Heppington Vineyard: Award-Winning English Wine from the Kent Downs
Heppington Vineyard is one of the newest boutique additions to England's fast-growing wine map, planted in 2016 on the south-facing chalk slopes of the Kent Downs overlooking Canterbury Cathedral. It is a true family project, founded by Henry Blaxland in the footsteps of an ancestor whose story stretches from the hop fields of Canterbury to the earliest vineyards of Australia. Today, the 6.25-hectare estate produces a tightly focused range of traditional-method sparkling wines and elegant still wines from the classic champagne grape varieties, all crafted by some of the most respected names in modern English winemaking.
Although the vines themselves are young, the land they grow on has been in the Blaxland family for generations, and the chalk, limestone and flint-studded soils of East Kent are now widely recognised as one of the finest terroirs in England for sparkling wine production. Heppington is a member of a new wave of Kentish producers crafting wines that can stand confidently alongside the best of Champagne and the Loire, and recent awards at the London Wine Competition underline just how quickly the estate has earned its place among the country's top boutique addresses.
A pioneering Blaxland legacy
The Heppington story begins not in Kent but in 1806, when Gregory Blaxland, a farmer from Canterbury, set sail for Australia with his brother John. The voyage took 220 days and, along the way, the brothers collected vine cuttings from the Cape of Good Hope. By 1813 Gregory had crossed the Blue Mountains with two other explorers, opening up the Australian interior and making history. From the vines he planted on his new estate, he became the first person to export wine from Australia to Britain, taking a silver medal in London in 1822 for a red wine.
More than two centuries later, Gregory's descendant Henry Blaxland returned to those pioneering family roots by planting 6.25 hectares of vines on farmland at Lower Heppington, on the edge of the Kent Downs. The land, which had previously grown apples and blackcurrants in abundance, had been assessed as exceptional for vine growing, and Henry set out to make wine of the same pioneering spirit as his forebear. The result is the modern-day Heppington Vineyard: small in scale, ambitious in style, and rooted firmly in a remarkable family heritage.
The Kent Downs terroir
Heppington's vineyard sits on a gentle south-facing slope at what its makers describe as the perfect height above sea level for ripening the traditional champagne varieties. The underlying geology is a mix of chalk, limestone and clay peppered with flint - the same kind of free-draining, mineral-rich soils that define the great sparkling-wine regions further south in Europe. Above ground, the changing climate of East Kent now makes the Canterbury area an optimum location for growing the classic varieties used in Champagne itself.
It is a happy geographical coincidence that Canterbury is twinned with Rheims, the birthplace of Champagne. The same maritime influence that cools the city of Canterbury also extends the ripening season on the Kent Downs, allowing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to develop the fresh acidity and aromatic complexity that traditional-method sparkling wine demands. Around 10% of the planted area is dedicated to Pinot Gris, which is used to add a distinctive floral note to both the still and sparkling blends.
The Heppington wine range
Heppington produces a deliberately tight portfolio of wines, designed to showcase the strengths of the estate's terroir and the precision of its winemaking team. All of the wines are made in the traditional method for sparkling and with minimal intervention for the still wines, with every bottle carrying the distinctive chalky-mineral signature of the Kent Downs.
Sparkling wines
The sparkling wines are the heart of the Heppington range. The flagship cuvée, the Heppington Blanc de Blancs 2019, is made entirely from estate-grown Chardonnay and crafted in the traditional method. It shows aromas of toast, lemon and nuts, opening on the palate to reveal crisp green apple and pear with notes of biscuity lemon zest, lifted by bright acidity and a touch of minerality that gives a long, lingering finish of citrus and brioche. In 2026 it was awarded a Gold Medal at the London Wine Competition, and Clive Barlow MW has described it as "an accomplished wine, offering pleasure now and with a bright future over the next 4 to 5 years". A case of six is priced at £180.00.
