Excursion Exclusive vineyard & wine tasting with lunch tour at Dover

Located in the beautiful Kent countryside, close to the picturesque market town of Tenterden, discover England’s leading winemaker, the Chapel Down winery, set amongst 22 acres of vineyards, recognised as an ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. Supplier to British icons such as Gordon Ramsay and No 10 Downing Street, and the official sparkling wine of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Races, Chapel Down produces a world-class range of wines from fruit sourced from the South-East of England. These award-winning wines are enjoyed at great institutions such as The Royal Opera House and The London Symphony Orchestra at The Barbican as well as the first English wine to be served at Ascot racecourse.

Get behind the scenes with a private guided tour of the vineyards and winery. Learn about how the region’s iconic chalk soil, famously associated with the white cliffs of Dover, is the same as that of Champagne just 90 miles to the south. Coupled with England’s cool climate, this enables the production of aromatic white wines and elegant light red wines from grapes such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, and Bacchus.

Visit the winery to be led through the winemaking processes and see how the sparkling wines are made according to the traditional method pioneered in Champagne and perfected in England. Your tour culminates in either the Wine Sanctuary or Cellar Door with a tutored tasting of award-winning still and sparkling wines. Be guided through the Systematic Approach to Tasting by your specialist wine-tasting expert whilst sampling an extended selection of 9 wines in this interactive experience.

Afterwards, head to the multi-award-winning Swan restaurant, set in the vineyards of Chapel Down, where you’ll enjoy a two-course lunch made from the finest locally sourced produce from the region's leading producers, with seafood caught locally in Rye and meat from local farmers. Specializing in modern British cuisine, the restaurant has been awarded two AA Rosettes and a Michelin Bib Gourmand where you will enjoy your special gourmet meal.

After lunch, spend some time at leisure to explore the grounds, herb garden or browse the shop. Finally, re-board your coach and drive via Tenterden making a short photo stop to take in the beautiful countryside views before continuing back to Dover.

Points of interests

Points of interest: Tenterdent town, Chapel Down winery, Wine Sanctuary

Note

Please note: The activity level is moderate, with up to 1 mile (1.5km) of walking on mostly flat terrain, though some steps and slightly uneven surfaces in the vineyard may be encountered. This tour is not suitable for wheelchair-bound guests due to the flight of stairs leading to the restaurant. The total walking distance includes standing for an hour during the vineyard tour, and guests must be able to ascend stairs to access the lunch venue. A gift shop is available at the vineyard, and free time for shopping in Tenterden is included. Light waterproofs and comfortable shoes are recommended. Cancellation dedaline is 4 weeks before the call.