Nine Oaks Vineyard: A Family-Run Boutique Kent Estate Pouring Award-Winning English Wines
Tucked away in the quiet village of Hothfield, just a ten-minute drive from Ashford International Station in the heart of the Kent countryside, Nine Oaks Vineyard is a small, independent and proudly family-run estate that has rapidly earned a reputation for producing some of England’s most expressive cool-climate wines. With “dirt firmly under our finger nails,” as the founders put it, this boutique operation is a labour of love from vine to vine, and from grape to glass.
Nine Oaks is not a sprawling commercial winery; it is a hands-on, small-batch producer that makes every effort to translate its particular patch of Kent into bottles that balance finesse, freshness and a real sense of place. In recent years the estate has been singled out by national critics, with BBC Good Food, The Guardian and JancisRobinson.com all highlighting its Pinot Noir Rosé, Chardonnay and Classic Cuvée as wines to watch. If you are planning a trip to Kent or looking for a memorable English wine to order online, Nine Oaks offers tours, tastings, a full online shop and a programme of summer events.
Where Is Nine Oaks Vineyard?
Nine Oaks sits in Hothfield, just off the A20 and roughly ten minutes by car from Ashford International, making it one of the most accessible boutique vineyards in Kent for visitors travelling from London or the Continent. The vineyard entrance is around 130m along Church Lane. From the A20, drivers turn onto School Road and follow signs for Hothfield, passing through the village along The Street. After the post office, the vineyard appears on the left, the road becomes Fridd Lane, and you turn left onto Church Lane. Travellers approaching from the A28 via Bethersden should follow Fridd Lane for around three miles, turning right onto Church Lane shortly after passing the Hothfield Brain Injury Clinic.
The vineyard itself is set in a serene stretch of the Kent countryside, with the Greensands Way long-distance footpath running directly through the site. The land is Greensand-derived, and that geology is something the winemakers believe gives the wines - particularly the Chardonnay - their characteristic mineral lift. There are no permanent on-site visitor facilities, but the footpath is open to walkers who are warmly encouraged to “say hello if you see us in the vines.”
The address is Nine Oaks Vineyard, Kent, TN26 1EL, which visitors can use for sat-nav directions. Parking is available in a designated area within the vineyard, and visitors are asked to keep off the verges along Church Lane, where there is no parking and limited sight lines at the junction with Fridd Lane.
A Family Business Built on Passion
Nine Oaks describes itself, quite simply, as “a family business and one that is truly independent.” The estate is the work of two founders who, having fallen for both the land and the idea of producing world-class wine in Kent, set out to make small-batch wines that genuinely express the terroir. There is no faceless corporate back-story here - when you visit, you are met by people whose fingernails carry the season’s soil, and whose pride in their vines is unforced.
The philosophy can be summed up in a single sentence: “From vine to wine and from grape to glass we are committed to making small batch, estate grown wines that are a true expression of our boutique vineyard in the heart of the Kent countryside.”
In the vineyard, the team strives for the ripest possible fruit at harvest across both still and sparkling ranges, while in the winery they intervene as little as possible. Complexity, depth and structure are coaxed from the fruit using a blend of traditional practices and modern techniques. As the team points out, “at Nine Oaks every year is a vintage,” and the current releases come from the 2022, 2023 and 2024 harvests, with more wines scheduled to follow.
That commitment has not gone unnoticed. A review in Cene Magazine in 2024 described Nine Oaks as “a family-run, sustainably-farmed vineyard…committed to making small-batch wines with big personalities,” and visitors to the vineyard echo that sentiment. One guest, Giuseppe, recommends a visit as “a different day out in London, away from the city, enjoying the fresh air, nice company and great wine,” while Dennis singles out the traditional method sparkling as a highlight.
The Wines
Nine Oaks currently produces a tight, focused range of seven wines, spanning still whites, rosés and traditional method sparkling wines. All are estate grown and bottled, with free UK mainland delivery available from the online shop. Multi-bottle cases of one, two, three or six bottles can be selected on most lines, with prices starting from the per-bottle figure listed below.
Still Wines
2024 Bacchus - from £22.50
Bright, youthful and full of vibrancy, the 2024 Bacchus captures the “fresh, green-pasture essence of Kent and the early promise of a new vintage.” Lifted aromas of elderflower, green apple and gooseberry lead into a crisp, flinty mid-palate and a clean, lively finish. It is the kind of white that works brilliantly sipped al fresco, shared with friends or paired with light summer fare. Buy it direct from Nine Oaks.
2023 Chardonnay - from £25.00
Nine Oaks describes its 2023 Chardonnay as “a cool-climate revelation: lightly oaked, fruit driven and refined.” Think crisp apple, honeyed pear and a subtle hint of vanilla, all balanced by gentle minerality and elegant structure. The wine reflects the unique Greensands heritage of Hothfield and is equally at home with game, seafood or good company. Critics have been warm: The Guardian (November 2024) noted “bruised apple and lemon with a creamy texture and touch of nutty oak…impressive and delicious,” while JancisRobinson.com (May 2025) praised its “really good balance…layers and lots of promise.” Order it online.
