the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race, The Jockey Club, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and an Official Supplier to the London Stock Exchange. Recent awards include the TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award (2022 and 2023), a Visit England Quality Food and Drink Accolade (2025), and the Kent & Medway Food & Drink Awards' Beverage Producer of the Year (2025). In May 2026, the Chapel Down Rosé won a trophy at the International Wine Challenge, and in July 2026 the estate was named Best Large Cellar Door at the inaugural WineGB Cellar Door Awards.
Investors and shareholders
Chapel Down Group PLC trades on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange under ticker CDGP. As of 1 June 2026 there were 171,524,316 ordinary shares in issue, with 41.5 per cent of AIM securities not in public hands. The group's strategic ambition is to win an equivalent one per cent share of the global Champagne market by 2035. Shareholders benefit from an exclusive package of discounts and benefits at the winery estate and online. The shareholder team can be contacted on 01580 763033 or at shareholder@chapeldown.com, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.
Final thoughts
From the chalky terroir of the North Downs to the award-winning bottles in the Winery Shop, Chapel Down is single-minded in its mission to change the way the world thinks about English wine, one glass at a time.