Cobham House Vineyard

What's the vibe?

Cobham House is a family vineyard on the North Kent Downs, run across four generations of the Sengupta family. The idea goes back to 1991, when Kim and Pallab Sengupta moved their family to Seine-et-Marne in France and fell for vineyards. The vines went into the ground in Cobham in 2021.

They sit on a south-facing slope at 100 metres, on chalk threaded with flints. The slope falls towards an old railway cutting, which lets cold spring air drain away from the buds. Emma Rice, twice UKVA Winemaker of the Year, makes the wine.

Cobham House makes one wine, a still rosé from 100% Gamay, the Beaujolais grape that only a handful of English vineyards grow. Kent's cooler climate and longer season let it ripen while keeping its natural acidity.

The grapes are hand-picked. Eighty per cent ferments in stainless steel to keep it fresh, and the other twenty per cent goes into Portuguese fortified-wine barrels for a creamy texture. Expect pear and bubblegum on the nose, then ripe cherry and strawberry, with a crisp, mouth-watering finish. It works with smoked salmon, shellfish and soft cheeses.

The 2024 won the Best Rosé trophy at WineGB 2025 with 96 points, and the 2025 followed with gold at WineGB 2026. It is 12.5% ABV and £38 a bottle, sold direct from the Cobham House shop, with a quarterly subscription for cases of six.