Chapel Down Winery: Kent’s Modern English Wine Pioneer
Established in 1992 in Tenterden, Kent, Chapel Down revolutionized English winemaking by combining traditional methods with modern precision. The estate specializes in both sparkling and still wines, cultivating cool-climate varieties like Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Bacchus, and hardy hybrid grapes to ensure consistent quality across vintages. This innovative approach has significantly raised the profile of English wine worldwide.
The producer tends estate vineyards across southeast England, including prime sites in Tenterden, Westerham, Lamberhurst, and Appledore. The region’s chalk-rich soils (ancient seabed deposits) and cool 50°N latitude contribute to wines with vibrant acidity and mineral character. Their winemakers employ techniques like extended lees aging for sparkling wines and careful oak integration for still wines to enhance complexity while preserving the natural fruit expression.
By maintaining flagship cuvées and reserve stocks, Chapel Down ensures consistent house style despite vintage variations. Wine enthusiasts can purchase directly from the winery, through their online shop, or via exclusive club tasting events that offer access to current releases and rare vertical selections.
Understanding Chapel Down Union Red: Still and Sparkling Releases
Chapel Down’s Union Red offers several expressions that sometimes cause confusion. The core version is an approachable, medium-bodied blend designed for immediate enjoyment. A special Coronation sparkling edition from 2016, featuring distinctive Union Jack branding, commemorated a royal celebration.
Still Union Red Profile and Composition
The still red blend typically marries Pinot Noir with resilient hybrids—primarily Rondo and Regent, occasionally including Dornfelder. The Pinot Noir brings elegant cherry aromas, while Rondo and Regent contribute deeper color, concentrated fruit flavors, and mid-palate richness. The resulting wine displays bright cherry, raspberry, and damson notes complemented by subtle floral and spice accents.
Winemaking emphasizes fruit preservation through gentle extraction, cool fermentation temperatures, and moderate oak influence. Bottled at 75 cl with approximately 12% ABV, closures vary between natural cork and screwcap. Note that some listings reference a “red 2014” at lower alcohol (4.5% ABV), so checking bottle details is advised.
2016 Still-Field-Blend Characteristics
The warm, dry 2016 growing season produced a more intense vintage of the still red. Tasting notes reveal concentrated cherry and blackcurrant flavors supported by smooth, savory tannins. This robust style pairs beautifully with grilled meats or charcuterie. Even older vintages like the 2014 retain freshness, though color may show slight evolution.
Limited Coronation Sparkling Union Red (2016)
The commemorative sparkling Union Red, crafted using traditional method from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, spent over five years aging on lees. This extended contact develops added complexity beyond their standard NV wines, yielding flavors of baked apple, red berries, and toasted pastry. Only 2,000 bottles were produced, distributed to select retailers and restaurants in special packaging.
This release served dual purposes—celebrating the coronation while supporting charity, with all profits and a portion of tasting event proceeds benefiting the Royal British Legion. Launching during the holiday weekend, it became both a celebratory drink and meaningful tribute.
Tasting profile and sensory signature
The Chapel Down Union Red greets you with vibrant aromas of juicy cherry, raspberry and damson, beautifully complemented by floral violet notes and a subtle hint of oak spice. This medium-bodied red wine boasts a velvety texture with approachable tannins, making it perfect for enjoying now or cellaring short-term.
Warmer years like 2016 produce a more opulent version, where cherry and blackcurrant flavors intensify into a generous, spice-laced finish. Cooler vintages showcase brighter red fruit characteristics, while their sparkling expressions reveal crisp apple, berry notes and delightful yeast-derived complexity – a signature of quality English wine.
For optimal enjoyment, serve this still red slightly chilled (12-14°C) to accentuate its freshness. Consider decanting young bottles briefly to open up their aromas. Learn professional tasting techniques that perfectly showcase the wine’s fruit purity and balanced structure.
Vineyard, terroir and vintage influence
Chapel Down’s vineyard sites across Kent and southeastern England, particularly around Tenterden, benefit from mineral-rich chalk soils that give their English wine its characteristic vibrancy. This marginal cool climate region produces distinct vintage variations – warm years develop richer, structured reds while cooler seasons yield more delicate, aromatic expressions.
Their viticultural approach carefully nurtures early-ripening varieties like Pinot Noir and Rondo through meticulous canopy management and controlled yields. Alongside these red grapes, the estate successfully grows traditional Champagne varieties and experiments with aromatic whites, demonstrating the dynamic evolution of contemporary English winemaking.
Chapel Down’s Sparkling Focus and Production Techniques
Known for its exceptional sparkling wine, Chapel Down employs traditional bottle fermentation and extended aging on lees to develop remarkable complexity. The winery skillfully balances classic and contemporary approaches, with separate production lines for both sparkling and still wines – honoring time-honored techniques while incorporating modern style.
