A SEVEN-acre vineyard has hit the market at £1.5million – with storage for 25,000 bottles.
Kent‘s next wine merchant can now snap up the Barnsole Vineyard, near Canterbury, along with all its labels.
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The vintage property, which opened almost 30 years ago, has certainly got better with age, now producing up to 80,000 bottles of plonk every year.
Not only are there Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus grapes growing, but England’s only ever indigenous wine has also been planted to be ready in 2024.
The stunning site is a real corker with everything you need for wine production – including the current growing crops and machinery.
There is also a wine press, a store for up to 25,000 bottles and a shop.
And the future proprietors can soak up their countryside surroundings at their own happy hour each day, with the vineyard’s tours and tasting which bring in 5,000 visitors a year.
Current owners Phillip and Sally Watts have run the dream property for 10 years but are selling up to retire.
Real estate agency BTF Partnership are now looking for its next glass-half-full buyers.
Alex Cornwallis, director at BTF Partnership, said: “It is an exciting and unique opportunity for a new owner to walk into a successful business in a growing sector with the ability to significantly increase production in the coming years.
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“The new trial block of Wrotham Pinot England’s indigenous vine being grown in Kent for the first time in a commercial vineyard setting is also something to shout about.”
Phillip Watts added: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a dream and ambition to run their own wine business to step into one which is ready to be taken to the next level.
“Over the last 10 years we have continually reinvested profits back into the business to build the strong foundations to support our artisan vineyard operation and vision for the future.
“With the growing national and international interest in English wine and wine tourism here in the South East, we are proud of where the business is today, the strong brand identity we have created and importantly the award winning, dynamic wines we now produce from start to finish.”
The Rightmove listing reads: “Barnsole is situated on the eastern outskirts of the village of Staple in an area of East Kent, just to the east of Canterbury.
“The Vineyard at Barnsole extends in total to 7.48 acres with approximately seven acres planted with vines.
“The vineyard itself is one of the oldest vineyards in Kent, having been planted in the early 1990’s with various varieties including Reichensteiner and Huxelrebe.
“Since the original plantings, there have been additions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Bacchus varieties, all on a double Guyot planting system.
“In addition, there is a trial block of Wrotham Pinot which is England’s only indigenous wine that has been planted for first release anticipated in 2024.”
It continues: “In addition to the vineyard itself, there is a detached winery building that extends to almost exactly 3,000 ft² and comprises a good-sized retail area to the front.
“With a further retail area to the rear along with WC, Store and winery laboratory along with two sealed Bonded Stores for wine storage.
“There are sliding loading doors out onto the concrete area for access with machinery and to the rear, a recently added Warehouse helping with wine storage and pressing throughout the year.
“To the front of the site, there is a fantastic access directly off the road to the south, leading to a good-sized parking area along with outside seating areas for visitors as and when they require.”
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