Terlingham Vineyard: Award-Winning English Wines & Gin from the Kent Coast
Tucked into the rolling chalk hills above Folkestone in Kent, just minutes from the white cliffs and the English Channel, Terlingham Vineyard is a boutique, family-run English estate whose award-winning wines and small-batch gin are quietly putting the Garden of England on every serious drinker's map.
A boutique, sustainable vineyard on the Kent coast
Terlingham sits at Terlingham Manor Farm on Gibralter Lane, Hawkinge, with the Kent Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as its backdrop and the sea air of the Channel shaping everything that grows on the slopes. The vineyard is part of the Produced in Kent network and is featured in the Kent Downs Experience project, a sustainable-tourism initiative championing local food, drink and crafts. Aerial footage of the estate is available in the Kent Downs Experience video.
From the start, the team has focused on terroir - the interplay of chalk soil, sea breeze and long Kent sunshine - and on working as naturally as possible. Grapes are grown without pesticides or synthetic fertilisers; the vineyard uses regenerative techniques such as cover cropping, minimal soil disturbance and PAS100 compost made from household food waste. The estate proudly reports a negative carbon footprint of around 11.9 tonnes, and bottles are hand-finished with paper-based labels. Terlingham is certified by Sustainable Wines of Great Britain and has more recently been brought under the ownership of Leaf Hotels Group, while retaining its family ethos.
The wines
The winemaking is led in partnership with Defined Wine, drawing on Terlingham's own estate fruit and a small network of similarly minded local growers. The current cellar, much of it vegan-friendly, focuses on three styles:
Sparkling wines
- 2019 Classic Cuvée Sparkling White - Limited Edition (£45.00) - A pale-gold blend on the classic Champagne trio, with extended lees ageing giving toasted brioche and crisp apple notes. Silver winner at the 2024 WineGB Awards. Buy the bottle or a case of six for £243.00 (10% off).
- 2023 Classic Cuvée Sparkling White (£35.50) - Baked apple and waterlily on the nose, mouthwatering orchard fruit and a creamy mousse. Available as a single bottle or a case of six for £191.70.
- 2023 Classic Cuvée Rosé (£35.50) - Delicate pink sparkling rosé of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, with strawberry, shortbread and rhubarb crumble on the nose. Buy a bottle or a case of six for £191.70.
Still wines
- 2023 Bacchus (£22.50) - Vibrant elderflower, melon and passion fruit with a crisp, mineral finish. Single bottle or case of six for £121.50.
- 2023 Pinot Noir & Dornfelder Rosé (£20.50) - Fresh strawberry and watermelon with a red-berry finish. Single bottle or case of six for £110.70.
- 2023 Cabernet Cortis & Rondo Red (£22.50) - Deep garnet, light-bodied and dry, with blackcurrant, cherry and plum. Single bottle or case of six for £121.50.
The complete cellar, alongside gift sets and seasonal offers, can be bought online. Free local delivery is offered in the Folkestone area, with UK-wide courier delivery at £8 for up to a case and delivery typically within three working days.
Gift sets and special offers
Terlingham has put together a number of curated gift bundles for celebrations, seasons and new releases:
- Exclusive Terlingham Tasting Selection of Six (£163.35) - One bottle of each of the six core sparkling and still wines in the range. View product.
- Bacchus Wine & Gin Gift Set (£61.00) - A bottle of the 2023 Bacchus paired with the multi-award-winning 2022 Bacchus Dry Gin. View product.
- Pretty in Pink Still & Sparkling Rosé Duo (£56.00) - The 2023 Pinot Noir & Dornfelder still rosé alongside the 2023 Classic Cuvée Sparkling Rosé. View product.
- Bacchus & Rosé Summer Bouquet Offer (£43.00) - The 2023 Bacchus and 2023 still rosé paired at 10% off. View product.
For those after the ultimate introduction, gift vouchers for vineyard walks and tastings can be redeemed against any of the experiences below.