The Heppington Classic Cuvée 2019 is a more traditional three-variety blend of Pinot Noir (46%), Chardonnay (39%) and Pinot Meunier (15%). Pale straw-gold in colour with a delicate, fine mousse, it shows flavours of white peach, greengage and lemon with the hallmark chalky minerality of the site and a touch of creaminess on the palate. A natural partner for seafood, oysters and smoked salmon, it carries two silver medals and is available as a case of six for £150.00, or as single bottles from £31.00.
The Heppington Sparkling Rosé 2019 - a blend of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay and a touch of Pinot Précoce - has a fine, persistent mousse with aromas of summer fruits, ripe strawberry and raspberry on the palate and a soft, savoury finish. It has been awarded both gold and silver medals at major competitions. Cases of six are £156.00 (currently sold out, with single bottles from £33.00 also out of stock at the time of writing).
For those looking to enjoy the full sparkling range, the Heppington Sparkling Selection - The Vineyard Collection is a six-bottle case containing three bottles each of the Blanc de Blancs 2019 and the Classic Cuvée 2019, priced at £165.00 and delivered free within the UK.
White wines
The still white wines are made by the team at Defined Wine, an award-winning contract winery just south of Canterbury, led by head winemaker Nick Lane. Two principal whites anchor the range.
The Heppington Chardonnay 2023 from the exceptional 2022 harvest is aged in French oak barrels, producing a delicate hazelnut aroma, a palate of orchard fruit and crunchy peach, and a grapefruit-zest finish. Light, easy-drinking and food-friendly, it pairs beautifully with shellfish, oysters and lobster linguine. A two-time silver medal winner in 2024, it is priced at £21.00 per bottle or £110.00 for a case of six. The 2023 vintage is regarded as a worthy follow-up to the much-praised 2022 bottling.
The Heppington Pinot Gris 2023 is a pale-yellow, aromatic white with floral aromas, fresh acidity and a yellow-plum finish. It is the perfect partner for shellfish, chicken and spicy dishes. Single bottles start from £20.00, with a case of six priced at £105.00.
Rosé
The Heppington Rosé 2025 is a pale-pink, 100% Pinot Noir rosé made from the exceptional 2023 harvest. It has an aroma of raspberry coulis, a medium-bodied palate of vibrant red cherry and a strawberry-cream finish. The winemakers recommend it with salad niçoise. Single bottles start from £19.00, and a case of six costs £102.00. Customers frequently compare it favourably to top Provençal rosés and praise its fresh, delicate flavour as a perfect summer wine.
Red wine
The Heppington Pinot Noir 2024 is a delicate pale-ruby Pinot Noir with fresh cherry and toasted vanilla on the nose, a silky red-berry palate and a savoury finish. The winemakers suggest serving it lightly chilled alongside slow-cooked duck ragu and pappardelle, wild mushroom risotto or anything featuring black truffle. Single bottles start from £22.75 and a case of six is £113.00.
Curated mixed cases
For visitors and customers who want to explore the full estate, Heppington offers a number of carefully composed mixed cases.
- Heppington Trio Collection (£106.00) - 2 × Pinot Gris 2023, 2 × Rosé 2023 and 2 × Chardonnay 2022, showcasing the breadth of the still white and rosé portfolio.
- Heppington Still Collection (£109.00) - 2 × Pinot Gris 2023, 2 × Rosé 2023, 1 × Chardonnay 2022 and 1 × Pinot Noir 2023, a balanced introduction to the entire still range.
- Heppington Classic Collection (£132.00) - a complete 6-bottle case containing one of each of the Classic Cuvée 2019, Blanc de Blancs 2019, Pinot Noir 2024, Pinot Gris 2023, Rosé 2025 and Chardonnay 2023.
- Heppington Sparkling Selection - The Vineyard Collection (£165.00) - a six-bottle case with three Blanc de Blancs 2019 and three Classic Cuvée 2019.
