Nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Kent, England, just 2.5 hours from The Red Lion in Odiham, sits Chapel Down Winery, an award-winning and innovative wine producer loved by many. If you’re not already familiar, we’d love you to learn a little more about this award-winning producer and why we’re so proud to feature their wines on our wine list.
Chapel Down Winery has been at the forefront of the English wine revolution. It’s one of the largest producers of English wine, with over 950 acres under vine, dating back to 1987, providing a production capacity of 2.4 million bottles per annum. Situated on the North Downs of Kent, it is a region with a terroir remarkably similar to that of France’s Champagne region. The chalky soils of Kent, along with its warm, maritime climate provide the perfect conditions for growing grapes like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Bacchus. This unique combination results in wines enjoying exceptional character and complexity.
World-Class Wine Maker
The Chapel Down winery boasts a world-class winemaking and innovating team. An interesting fact, did you know that Chapel Down deliberately use dark glass bottles, which are almost black to look at, rather than the traditional green bottles used by Champagne brands? The reason is that darker glass protects the quality of the wine from being affected by UV light in the bottle, plus their glass is made from 75% recyclable material. Likewise, Chapel Down uses special-treated corks to ensure that their wines can never be ‘corked’, and they will age at a predictable rate. They have also planted indigenous grasses between its rows of vines, this is to minimise the use of herbicides.
The winery is no stranger to award wins having won multiple accolades and awards over the past two decades including their most recent win of ‘Best in Show’ at the Decanter Wine Awards 2024 for its Rosé. Only 10 English wines have ever been awarded a ‘Best in Show’ accolade since the Decanter Wine Awards began and this award is reserved for what the judges regard as the 50 very best wines from around the world. This is the third time that Chapel Down has won this award, making the Kent winemaker the English wine producer with the most Decanter ‘Best in Show’ awards, having previously won with its Kit’s Coty Chardonnay still wine and Kit’s Coty Coeur de Cuvée sparkling wine.
A Royal Connection
Plus, no stranger to royalty, Chapel Down Rosé was served at Buckingham Palace during the wedding reception of Prince William and Kate Middleton and continues to be the official serve at leading British events, including Ascot Races, England Cricket, the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race and Tom Kerridge’s Pub in the Park. So, if you’re a fan of Chapel Down, you’re in good company!
The good news for all English wine fans is that the most recent British wine harvest (2023), including Chapel Down, was a resounding success thanks to its favourable growing conditions and the viticulture and winemaking teams’ expertise. This has resulted in a record-breaking yield of exceptional grape quality.
The refreshing notes of Chapel Down’s chardonnay include ripe apple and citrus with a creamy texture and pair perfectly with our pan-fried seabass or pan-fried chicken supreme. So, the next time you come into The Red Lion fill your glass with the elegant flavours of Chapel Down.
Take a look at our wine list here, and if you fancy dining with us? Book a table here.
