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Lynsted with Kingsdown Society Outing to Tenterden Vineyards On a fine Saturday morning in June you may have caught sight of three groups of excited people, in various parts of Lynsted, waiting eagerly for a sight of David Powell’s green, vintage, double-decker Leyland ‘bus. Members and friends of the Lynsted with Kingsdown Society were off to enjoy the Kentish countryside scenery, viewed from a higher than normal vantagepoint. An hour after leaving Lynsted we arrived at Tenterden Station for a short break. We quickly dispersed into the busy High Street and for the next hour could be found in various locations having a cup of coffee, visiting the Nelson exhibition in St. Mildred’s Church or enjoying some retail therapy. By 1pm the ‘bus had taken us a few miles further on to Chapel Down Winery where we met up with a couple more Society members. Here, after a leisurely lunch on the newly renovated picnic site, we all went for a guided tour of the vineyard to learn why Kent is now an internationally respected wine producing area. We saw the acres of grapevines stretching into the distance over the gently slopes of the Weald. At present, most of the grapes grown are German varieties but we were told that this might well be changing. As a result of global warming some of the French grapes (e.g. Chardonnay) are now able to ripen in the Kentish climate. We then went on to see the giant stainless steel press (which only operates for three weeks, in October) and marvelled at the numerous, enormous storage tanks in which the white wine stays before it is bottled and sent on for sale. One of this vineyard’s specialities is sparkling wine. The method of its production, we were told, has been modelled exactly on the chemical and physical processes used in the Champagne region of France. Some red wine grapes are also grown at Tenterden and we also visited a room full of neatly stacked oak barrels full of maturing Kentish red wine. Finally, of course, we were invited to taste five different wines (white, sparkling and rosé) being a few of the many different varieties made at the vineyard. The outing was completed by yet another local treat as we all trooped up the narrow staircase from the vineyard shop into a light, modern restaurant for tea served with a home-made scone (or two!) strawberry jam and cream. Having made various purchases in the Shop thirty very contented people climbed gratefully onto the double-decker for the journey home. Thank you David for sharing your beautifully maintained’ bus with us and for driving us so well along the country roads of Kent. Norma Baxter |