How has Covid-19 Affected Kentish Vineyards?

Biddenden, Chartham, Gusbourne, Simpsons, Terlingham and Woodchurch vineyards talk about how they have been affected by Covid-19 and how they have adapted their businesses as we come out of lockdown and ease back into normal life.

In the Vineyard

Common to all the vineyards, managing the vines has been of primary importance and whilst some of the vineyards completely rely on family members to tend the vines – others have retained their employees where their role is vineyard based. However, this has been kept to a minimum and a number of employees have been furloughed to ease the financial pressure. The good news is that on the whole, the weather has been sunny and dry and although one or two vineyards said there had been some frost during this period, the damage to the vines was minimal.

Tours and Tastings

Without a doubt – due to lockdown – all tours and tastings ceased with immediate effect. Cellar door sales are a major part of revenue for Kent vineyards – especially for the smaller ones. There really is no substitute for being in the environment where the grapes are grown and enjoying the whole wine tasting experience.

Sales

On the positive side, all of the vineyards stated that they’d seen a significant increase in online sales with Chartham vineyard just launching this service in May 2020. At Gusbourne, as well as their sparkling wine, they have just launched their ‘Cherry Garden’ rose and Simpsons have just released the Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs 2016 which has been so popular that it has sold out, but the 2017 is due for release in November 2020. Terlingham are launching their 2019 vintages of their flagship wine made from Bacchus as well as their rosé wine made from Rondo and Dornfelder due for release around mid July.

Biddenden and Woodchurch vineyards have also recorded increases in online sales and although these sales don’t compensate for the losses of the vineyards closures they all agree that they are retaining their current retail customers as well as attracting new ones – both locally and further afield.

On Trade

It isn’t just cellar door sales that have been affected as the enforced closure of all bars, pubs, restaurants and hotels – the whole hospitality sector has had a direct impact on the vineyards. Many of these organisations are trade customers and of key importance, not only in supply, but also in terms of increasing their visibility and reputation in the wider community.

There is a collective concern as to how some of these will manage in the future as the hospitality sector will be one of the last to come out of lockdown, and at the time of writing it is uncertain how they will trade in the post Covid world.

A positive aspect of the effect of Covid-19 has been in the growth of community spirit among people in the local vicinity. People have gravitated towards using local suppliers to a greater extent than before in preference to queuing up at the local supermarket and it is hoped that this will continue not only for wine but for local Kent produce as well.

What does the future look like?

At the time of writing it is difficult to predict with any certainty the way forward for local vineyards but most will be open by mid-June/early July for visitors to have picnics in the grounds.

The shops will be open to purchase wine – but full scale wine tasting will be unlikely as social distancing and cleansing glasses will be very difficult to enforce in the tastings areas.

Terlingham are hoping to offer picnics from July onwards with pop-up gazebos; Simpsons already have rigorous social distancing measures in place for their employees which will be extended to customers when they re-open as safety is paramount – which all the vineyards take very seriously. Gusbourne are hoping to do something similar in the way of picnics, and Biddenden will be opening their shop to customers for purchase only. Woodchurch wines were due to celebrate their 10th birthday this year and had opened their cellar door in preparation for this celebration. However their shop is now open for visitors. Chartham vineyard have been working hard to build up their art exhibitions which visitors can enjoy as well as tasting their wines and this will resume as soon as it is safe to do so.

Although the complete impact of Covid-19 on the Kent wine industry and the wider hospitality sector is at present unknown, it is important that we continue to support our local businesses and communities as we begin the journey back to a more normal environment.

Biddenden Vineyards

Chartham Vineyard

Gusbourne Vineyards

Gusbourne vineyards wish to thank:
MACKNADE FINE FOODS www.macknade.com
PRESS WINE SERVICES AT THE GOODS SHED www.presswineservices.com
THE SECRET CELLAR www.thesecretcellar.co.uk
QUERCUS WINES www.quercuswines.co.uk

Terlingham Vineyard

Woodchurch Wine

Simpsons Wine

If you have any questions about this article or any other enquiries – please visit www.discoverthevine.co.uk
Rowena Hawtin #thewinelady

We wish to thank:-
Gibson’s Farm Shop; Clive Barlow at the Goods Shed; Macknade Fine Foods; Barham Village Store; Filberts; The Strand Wine Company; Squerryes Flint and Oak Deli