Our Story
‘Whitewolfe is a story of friendship and a shared love for sustainable farming, viticulture, wine and England.’
Whitewolfe Estates was founded in 2019 by Clare Whitehead and Luke Wolfe.
These two great friends who met in 2009 while studying oenology and viticulture at Plumpton College. After contemplating the idea of collaborating for several years, a conversation over wine in 2018 saw them acquire a small, 10-hectare vineyard in the Kits Coty region of Kent’s North Downs. In the careful hands of Clare and Luke, the untapped potential of this special place is being realised. Firm believers that wines are made in the vines, their grower-led approach shows why the Kits Coty region is fast becoming one of England’s most prized Chardonnay growing areas.
Their mission is simple: to produce world-class Chardonnay that captures the character of their site, clones, and dedication to detail.
Winemaking Philosophy
At Whitewolfe Estates, winemaking begins in the vineyard. Every decision clone selection, canopy management, harvest timing is taken with the aim of expressing the unique identity of their Kent Chardonnay.
The wines are pressed straight to oak barrel, fermenting and ageing in a mix of second and third fill Burgundian barrels from Damy, Francois Frères, and Tonnellerie Remond, with some neutral oak and larger puncheons. This approach allows for controlled oxygen transfer, textural development, and subtle aromatic layering hallmarks of their oak-aged English Chardonnay.
Yeast & Fermentation
They employ a balance of wild fermentation capturing the vineyard’s indigenous yeasts and selected strains tailored for specific flavour and texture outcomes. Fermenting in oak introduces complexity: each barrel’s oxygen ingress, toast level, and thermal behaviour influence fermentation kinetics and flavour development. The lees integration adds richness without heaviness.
Small Batch, Big Impact
Their small batch Chardonnay wines are built from detailed, small scale vinification’s. These micro lots give blending components with distinct personalities, aromatic precision, mineral drive, or creamy depth. By blending from this palette, they create wines that are layered, balanced, and age-worthy, while always remaining true to the Whitewolfe vineyard.
As Thomas Parker MW observed: “Precise structure and delicate minerality… a balance that speaks of origin.” This harmony between fruit and oak is the essence of their style.
Clare Whitehead
Clare began her wine career in 2006, working at Bibendum Wines as an On-Trade support manager. During her time with Bibendum, they kindly sponsored her WSET qualifications up to Diploma level and before long, Clare had well and truly caught the wine bug.
While on holiday in California, a visit to Calera Winery inspired Clare to enrol at Plumpton College (immediately after getting back!) to study a BSc in Viticulture and Oenology. This is where she met her future lifelong friend and business partner, Luke Wolfe. She has since worked many harvests at UK wineries as well as returning to Calera in 2011 for vintage. Today, Clare juggles Whitewolfe with an award-winning career in wine education at Liberty Wines, where she does her best to ensure her students catch the wine bug, too!
Luke Wolfe
Luke was originally a mortgage and finance broker before the 2008 credit crunch spurred him to pursue his passion for wine. He began volunteering in vineyards and working in wine retail before studying BSc Viticulture and Oenology at Plumpton College. After graduating, Luke embarked on a period of freelance vineyard and winery work in New
Zealand, California and France before settling back in the UK, where he joined Chapel Down, heading up their vineyard operations and managing over 600 acres across Kent and East Sussex.
After co-founding Whitewolfe in 2019, Luke also set up a vineyard management and consultancy business, Agro-Pro, which specialises in cool
climate viticulture, working with large and boutique producers to improve their vineyard efficiency and maximise vineyard potential. Being a vineyard owner has allowed Luke to truly understand the emotional connection in establishing a vineyard and nurturing it to maturity.
The ‘KC’ series was developed as an innovative range of Chardonnays from the Whitewolfe Vineyard in the Kits Coty region of Kent’s North Downs.
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