Our Story
Penn Oast Vineyard is an eight acre vineyard established by the Davis family at the foot of the North Downs in Kent, the Garden of England.
We have always been lovers of the great outdoors and when the opportunity came along a few years ago to purchase some land around our property it seemed too good to miss. The decision to use this land to establish a vineyard came about a few years later and, having completed a course in viticulture at Plumpton College, our vineyard was planted in the Spring of 2022.
We are fortunate that the chalky soil within our south facing vineyard and the local climate lends itself perfectly to growing vines and we have carefully chosen a variety of grapes with which to produce high quality still and sparkling wine.
A New Tradition
Penn Oast was originally used to dry hops when hop fields were a common feature of the Kentish countryside. This form of farming is much less common now as more and more hops are imported from the continent. The oast house is now our family home and at the centre of our eight acre vineyard which surrounds the property. Whilst maintaining the rurality of the surrounding area we were keen to embrace the positive opportunity which climate change has given us and put the land to productive use, growing grapes instead of hops.
Wholly Hollingbourne
Nestled at the foot of the North Downs which provide a stunning backdrop to our vines, we are committed to producing fine English wine from the grapes grown solely in our very special village, Hollingbourne.
Nurturing Nature
Protecting the beautiful locality in which Penn Oast Vineyard is based is at the heart of our business. We have worked hard to create an environment where wildlife can flourish. Throughout the summer months a wide variety of butterflies and insect life live in the headland and the hedges surrounding the vines. The vineyard provides a safe haven for our resident wild hares which are regularly seen hopping between the vines. Buzzards and other birds of prey are seen above the vineyard on a daily basis.
Our rescue animals, which include chickens and a turkey, live in the vineyard and if you happen to pass by you will almost certainly see our rescue dogs out in the vineyard with us as we work.
Cultivating a Legacy
After two decades at Penn Oast we are firmly rooted in our community. The vineyard is very much a family affair. Our daughters have been involved in the running of the vineyard from day one and get stuck in with the seasonal tasks. We hope that we have established a vineyard which will grow and be productive for many years to come and that its legacy can be enjoyed by those who come to know and love the wine that we produce.