England's leading winemaker
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.
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 with 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.
Great sparkling for wine lovers
“As England’s leading wine producer, our mission is to change the way the world thinks about English wine. Our talented winemaking team produce award-winning premium sparkling and still wines, grown in the chalky terroir of South East England.”
Andrew Carter
Chapel Down CEO
CHAPEL DOWN BRUT NV
CHAPEL DOWN ROSÉ BRUT
CHAPEL DOWN ENGLISH ROSE
CHAPEL DOWN THREE GRACES 2014
OUR VINEYARDS
WHY ENGLAND?
The white cliffs of Dover with its iconic chalk soil and perfect climatic conditions.
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 PRINCIPAL 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
We strive to push the boundaries of English wine production with innovative ways of thinking.
Our aim is always to surprise and delight our customers.
WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY
Great wine is all about balance. It starts in the vineyard but continues 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
Operations Director and 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.
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.
