Meet the Vineyards
Our great pleasure is visiting the many and varied English vineyards, tasting and selecting the wines we stock at Corkk.
We love to meet these accomplished wine makers; through tasting and conversation, we understand and come to love their wines more.
Inspired by this experience, we’ve invited some amazing local and less local vineyard owners and/or wine makers to share their knowledge and passion for wine with us at Corkk, in the hope of passing on that added pleasure of communing with the creator of a great wine!
Come and meet these talented viticulturists, who produce the note worthy wines we stock and you love to drink.
Held once a month at Corkk Tunbridge Wells.
Wednesday 25th March: Gusbourne Wine Estate - 19:00-21:00
Gusbourne are without a doubt one of the leading wine estates in the UK and were recently voted as one of the best 50 vineyards in the world. They are renowned for their multiple award winning wines, including both still and sparkling wines. Their wines are served throughout th top restaurants in the country and in 2023 there Blanc de Blancs won the “Best in Show” award at the Decanter World Wine awards. They have a their brilliant cellar door and we are delighted that, after our disappointment of not being able to make it before Christmas due to the South East Water crisis, we have managed to re-rrange a date so we can receive their wonderful cellar door hospitality.
Wednesday 8th april: Balfour Winery- 19:00-21:00
When 10,000 bottles of Balfour Brut Rosé, made from the first harvest in 2004, won a gold medal at the International Wine Challenge in 2007, Balfour Winery was officially on the wine map.
Over the following years, co-founders Richard and Leslie formed a team of viticultural and winemaking experts who assisted them in creating a state-of-the-art winery and tasting room on Hush Heath Estate, which opened in 2010. In 2018 both the winery and tasting room were greatly expanded and are now regarded as some of the best visitor and winemaking facilities in England.
We are delighted that they will be showing off their wines!
wednesday 13th may: Yotes Court Vineyard - 19:00-21:00
Nestled in the Garden of England, Yotes Court is a rare and wonderful thing. A bold, modern venture led by progressive and sustainable values, but with roots deep in time, tradition and place.
The vineyard is located to the west of Yotes Court, an historic English Heritage Grade 1 listed manor house between the picturesque villages of West Peckham and Mereworth in Kent.
The land is a beautiful south sloping site looking towards Bidborough Ridge and Tunbridge Wells with free-draining soil full of chunks of Kentish ragstone. When it comes to the soil for growing the perfect grapes the rockier the better.
Wednesday 10th June: Oastbrook Vineyard - 19:00-21:00
Oastbrook, based in the beautiful Sussex countryside, has been described as a cult status winery with its innovative award winning wines and enchanting vineyard. Discover why they have been voted one of the best Wineries in Europe and taste a range of their beautiful wines. Owned by Nick and America Brewer, they not only produce outstanding wines, they bring with them a whole load of fun. It is sure to be a fantastic evening.
Wednesday 8th July: Simpsons Wine Estate - 19:00-21:00
Simpsons are one of the leading lights in the English wine scene. Starting in 2012, they were the first wine estate to purchase land that was advertised as suitable for a vineyard by Strutt and Parker. They were one of the first to place their wines in Norway and Ruth Simpson is on the board of WineGB. They have gone from strength to strength, winning multiple awards, including "Best in Show" at Decanter World Wine awards plus many others, including the Rosé Trophy at WineGB. Their wines, needless to say, are delicious.
Wednesday 11th november: Sugrue South Downs - 19:00-21:00
In 2006, winemaker Dermot Sugrue planted a small vineyard at Storrington Priory at the foot of the South Downs in West Sussex. Seven years later, his first sparkling wine – ‘The Trouble With Dreams’ – from the 2009 vintage was released. It rapidly gained critical acclaim and cemented Dermot's reputation as one of England’s finest winemakers. Sugrue South Downs is now a dynamic husband and wife team, producing a stunning array of both still and sparkling wines, earning Sugrue South Downs a cult-like following, which grows to this day.