Davenport Vineyards

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Davenport Vineyards is one of England’s longest-established organic wine producers, with a strong emphasis on farming, sustainability, and low-intervention winemaking. The focus here is firmly on the vines and the wines rather than visitor infrastructure, making it a producer-led vineyard rather than a traditional tourism destination.

Davenport Vineyards is not currently open to the public for general visits, tours, or tastings, but it operates a winery shop in Horsmonden, which is open to the public for wine purchases, currently from 11am-5pm on Fridays. This provides a more accessible way to engage with the wines, even though the vineyard itself is not open for tours or general visits.

Davenport Vineyards produces a wide-ranging portfolio of certified organic English wines, including still white, red, and rosé wines, traditional-method sparkling wines, and pét-nat styles. Grapes are grown across their Kent and East Sussex vineyard sites and include varieties such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Bacchus, Ortega, and others suited to organic viticulture in southern England.

The estate is widely regarded as a pioneer of organic winemaking in the UK. Davenport has been Soil Association certified organic since 2000 and has played a significant role in establishing organic practices within the English wine industry.

Sustainability underpins both vineyard and winery operations. The winery is powered by solar energy and produces more electricity than it consumes. Biodiversity is actively encouraged through habitat creation, wildflower meadows, and reduced mowing regimes. In the cellar, wines are made using a low-intervention approach, with native yeasts, minimal sulphur use, little or no filtration, and no animal-derived fining agents. The winery is operated on site, allowing full control from harvest through to bottling.

By Car: The winery address for collections and correspondence is Davenport Vineyards, Castle Hill, Rotherfield, East Sussex, TN6 3RR.

By Public Transport: The nearest mainline stations serving the Horsmonden area are Paddock Wood and Tonbridge. From either station, a taxi is required to reach the winery or surrounding vineyard sites.

The Davenport vineyard sites sit within a rural area of Kent and East Sussex, close to villages, countryside walks, and historic attractions.

Notable Restaurants:

The Wheelwrights Arms, Horsmonden – A traditional village pub known for seasonal, locally sourced food.

The Poet at Matfield – A well-regarded country pub offering refined British cooking.

Notable Hotels:

The Star & Eagle, Goudhurst – A historic coaching inn with rooms overlooking the Kent countryside.

The Camden Arms, Pembury – A comfortable pub hotel close to Royal Tunbridge Wells.

Notable Attractions:

Scotney Castle – A moated medieval castle with landscaped gardens.

Hever Castle & Gardens – The childhood home of Anne Boleyn, set within extensive historic grounds.