Kent is having a champagne moment: ‘English wine has gone from a joke to world-class’

By Phoebe Taplin

French champagne house Taittinger is helping produce a premium fizz in the Garden of England – and now visitors can visit the beautiful winery and sample it T he grapes are turning purple on tall green vines, which stretch down towards the distant flint-and-limestone tower of Chilham church. These rows of Pinot Meunier, destined for English sparkling wine, are 51% owned by French champagne house Taittinger. Domaine Evremond helped found the Wine Garden of England , a collaboration of Kent vineyards.