The Whitewolfe Vineyard
The Whitewolfe vineyard is a remarkable site. Standing in the centre of this south-facing vineyard, nestled at the base of Blue Bell Hill, you can physically see the weather roll in from the river Medway (less than 1-kilometre southeast), with rainstorms splitting across the vines. This natural phenomenon ensures the vines are protected from heavy rains, helping its Chardonnay grapes ripen perfectly even in the wettest years. The North Downs additionally shelters the vineyard from cool, northeasterly winds, as well as providing a barrier to trap warm air from the southeast, which is the prevailing wind during the growing season. The soils here are similarly unique to the area, boasting free-draining chalk that retains heat well during unpredictable English summers.
Soil Health
Key principles of our sustainable ethos
Situated on the North Downs in Kent, the Whitewolfe vineyard is made up of five variations of clay loam with a chalk subsoil. Chalk, a type of limestone, is a porous sedimentary rock that has excellent drainage while retaining sufficient moisture for nourishment. Being alkaline, the soil pH is high, which increases the grape’s natural acidity and typically leads to bright, age-worthy wines. As a result, it is very well suited to Chardonnay.
Clones
Their use in the Whitewolfe vineyard
For centuries, grape growers have carefully selected vines that display appealing characteristics and used their cuttings to propagate new vineyards (known as ‘massal selection’). Each cutting creates a new clone from the mother vine, in our case, Chardonnay. This means that today, we have a broad range of Chardonnay clonal variations to work with, each offering something different to the final wine.
