Cool Place of the Day: Biddenden Vineyards, Kent

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Explore English wine at Biddenden Vineyards in Kent

British wine isn’t a joke any more, in fact it gets better every year, and Kent nowadays has made a bit of a name for itself as a wine-producing area.

Biddenden, one of the smaller, family-run vineyards, situated just outside the pretty village of the same name in the gorgeous countryside of The Weald, offers free guided tours every Wednesday and Saturday during the summer months. They focus on various seasonal themes, from flowering to harvesting, and are well worth joining.

Specialising in German grapes – among them Ortega, Bacchus, Schönburger and Reichensteiner – which flourish on the sunny, south-facing slopes, Biddenden has racked up a host of awards to its name, and its fruity Ortega is a sure-fire winner. They are also known for their ciders and apple juices, using the very best produce from this traditional apple-growing region.

If you can’t make it for a guided tour, the self-guided trail through the vineyards takes about 20 minutes – dogs are welcome, on leads – after which you can buy the wines, along with local produce at their shop. Full of intriguing snippets, tours include a welcome cup of coffee and tastings at the end, but you may need to book in advance. They don't have a full restaurant, but there is a coffee shop.

Cool Places is a website from the creators of Rough Guides and Cool Camping, suggesting the best places to stay, eat, drink and shop in Britain (coolplaces.co.uk)