Every cuvée benefits from carefully selected estate-grown fruit, reserve wines, and meticulous blending to maintain the distinctive house character. Standouts like Chapel Down Brut NV, Rosé Brut, and Three Graces consistently deliver vibrant texture and crisp red apple notes, with precise cellar management ensuring lively, expressive bubbles. The tasting room offers opportunities to explore vintages through comparative flights or special library pours.
Keep your Chapel Down Union Red refreshing – explore our complete guide to corks & preservation, covering everything from historical stoppers to today’s advanced closures, plus proper opening and storage techniques for optimal enjoyment.
Serving, Storage and Preservation Practicalities
For the still Chapel Down Union Red, serve slightly chilled (14-16°C) after about 25 minutes in the refrigerator – this perfect temperature highlights the flavors of cherry and dark berries while maintaining freshness. A short 15-30 minute decant helps release aromas and soften young tannins, while proper long-term storage requires a dark, temperature-controlled space (10-15°C) with bottles lying on their sides.
After opening, immediately replace the cork snugly or use preservation tools like vacuum pumps or inert gas to minimize oxidation. Unlike sparkling wines, this still red works well with Coravin systems, maintaining quality for weeks without special sparkling-specific equipment.
Preserving Opened Sparkling Bottles with Bubbl.
Bubbl’s innovative Smart Cap revolutionizes sparkling wine preservation by infusing the headspace with an optimal 80% CO₂/20% N₂ mixture that maintains carbonation. Award-winning technology keeps the wine’s effervescence, mouthfeel, and vibrant cherry notes intact for up to a week, as confirmed by independent testing – earning it the prestigious 2023 VITEFF innovation award.
The system couldn’t be simpler: after pouring, secure the cap and press its trigger for five seconds to create a protective gas layer. This watertight device fits standard 75cl and magnum bottles, with each cartridge preserving at least five 75cl bottles effortlessly – no maintenance required between uses.
Product availability, release strategy and distribution
Discover Union Red vintage wines at Chapel Down’s website, vineyard shop, and select UK wine merchants, though stock levels fluctuate frequently. The exclusive Coronation sparkling blend – limited to 2,000 bottles – was specially released for the holiday weekend and distributed through premium retailers, top restaurants, and the producer‘s own channels.
For UK customers, standard and express delivery options are available, with next-day deadlines often in place. International buyers should contact the producer directly for shipping arrangements. All orders come carefully packed in recyclable materials with honeycomb padding, with expedited shipping options to protect your bottles.
Before buying, we recommend checking current availability, confirming the vintage year and specific blend composition, and requesting any missing tasting details from the retailer.
Buying, provenance and validating consistency
For guaranteed authenticity, purchase directly through Chapel Down’s website, cellar door, or wine club – your best source for current releases, aged bottles, and special tasting collections. Don’t hesitate to request technical specifications, updated tasting profiles, or even a virtual tasting to ensure the style matches your preferences before larger purchases.
Pay attention to shipping details, temperature-controlled packaging, and proper storage conditions (10-15°C) to maintain your red wine’s quality. Consider comparing multiple vintage years side-by-side, keeping records of product codes and tasting observations to track consistency. Always verify the closure type, retailer storage conditions, and return policies when buying through third-party sellers.
Food pairing and versatility
The English still wines from Union Red offer exceptional food pairing flexibility, showcasing vibrant fruit flavors balanced by refreshing acidity and smooth tannins. These approachable red wines pair beautifully with roasted poultry, mushroom-based dishes, tomato pastas, and semi-soft cheeses. For more robust vintages like the 2016, try them with grilled lamb, beef, or artisanal cured meats.
By carefully selecting grape varieties and limiting oak aging, Chapel Down wines successfully challenge stereotypes about English red wine. Always note the specific vintage and grape blend, and consider stocking up on favorites since production quantities remain limited in England’s developing wine industry.
Chapel Down’s reputation and role in the English wine industry
As a pioneering producer, Chapel Down has helped define modern English wine through its innovative approach that respects tradition while embracing contemporary techniques. Their portfolio features signature expressions like the aromatic Chapel Down Bacchus, crisp Flint Dry, and elegant Chardonnay – all showcasing the distinctive character of English terroir through their house style.
The winery’s achievements have transformed global perceptions of English winemakers, demonstrating the region‘s potential to produce excellent still and sparkling wines. Their collection of award-winning still wines consistently earns impressive reviews, contributing significantly to the growing reputation of the broader wine industry in England.
Serving by the glass and commercial benefits for retailers
Bubbl. revolutionizes sparkling wine service by enabling efficient by-the-glass pouring throughout service hours, significantly reducing waste while offering greater variety. The compact system works perfectly behind bars, at tasting events, or in retail environments without requiring permanent installation.
This innovative solution helps businesses minimize product loss, expand their wine selection, and simplify tasting programs. Staff can open multiple bottles, preserve their quality, and serve four to six glasses over several days – eliminating the need to open new bottles for every service.