Weds 1st July 2026
Members of the Wealden Business Group were treated to an engaging and insightful presentation at this morning’s breakfast meeting, featuring John Smith, the passionate new co-owner of Woodchurch Wine Estate. Transitioning from a successful career as a computer scientist, John’s journey into viticulture began a decade ago during a memorable Kent wine tour visiting local benchmarks like Gusbourne, Chapel Down, and Charles Palmer, where he fell in love with the personal stories and faces behind the bottles. Fast forward to just three months ago, John and his partners took the reins as the proud new guardians of Woodchurch. Established in 2009, this multi-award-winning 12-acre single estate is nestled on a picturesque south-facing slope looking over Romney Marsh towards the English Channel, where it carefully cultivates Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and Bacchus grapes to craft exceptional still and sparkling wines.
During his talk, John revealed that operating a modern vineyard is akin to managing “seven businesses in one,” encompassing a working farm, an e-commerce shop, a tasting bar, a full-service restaurant, on-site and off-site events, and an exclusive subscription wine club. This multifaceted, low-intervention approach enables Woodchurch to drive an impressive 80% of its sales directly to consumers who visit for curated wine flights and artisanal local dining. John contextualized this entrepreneurial strategy within a thriving regional viticulture boom: Kent now boasts 120 vineyards—with 50 producing their own commercial labels—all fuelled by the UK’s position as the world’s fifth-largest consumer of sparkling wine. The exceptional local geography and unique geology, particularly the nutrient-rich Wealden clay, provide a perfect terroir that has inspired a proposed Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for Weald of Kent sparkling wine.
Operating with a dedicated team of three permanent staff, the estate currently features six distinct wines (including three signature sparklers) and secured top regional honours by winning “Best Wine in Kent” three years ago. Looking ahead, John shared exciting plans to add a red wine to their portfolio, while candidly discussing the daily agricultural challenges of managing pests and adapting to variable English daylight. He highlighted how the estate actively embraces emerging consumer trends toward organic practices and lower-alcohol alternatives, leaving nature to find its own balance in the fields. Concluding on an uplifting note, John praised the strong spirit of collaboration shared among Kentish wine producers and the vital training support provided by viticulture courses at Plumpton College, leaving our members thoroughly inspired by the vibrant future ahead for Woodchurch Wine Estate.
Find out more and buy their wines at https://woodchurchwine.co.uk/
