Harvest In person

Harvest day at a Kent vineyard

A full day at Chapel Down in Tenterden. Pick Pinot Noir alongside the harvest crew, walk the winery floor, then taste three wines with the winemaker. No experience needed — just an interest in where wine comes from.

Day schedule

10:00
Arrival and welcome

Meet the vineyard team. Brief introduction to Chapel Down, the 2026 vintage conditions and what to expect during picking.

10:30
Picking begins

Join the harvest crew in the Pinot Noir blocks. Secateurs provided. The team explains what ripe fruit looks like and how selections are made.

13:00
Vineyard lunch

Break for a casual lunch in the winery courtyard. Local food, water and a glass of Chapel Down Rosé included.

14:00
Winery tour

Walk the winery floor: press, fermentation tanks and barrel store. The winemaker explains how the 2026 fruit will be processed.

15:00
Tutored tasting

Three Chapel Down wines — including the current sparkling release — tasted with commentary on style, method and how the vintage influenced them.

16:00
Close

Wine available to purchase at cellar-door prices before departure.

About Chapel Down and English sparkling wine

Chapel Down is one of England's largest and most awarded wine producers. Founded in 1977 and based in Tenterden, Kent, it farms around 900 acres of vineyard across southern England. Its sparkling wines — made by the traditional method from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier — have won international medals including a Best in Show at the International Wine Challenge.

The chalk and greensand soils of Kent mirror the geology of Champagne, some 90 miles across the Channel. The cool, maritime growing season produces high-acid grapes suited to sparkling wine production. For the wider context, see the English sparkling wine article and the cool and warm climate styles guide.

What to expect during harvest

Harvest in England runs from mid-September to late October, depending on the variety and vintage conditions. Picking is done by hand at Chapel Down — mechanical harvesting would damage the delicate bunches needed for quality sparkling wine. On the day, you will work in small groups guided by the vineyard crew, learning how to identify ripe, healthy fruit and remove it without damaging the vine.

For how the grapes you pick are transformed into wine, see the How wine is made guide. The traditional method used for Chapel Down sparkling is covered in the Red, white, rosé and sparkling methods guide.

Booking: Chapel Down Winery. Schedule subject to vintage conditions — picking may start earlier or later depending on weather. Corrections via the contact form.

Related

News English sparkling wine on the rise 03 · Making — Guide How wine is made 02 · Place — Guide Cool and warm climate styles Events All wine events

Questions

About the harvest day and English wine.

Do I need any previous wine knowledge to attend?
None at all. The day is designed for anyone curious about how wine is made, from complete beginners to enthusiasts. The vineyard team and winemaker explain everything as you go. If you want to prepare, the How wine is made guide covers the full journey from harvest to bottle.
What should I wear and bring?
Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty or wet — harvest work involves carrying fruit, working in damp conditions and potentially muddy ground. Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots are essential. Bring a waterproof layer. Secateurs and a picking tray are provided.
Why does English wine use Pinot Noir?
Pinot Noir is one of the three classic Champagne varieties (alongside Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier) that English sparkling wine producers use. Kent and Sussex share a similar cool maritime climate and chalk geology with the Champagne region of northern France. Pinot Noir grown in this climate produces grapes with high acidity and delicate red fruit — ideal for sparkling wine. For more on how climate shapes wine style, see the cool and warm climate styles guide.
Is English sparkling wine comparable to Champagne?
At its best, yes — English sparkling wines from producers like Chapel Down, Nyetimber and Ridgeview have won blind tastings against top Champagne houses. The shared chalk geology and cool climate produce a similar flavour profile: high acidity, fine bubbles, autolytic notes (brioche, toast). The main differences are scale (England produces far less) and price (English sparkling often costs more due to higher land and production costs). For the full picture, see the English sparkling wine article.
What happens to the grapes I pick?
The fruit you pick on the day goes into the same process as the rest of the harvest — pressing, settling, fermentation and eventually into Chapel Down's blended sparkling wines. Because sparkling wine spends time on lees and then disgorgement, the wine from the 2026 harvest will typically not be released until late 2027 or 2028. The winery keeps records of harvest days, so you can look out for the vintage you picked.