2025 Pinot Noir Rosé - from £22.50
Pale salmon-pink with a shimmering hue, the 2025 Pinot Noir Rosé is, in the estate’s words, “elegance personified.” Delicate notes of wild strawberry, soft rose petal and pomegranate give way to a silky mid-palate and a crisp, refreshing finish. Hand-crafted in small estate-run volumes, it is the kind of rosé that quietly commands attention at picnics, late afternoons or stylish evenings in. JancisRobinson.com (May 2025) called it “very, very pale pink…grapefruit, gooseberry: sharp, appetising and lively.” View the wine at Nine Oaks.
2025 Rosorange - from £25.00
A genuine first for Nine Oaks and, the estate claims, “a first for English Wine,” the 2025 Rosorange fuses “the body and texture of an orange wine with the finesse and delicacy of a rosé.” It is a blend of skin-contact Bacchus and Pinot Noir, with Pinot Meunier rosé and just a touch of Chardonnay. The result is a wine with bags of character and a lot of fun - a talking-point bottle for any dinner table. Read the full tasting note online.
Traditional Method Sparkling Wines
2023 Classic Cuvée - from £35.00
A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, the 2023 Classic Cuvée spends more than two years on its lees, producing a beautifully textured sparkling with notes of biscuit and brioche, crunchy green apple, citrus zest and a lingering mineral finish. BBC Good Food (June 2025) called it “another big hitter” alongside the award-winning Pinot Noir Rosé. Pre-order online.
2022 Blanc de Blanc - from £40.00
Pure Chardonnay, pure finesse. The 2022 Blanc de Blanc is 100% Chardonnay, matured for over two years on its lees. Expect pressed-peach aromas, lime-zest freshness and a glorious mousse that lifts into a crisp, expressive finish - a perfect aperitif or celebration bottle. With only 1,515 bottles produced, this is a genuinely limited release. JancisRobinson.com described it as “lightly smoky with a hazelnut chew through the lemon and lemon-barley palate…bracing acidity but a very pretty citrus-like gauze of bubbles.” Reserve yours online.
2023 Rosé de Noir - from £35.00
Crafted from a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with carefully managed skin contact, the 2023 Rosé de Noir offers notes of wild strawberry and redcurrant, hints of rose petal, subtle spice and a bright citrus lift with a touch of salinity. Elegant and assured, this is a characterful sparkling rosé, with lees maturation adding depth and complexity. Available for pre-order with shipping from around 1st August 2026, via Nine Oaks.
Vineyard Tours and Tastings
Visiting the vineyard is the best way to understand Nine Oaks, and the estate runs two distinct formats: small-group weekend tours and private, fully tailored experiences. Both are by advance booking only and spaces are strictly limited.
Group Vineyard Tour & Wine Tasting
The signature group tour and tasting lasts roughly 1.5 to 2 hours and combines a guided walk among the vines with a structured tasting of at least three estate-grown still and traditional method sparkling wines. The walk is hosted by one of the two founders, who share the story of how the vineyard came to be, explain what makes the site unique, talk through the team’s dedication to sustainability and discuss the many challenges of growing grapes in the UK. In the tasting that follows, guests are guided through the characteristics of each wine, the winemaking techniques used and how each vintage’s growing season shaped the final bottle.
Group tours are priced on application, and visitors should wear comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing as parts of the tour are outdoors. Only assistance dogs are permitted, although children can be accommodated on private tours by prior arrangement. Tours go ahead in most weather, so bring a coat or umbrella; in the rare event of unsafe conditions, the estate will reschedule or refund.
Private Tour & Tasting with Lunch
For groups of between two and thirty people, the Private Tour & Tasting offers a fully guided, behind-the-scenes look at the vineyard, a relaxed tasting of three or more carefully selected wines, time to unwind among the vines, and a curated Kent cheese and charcuterie board lunch. Transport to and from Ashford International Station (or a similar nearby point) is included. Private experiences start from £300 and are arranged on enquiry via the contact form.
Private bookings are popular for celebrations, corporate visits and small groups of friends who want the vineyard entirely to themselves. The flexible scheduling means you can pick a preferred date and time, subject to availability.
Upcoming Events at Nine Oaks
Nine Oaks runs a small, thoughtfully curated programme of seasonal events throughout the summer. The current list of upcoming events in 2026 includes:
- Seven Wines at Sunset, Summer Tasting Experience - Saturday 27th June, 5:00pm - 8:00pm, £25.00. The first opportunity to taste the complete Nine Oaks collection in one sitting, paired with a tasting platter of award-winning Kent cheeses. Book here.
