England's leading winemaker
The Chapel Down winery is located in the beautiful town of Tenterden, situated in the heart of the Kent countryside. We produce a complete range of English sparkling wines using the Traditional Method. The same method used in Champagne, but from fruit sourced from the South-East of England.
From very modest beginnings two decades ago, we have become the UK’s #1 winery. Wine-lover demand for our sparkling wines has been constantly growing both at home and around the world.
We make great sparklings for wine lovers
“We passionately believe that there is no point in just trying to be the best.
You have to be the only people who can do what you do. We want to be better,
but we also want to be different.”
Frazer Thompson
Chapel Down CEO
CHAPEL DOWN BRUT
CHAPEL DOWN BRUT ROSE
CHAPEL DOWN THREE GRACES
OUR VINEYARDS
Why England? Those white cliffs of Dover. That iconic chalk soil.
And the perfect climatic conditionsAll combine together enabling us to produce world-class sparkling wines. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Blanc all thrive in these conditions. We operate without the confines of 350 years’ worth of rules and traditions. Instead we innovate with our focus firmly on the needs of today's consumer, utilizing the most modern viticulture and wine making techniques.
OUR VINEYARDS
At Chapel Down, we own vineyards across Kent where we believe the finest overall conditions for grape growing exists in England. We also source some of our fruit from a wider geographic area, reaching from Essex to Hampshire, which ensures we maintain consistency and that the risks of crop failure through frost & climate are reduced.
OUR PRINCIPLE GRAPE VARIETIES
Chardonnay: This varietal is grown largely for sparkling wines, for which demand drives continuous new plantings. Our main Chardonnay vineyard is Kit's Coty on the North Downs of Kent which produces fruit with excellent acidity, minerality and generous texture.
Pinot Noir: This is the classic grape varietal for both Champagne & Burgundy, and thus Pinot Noir is also increasingly important for English sparkling wines. This varietal thrives in cool climates which produces delicate thin-skinned grapes with low tannins and an abundance of red fruit.
WINEMAKING
A world-class range of sparkling wines from England’s leading wine producer.
We strive to push the boundaries of English wine production through innovative ways of thinking. Whether that be through blending new & traditional winemaking techniques or creating different styles of wines. Our aim is always to surprise and delight our customers.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Great wine is all about balance. Choices made to achieve this measure start in the vineyard but continue throughout the winemaking process. Our ability to source grape varieties from different territories enables us to produce a broad range of wine styles.
MEET OUR WINEMAKER
“Freshness and vibrancy are key features which I look for in wines and English fruit really delivers on this, whether it be unique aromatic white wines, classic fizz, or a twist on a rich Chablis-esque Chardonnay. Balance is at the heart of every good wine and my aim, in the vineyard and the winery, is to strive for perfect balance.”
Josh Donaghay-Spire
Head Winemaker
Our sparkling wines are produced using the intricate Traditional Method. This is the same method as Champagne, where the bubbles occur naturally within the bottle. We produce a variety of styles from the youthful and vibrant Brut NV, to the more mature and complex Three Graces which is aged for four years before release. Honing what are becoming classic English wine styles is especially important but we also seek to continually improve and develop these styles further.
TESTIMONIALS
"One of the best-known and biggest-selling sparkling wines in England."
Will Lyons, Wall Street Journal.
“Chapel Down is probably the most known English winery, and for good reason. Chapel Down has been served at Buckingham Palace, most notably at the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding.”
Valentine's Day Gift Guide: The Best British Sparkling Wines, Forbes.
“With a huge haul of worthy wines Chapel Down has always been a hero winery in the UK
and I am constantly amazed at the diversity and excellence of their portfolio.”
Matthew Jukes, The Daily Mail.
“At Chapel Down, which prides itself in offering ‘a wine for everyone’, you’ll also find
dynamic winemaker Josh Donaghay-Spire doing impressive things with Chardonnay,
and pushing the boundaries with sparkling wines.”
Susie Barrie, Decanter magazine.
“Known as England’s largest producer of sparkling wine, the Kent-based Chapel Down estate produces this blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier (the eponymous “three graces”) with reserve stocks that add richness and complexity. […] Poured at some of England’s top Michelin-starred restaurants, it’s a fantastic introduction to the style.”
Punch.