Bacchus Dry Gin: the spirit of the vineyard in a bottle
Terlingham's flagship spirit is the 2022 Bacchus Dry Gin Limited Edition Bottle in Wild Glass (£38.50), a gold-award-winning, small-batch gin distilled with the last of the 2020 Bacchus wine as its "magic ingredient." Botanicals include traditional juniper, locally foraged rhubarb and nettle, fresh lime and orange peel, and a touch of honey, with the Bacchus wine adding elderflower sweetness and a delicate roundness. Only 1,300 bottles were produced. Buy the limited-edition bottle.
The gin has earned an extraordinary roster of national and international press, including features in The Spirits Business, Harper's Bazaar's Best Luxury Gins, Forbes Magazine's "9 of the World's Best New Gins", The Times, KentLive and Countryfile, and was ranked among Will Lyons's top five gins. It also sits at the heart of a partnership with Chloe May Jewellery, with every engagement ring accompanied by a bottle of the 2020 Limited Edition Sparkling Rosé.
Tours, tastings and the Tasting Barn
Pre-booking is essential for Terlingham's vineyard experiences, which take place in the refurbished Tasting Barn overlooking the vines and the English Channel. Sessions currently run on Fridays and Saturdays at 11:00 and 15:00, with bespoke dates possible on request via contact@terlinghamvineyard.co.uk. Bookings are taken through ResDiary.
- Wine Tour & Tasting - from £40.00 per person. A guided walk through the vineyard followed by a tasting of six sparkling and still wines in the Tasting Barn. Book a tasting here.
- Wine & Cheese Experience - £65.00 per person. The guided tour and six-wine tasting, paired with cheeses, cured meats, breads, olives and an extra glass of the wine of your choice. Book here.
- Group bookings and special occasions. Bespoke packages for up to 25 guests in the vineyard barn - perfect for birthdays, anniversaries, hen and stag parties. See special occasions or call 07540853626.
Terlingham also welcomes groups outside the regular calendar and hosts private visits by arrangement. Independent TripAdvisor reviews praise the hosts, the setting and the value for money.
Beyond the cellar: retreats, mindfulness and accommodation
The estate is more than a winery. Terlingham promotes a slower, nature-led lifestyle, with wellness retreats, Mindful Moments online mindfulness meditation, and a luxury B&B right on the vineyard - the perfect base for exploring the Kent coast, the Kent Downs and Folkestone's creative scene.
Trade, press and awards
Terlingham supplies a curated list of restaurants, bars and retailers across the UK. Trade enquiries can be sent to contact@terlinghamvineyard.co.uk.
Highlights from a packed awards and press record include:
- Great British Food Awards - Best Sparkling Wine 2022 (Rose Sparkling)
- Great British Food Awards - Winner, London & Southeast Region 2024 (Classic Cuvée Sparkling Rosé)
- WineGB Awards 2024 - Silver for the 2019 Classic Cuvée Sparkling White
- IEWA 2021 - Silver for the Classic Cuvée Sparkling Wine
- Featured on BBC Radio Kent, Saturday Kitchen, Countryfile's Best 8 Vineyards, Countryfile's Top 10 Best Sparkling Wines, The Times' Top 15 English Vineyard Escapes, Luxuria Lifestyle, Luxury Lifestyle Magazine, House of Co-Co, Muddy Stilettos, The Steeple Times, Henry Jeffreys and Czech Radio
- Listed among the UK's best new gins by Forbes Magazine (number one), Harper's Bazaar, The Times and Will Lyons
Recent sustainability initiatives include a new on-site bee sanctuary in partnership with local beekeepers, supporting rescue bees in Kent.
How to find Terlingham
Terlingham Vineyard is at Terlingham Manor Farm, Gibralter Lane, Hawkinge, Folkestone, Kent CT18 7AE. For sat-navs, the team recommends searching for "Terlingham Lane" rather than using the postcode. By car, exit the M20 at the Canterbury A260 junction (just after the tunnel towards Dover), take the first exit at the roundabout into Canterbury Road, turn right into Crete Road West, then first right into Gibraltar Lane and first right again into Terlingham Lane; parking is on the left just before the gates. The nearest railway station is Folkestone Central, where taxis are usually available.
Find Terlingham online
The mailing list offers a 15% welcome discount. The vineyard is active on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, with new releases, tastings and events posted throughout the year.