Balfour vineyard walk and tasting
A walk through the vines at Hush Heath, home of Balfour, and a tasting of three of their wines.
Starts Balfour Winery, Staplehurst, Kent
Kent Wine Tours / Guides / Wine tasting in Kent
Tastings
Wine tasting in Kent
Where to taste Kent wine, from a walk-in flight at the cellar door to a tutored tasting with the winemaker, what each costs, and which ones you need to book.
Checked against each vineyard’s own website in October 2026. Prices are per person.
The short answer
For a tasting without booking, go to Chapel Down near Tenterden (a flight of three wines for £15, every day), Yotes Court near Maidstone (a self-guided flight for £16 in season) or Barnsole near Canterbury (a free drop-in tasting, Thursday to Sunday). For a tutored tasting, book ahead: Silverhand (£20), Simpsons’ (£25), Domaine Evremond (£25) and Balfour (from £40) are good places to start.
Where to taste, and what it costs
Walk-in tastings first, then the ones you book.
| Vineyard | Tasting | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Down Tenterden | Flight of three wines at the tasting bar | £15 | Walk in, every day |
| Yotes Court Mereworth | Self-guided flight in the wine barn | £16 | Walk in, Wednesday to Sunday, April to 1 November; Friday and Saturday in winter until 19 December |
| Barnsole Staple, near Canterbury | Drop-in tasting | Free | Walk in, Thursday to Sunday, 11am to 4pm |
| Domaine Evremond Chilham | Edition I by the glass on the terrace or in the cellar door; Classic Cuvée tasting of Editions I and II | By the glass; tasting £25 | Walk in for a glass, Wednesday to Sunday; book the tasting |
| Gusbourne Appledore | Wine by the glass most Fridays to Sundays; sparkling tasting flight | Flight £30 | Walk in for a glass (ring ahead); book the flight |
| Silverhand Luddesdown | Guided tasting of five wines | £20 | Book by phone or email |
| Simpsons’ Barham, near Canterbury | 90-minute guided tasting | £25 | Book ahead, adults only |
| Balfour Staplehurst | Self-tutored tasting, or a tutored tasting | From £15; tutored £40 to £45 | Book ahead, open every day |
| The Mount Shoreham | Tasting of about an hour and a half | £38 | Book ahead, Friday to Sunday, adults only |
| Terlingham Hawkinge | Six wines in the Tasting Barn, with cheese if you like | £40, or £65 with cheese | Book ahead, Fridays and Saturdays |
Most vineyards also run tours with a tasting at the end, usually £25 to £50. See every Kent vineyard for the full list, or what a Kent wine tour costs.
Tips for a tasting day
- Check the opening daysMany cellar doors open only from Wednesday or Thursday to Sunday, and some close in January and early February.
- Book tutored tastings aheadWeekend slots go first, especially in summer and before Christmas, and The Mount says its tastings often sell out.
- Pick a driver, or take the trainChartham, Domaine Evremond and Westwell are all within walking distance of a station. Kent vineyards by train has the rest.
- Pair two that are closeChapel Down and Gusbourne are about 20 minutes apart, Simpsons’ and Domaine Evremond are both near Canterbury, and Yotes Court and Mereworth Wines are in the same village.
Book a tasting
Tastings you can book with us
Tours and tastings at Balfour, Gusbourne, Yotes Court and Warehorne, booked through our partners.
Gusbourne sparkling wine tasting
A tasting of four of Gusbourne’s vintage sparkling wines at the estate on the edge of Romney Marsh.
Starts Gusbourne Estate, Appledore, near Ashford, Kent
Yotes Court vineyard tour and tasting
A morning tour of the 75-acre vineyard, then a tasting in the cellar door or on the lawn.
Starts Yotes Court Vineyard, Mereworth, near Maidstone, Kent
Warehorne vineyard tour and tasting
A guided tour and a flight of wines, with cheese or charcuterie boards to add.
Starts Warehorne Vineyard, near Ashford, Kent
Good to know
Questions people ask
Can you go wine tasting in Kent without booking?
Yes. Chapel Down pours a flight of three wines at its tasting bar every day, Yotes Court has a self-guided flight in season, Barnsole offers a free drop-in tasting from Thursday to Sunday, and Domaine Evremond and, on most weekends, Gusbourne serve wine by the glass to walk-in visitors. Guided tours and tutored tastings almost always need booking.
How much does wine tasting cost in Kent?
A walk-in flight costs about £15 to £16, and a tutored tasting £20 to £45. Tours with a tasting usually cost £25 to £50 a head, and more with lunch.
Which Kent vineyards are open for tastings in winter?
Chapel Down, Balfour, Gusbourne, Silverhand, The Mount and Domaine Evremond all run tastings through the winter. Yotes Court opens its tasting room on Fridays and Saturdays until 19 December, and Terlingham runs tastings on Fridays and Saturdays.
Where can I go wine tasting near Canterbury?
Simpsons’ at Barham, Domaine Evremond at Chilham, Barnsole at Staple and Chartham Vineyard, beside Chartham station, are all within about 20 minutes of Canterbury. Terlingham, near Folkestone, is a little further.
Can I go wine tasting in Kent by train?
Yes. Chartham Vineyard is about 50 metres from Chartham station, Domaine Evremond is a 30-minute walk from Chilham, and Westwell is about a mile from Charing. See our guide to Kent vineyards by train for the rest.