All cases of six qualify for free UK delivery, and customers within five miles of Canterbury can claim free local delivery by entering the discount code LOCAL at checkout.
The winemaking team
Heppington has worked with some of the most respected names in modern English winemaking. The estate's sparkling wines from the 2018 to 2021 vintages were made by the internationally renowned Emma Rice of Hattingley Valley, and they have gone on to win multiple awards. Both still and sparkling wines are now produced by the expert team at Defined Wine, a contract winery just south of Canterbury where Nick Lane is the head winemaker and which has established a strong national reputation.
This two-pronged approach - specialist traditional-method sparkling expertise combined with a dedicated still-wine team - has helped Heppington produce wines of a consistency and quality that has drawn national and international recognition. The 2020 wines took three silver medals and a gold, and wines from the 2021 harvest have also now been released, with multiple medals following. Most recently, the 2026 release of the Blanc de Blancs 2019 took Gold at the London Wine Competition.
Where to buy and where to taste
Heppington wines are available to buy direct from the vineyard's online shop, with free UK delivery on all orders of six bottles or more. The shop runs on Shopify and offers the full range of single bottles and mixed cases.
Heppington also works with a small, carefully chosen network of independent retailers across Kent and beyond:
- Fenwicks - nationwide department store stockist.
- The Offy, 5 High Street, Whitstable, Kent CT5 1AP (01227 272114).
- Squerryes Deli, Beggars Lane, Westerham, Kent TN16 1QP (01959 562345).
- Lower Hardres Farm Shop, Lower Hardres, Canterbury, Kent CT4 5NU (01227 700947).
- Corkk Wine Shop, 29/30 Burgate, Canterbury CT1 2HA (0330 133 1945).
- Gibsons Farm Shop, Crocksland Hill, Canterbury CT3 1N4 (01227 720262).
- Macknade Food Hall, Selling Road, Faversham ME13 8XF (01795 534497).
Events and meeting the team
Heppington regularly takes its wines out beyond the vineyard to meet customers face-to-face. In May 2026 the team poured at three events:
- The Offy Whitstable - Kent Wines Night on 7 May 2026, a relaxed evening focused on Kent wines by the sea.
- Canterbury Wine Festival on 15 and 16 May 2026 at Westgate Hall, a celebration of Kent's growing wine scene in the heart of Canterbury.
- London Wine Fair on 19 May 2026 at Olympia, one of the UK's leading trade events for producers, buyers and sommeliers.
Heppington is on Facebook and Instagram, and the winery newsletter offers a welcome discount.
The vineyard in the seasons
A regular seasonal diary tracks life on the vineyard. Recent entries have covered the emergence of Easter buds, the flowering of the vines, the distinctive flour-dusted leaves of the Pinot Meunier (whose name means 'miller'), the green harvest to focus energy on the Pinot Noir reds, and the excitement of an exceptional 2024 harvest with Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris picked early and exceptional fruit quality. A winter entry captures a clear, crisp full moon rising over the vineyard at the end of a winter's day - a fitting image for an estate that sits between the cathedral city of Canterbury and the open chalk hills of the Kent Downs.
Visiting and contact
Heppington does not currently offer public vineyard tours or a tasting room. Postal correspondence goes to Lower Heppington Street End, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 7AN, and general enquiries can be sent to info@heppingtonvineyard.co.uk. Orders placed online are typically processed within one business day and shipped via UPS or FedEx, with standard delivery taking 5 to 10 business days. UK mainland delivery is free on all orders of six bottles or more.
A small English vineyard with a big story
From Gregory Blaxland's silver medal in London in 1822 to Henry Blaxland's Gold for the Blanc de Blancs at the London Wine Competition in 2026, Heppington Vineyard is a story of quiet persistence, family heritage and a willingness to take the long view. Planted on exceptional Kentish chalk soils, made by some of the most respected names in English winemaking and producing wines that win medals at home and abroad, Heppington stands as a compelling example of just how far the English wine scene has come in a single generation.