Kent-based Balfour Winery began as a hobby for Richard and Leslie Balfour Lynn, who have been at the forefront of the growing English wine movement ever since. Richard had already planted vines on his country estate before 2008’s stock market crash, but it was this turn of events that saw him pack in his city job to pursue winemaking full time.
The winery started small, aiming for 10,000 bottles a year – but this didn’t last long. Their flagship sparkling Balfour Brut Rosé became the first English Sparkling wine to be served in British Airways First Class and the official English wine of the London 2012 Olympic games.
Set within the rolling hills of Kent, Hush Heath Estate – the home of Balfour wines – is one of the most beautiful sites to visit in the UK, where dense oak forests and quality vines live side by side. Committed to sustainable practices, conservation is at the heart of what they do. Their numerous beehives aid the pollination of their apple orchards and encourage wildflower meadows to thrive, while their ancient oak woodlands play residence to fallow deer, buzzards and barn owls.
