Some places win you over before you have even taken your coat off. Birchden Vineyards, tucked away at Groombridge on the Sussex side of the Kent border, is one of them.

We visited at the weekend for a wine tour and tasting, and from the moment we arrived we were made to feel so welcome. We were greeted warmly and asked if we would like a tea, a coffee or a drink while we waited, with fresh water offered on the house. We opted for the water and settled ourselves under a beautiful parasol in the sunshine. I will be honest, I spent a good few minutes admiring that parasol and quietly plotting how to find out where they got them, because I would love one at home.

It was one of those perfect English summer days, beautifully sunny but not too hot, and we simply sat and relaxed, watching the vineyard gently come to life around us. Another tour was arriving as we sat there, dogs dozed at their owners’ feet beside the tables, and at one point a gentleman arrived with his two small children to collect their mum and nan from an earlier tour. It is that sort of place. Families, friends, four-legged visitors, all made welcome. No rush, no queue, no fuss. Just a lovely calm start to the afternoon.

The tour

Then it was time for our tour, and here is where I have to be careful, because I really do not want to spoil it for you. The story of Birchden is so beautifully told that you deserve to hear it standing among the vines, the way we did.

What I can tell you is this. We took a wonderful walk through the vineyard, tasting the wines as we went, each one poured at just the right moment in the story. The setting is wonderfully tranquil, all rolling green and birdsong, and our guide was warm and welcoming with a lovely air about her, the kind of person who makes a group of strangers feel like friends by the second glass. And our group was lovely too, which never hurts.

The wine itself? Delicious. Birchden is a small, family and community-run vineyard, and you can taste the love in it. Their wines carry the most charming names, The Charmed Finch, The Ugly Duckling, The Gregarious Goose and The Foxy Vixen among them, and choosing a favourite felt a little like being asked to pick a favourite child.

I have been lucky enough to do a few wine tours over the years, and I can honestly say this was my favourite to date. The whole experience felt relaxed and personal from start to finish.

You may notice this post has fewer photos than usual. The truth is we were too busy being enchanted, by the place, the story and the wine, to keep reaching for a camera. I am rather glad we were.

Before you go

Birchden Vineyards is at Birchden Farm, Broadwater Forest Lane, Groombridge, on the East Sussex side of the border near Tunbridge Wells. Tours and tastings are bookable on their website, along with vineyard picnics and other experiences, including a lovely sounding combination of the tour with a trip on the Spa Valley Railway. The Blackbird Café has covered outdoor seating for before or after, with food and drinks to buy if you want to make more of the day.

The tour and tasting is £35 a head and runs for around 60 to 90 minutes, with three wines to taste as you go, and tours setting off at 12:30 and 2:00 in groups of up to 15. The walk takes you over farm and grass paths and the ground can be uneven and wet in places, so sensible shoes or wellies are a good idea. If you are coming by train there is a public footpath from Groombridge Station, about a 35 minute walk, with a map to download on their site.

Dogs on leads are welcome, and on our visit they were clearly at home there. We did see children about, though they were collecting family from an earlier tour rather than on it themselves, so do ask when you book if you are hoping to bring little ones. If you have any access questions the team are the people to ask; on our visit they could not have been more welcoming.

English wine is having a wonderful moment, and small vineyards like this one, with local community at their heart, are exactly why. If you are looking for a special afternoon in the High Weald, put Birchden on your list. We will certainly be back.

If you are gathering ideas for days out in this corner of Kent and Sussex, we have also written about meeting the choughs at Dover Castle and a picnic in Alexandra Park, Hastings.

Life is a journey… treasure it.

Tamsin x