Canterbury Wine Festival

Sip and celebrate the splendour of Kent wines at Westgate Hall’s Canterbury Wine Festival™.

Immerse yourself in the world of Kent’s award-winning wines – meet our renowned vineyards, from all corners of our county, taste over 45 wines and take your favourites home, for an unforgettable wine-tasting experience. 

Talk one-to-one with the producers making Kent one of the most dynamic and thrilling wine regions in the UK, including Simpsons Wine Estate, Balfour, Barnsole, Biddenden, Brabourne, Chartham, Heppington, Nine Oaks, Terlingham, Brenley Wine, Wayfarer Wines, Woodchurch Wine, and the Wine Garden of England. English wine specialist Corkk will also present a selection of local homegrown wines, with Cheesemakers of Canterbury and Oyster Buoys providing tasting pairings to buy on the Saturday. For aspiring wine aficionados, expand your knowledge with a 45-minute wine-tasting Masterclass with wine expert Clive Barlow Master of Wine.

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The Festival is your passport to discovering the diversity and splendour of Kent wines, a unique experience under one roof where you can sample the best of Kent’s wide-ranging viticulture.

Choose from three sessions, including our new wine lovers’ session.

• NEW ‘Kent’s Finest’ Wine Lovers’ PREMIUM session
  Friday 17th May 2024, 2:30 – 5:30pm
  Be the first to enjoy the festival experience. During this intimate session, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the vineyards more extensively, spending more time with each producer. Master of Wine Clive Barlow will give an exclusive ‘Kent’s Finest’ Masterclass, featuring a specially curated selection of Kent’s distinguished award-winning wines, only available for tasting during this session. Plus enjoy a Cheesemakers of Canterbury platter, included in your ticket.
  Tickets £80pp

• Saturday 18th May 2024
  12 – 3pm / 4 – 7pm
  Discover the diversity and splendour of Kent wines, all in one place in Canterbury’s city centre at Westgate Hall. Sip, sample and buy the best in English wine.Choose from one of two three-hour sessions: session 1: 12 – 3pm or session 2: 4 – 7pmExpand your knowledge by adding a 45-minute festival wine-tasting Masterclass with wine expert Clive Barlow MW to your experience (RRP £20pp). Masterclass times: during first session 12:15 – 1pm, during second session 4:15 – 5pm
  Tickets: £45pp
  Festival and Masterclass ticket: £65pp

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Thank you to our sponsors: Headline Sponsor Burgess Hodgson Accountants, Key Partner Girlings Solicitors, and Supporters Corkk English Wine Specialist and Canterbury BID.

*Please taste responsibly. Spittoons will be available throughout the event.

Make a day of it…
Canterbury is one of the most vibrant, historic cities in the country. Make more of your Festival experience, explore our home at Visit Canterbury. 

Getting here

Our address is Westgate Hall, Westgate Hall Road, Canterbury, Kent, CT1 2BT. Westgate Hall is close to all major road and bus routes to Canterbury city centre, and adjacent to the 190-space Pound Lane car park (charges apply – the car park is owned and managed by Canterbury City Council, postcode CT1 2BZ – please drink responsibly).

Canterbury is under 60 minutes from London by train with Southeastern’s High Speed service. Southeastern runs trains between London and Kent and parts of East Sussex, including the UK’s only domestic high-speed train line with Javelin trains travelling at high speeds up to 140mph from London St Pancras International. Southeastern trains stop at Ashford International, Canterbury, Chartham, Sevenoaks, Tunbridge Wells and Folkestone all close to many of the wonderful vineyards featured at Canterbury Wine festival™. 

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Clive Barlow is one of only 418 Masters of Wine in the world, an international wine judge and educator and has a long connection with the English wine industry. He has experience in both the Kent wine industry and the wider wine community, as well as running significant wine events. Clive has worked as a consultant for several companies such as Waitrose, Sotheby’s, Whitbread and the Institute of Masters of Wine, among others. Clive’s Press Wine Services is Canterbury’s longest-running independent wine merchant, based at the award-winning Goods Shed.

Headline Sponsor: Burgess Hodgson

“We are delighted to be the headline sponsor for the Canterbury Wine Festival in the heart of the South East wine region.” Amanda Selmon, Head of Marketing and Communications

Key Partner: Girlings Solicitors

“The profile of English wine continues to impress, rivalling established and prominent vineyards across the world. We look forward to toasting Kentish wine and to celebrating this regional success story by showing our ongoing support of the Canterbury Wine Festival.” Lesley Rushton, Managing Partner, Girlings Solicitors

Supporters: Canterbury BID and Corkk English Wine Specialist

The Canterbury Wine Festival™ is a Westgate Community Trust (Canterbury) Ltd project. Images: Carlos Dominguez | Visit Canterbury | Simpsons Wine Estate @ Thomas Alexander | Heppington Vineyard | Biddenden Vineyard

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