- Nine Oaks Wine Tasting & Meadow Box Floristry Workshop - Saturday 13th June, 4:00pm - 6:00pm, £65.00. A hands-on floristry workshop hosted by the Foraged Flower among the vines, creating a seasonal meadow-style flower box, followed by a tasting of Nine Oaks still and sparkling wines. Book here.
- Nine Oaks Seasonal Supper Club - Friday 19th June, 7:00pm - 10:00pm, £95.00. A relaxed, atmospheric summer supper club with a multi-course produce-led menu paired with Nine Oaks wines. Limited to 20 - 30 attendees for an intimate experience. Book here.
- Nine Oaks Seasonal Supper Club - Friday 3rd July, 7:00pm - 10:00pm, £95.00. A second supper club date, with the same format and atmosphere, showcasing seasonal Kent ingredients. Book here.
Supper clubs in particular are deliberately intimate, with shared tables, introductions to each wine and pairing from the Nine Oaks team, and a convivial atmosphere that captures the relaxed character of long summer evenings in the vineyard.
Gifting and Corporate Experiences
The vineyard operates a well-developed gifting arm, with curated mixed cases, wine-and-glass combinations and combined Tour & Tasting vouchers suitable for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, Christmas and thank-yous.
Popular Gift Vouchers
- Nine Oaks Gift Card - from £25.00, redeemable across wine and events. Buy here.
- Gift Card - Tour & Tasting for Two People - £40.00. Buy here.
- Gift Card - Tour & Tasting with Lunch for Two People - £70.00, includes a curated Kent cheese and charcuterie board. Buy here.
- Gift Card - Private Tour & Tasting for Two People With Lunch and Local Transport - £250.00, the ultimate vineyard experience, with pick-up and drop-off at Ashford International Station. Buy here.
- The Nine Oaks Selection & Tour and Tasting Voucher - £172.50, includes a bottle of each of the 2022 Blanc de Blanc, 2024 Bacchus and 2023 Chardonnay plus a Tour & Tasting Gift Voucher for two. Buy here.
Other gift sets pair a bottle of wine with a presentation gift box or two sparkling glasses, such as the 2024 Bacchus & 2023 Chardonnay & Gift Box (£55.00), the 2022 Blanc de Blanc & Gift Box (£45.00), and the 2022 Blanc de Blanc & Two Sparkling Glasses (£60.00). Each can be upgraded with a £2.00 handwritten personalised message during checkout.
Corporate Gifting
Nine Oaks has developed a thoughtful corporate gifting programme, ideal for client thank-yous, team rewards and seasonal gifts. Options include:
- Private Vineyard Tours & Tastings for teams or clients.
- Gift Sets combining wines with presentation boxes, glassware or tasting vouchers, with branded and co-branded personalised handwritten messages.
- Gift Vouchers redeemable against English wine or a Tour & Tasting experience.
- Wine & Cheese Pairing Sessions, hosted either in the vineyard or at your place of business - ideal for team-building or social occasions.
- Bespoke Corporate Gift Cases featuring Nine Oaks’ award-winning wines.
The team welcomes conversations about bespoke packages and volume pricing, and works with companies to tailor experiences around provenance, sustainability and connection to place.
Booking, Cancellations and Returns
Because tours and tastings are by advance booking only, Nine Oaks runs a clear, fair cancellation policy. For individual and small group bookings (up to eight guests), more than seven days’ notice secures a full refund or free reschedule; three to seven days’ notice secures a 50% refund or one reschedule; under 72 hours or no-shows cannot be refunded or rescheduled. For private and large group bookings (nine or more), the windows shift to 14 and seven days respectively. Gift vouchers are non-refundable but can be transferred, and the estate will do its best to extend them on request before expiry.
Wine orders come with a 14-day right of cancellation on unopened bottles under the UK Consumer Contracts Regulations, and a seven-day window for reporting damaged, faulty or incorrect orders. Delivery is free on UK mainland orders and typically arrives within 3 - 5 working days, with tracking details sent on dispatch.
Working at Nine Oaks
Given the hands-on, family-run nature of the estate, Nine Oaks is always on the look-out for motivated and committed people to work with the team in the vineyard and at events. Anyone interested in joining the team can apply via the careers section.
Visiting and Getting in Touch
Nine Oaks is open for tours and tastings every Saturday from April to September, by pre-booking only. The team also appears at food and drink events and festivals across Kent throughout the season - anywhere you see them, they say, do come and say hello.
The team can be reached by email at info@nine-oaks.co.uk. Nine Oaks is also active on Instagram and Facebook, sharing the latest releases, event announcements and seasonal news from the vineyard.
The Wines and Experiences at a Glance
Nine Oaks Vineyard is a small, independent, family-run estate that pours all of its energy into producing wines of real character, while opening its gates to visitors who want to understand what goes into every bottle. From the cool-climate precision of the 2023 Chardonnay to the textural curiosity of the 2025 Rosorange, from the elegant Blanc de Blanc to the award-winning Pinot Noir Rosé, every wine has a story and every visitor is made to feel part of it.