Vineyard owned by Champagne house opens first bottle

The wine produced at the site is called Domaine Evremond

A new wine estate has officially opened its first bottle in Kent, nearly a decade after the land was bought by a well-known Champagne producer.

Champagne Taittinger, along with its UK agency and partner Hatch Mansfield, bought the land in Chilham in 2015 and planted the first vines in 2017.

The 380-acre site, a former apple and pear orchard, has been called Domaine Evremond, after Charles de Saint-Evremond - said to be the first ambassador of Champagne in England.

The estate was officially opened by Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, on Thursday.

Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, co-founder of the vineyard, told BBC South East the project was "a launch of friendship between England and France".

He added: "It is more than exciting, it is moving for me. During the launch, I cried."

There are 150 acres of vines as well as a winery at the site, with this year's harvest due to begin in the next few weeks.

Champagne Taittinger and its UK agency and partner Hatch Mansfield bought the land in Chilham in 2015

Vineyard owners in other parts of England have previously told the BBC that the wet but warm weather this year has been prime climate for mildews and fungal diseases on their crops.

However, they also added that grapes failing to grow to their full size could "give a greater concentration of flavour".

Vitalie Taittinger, the president of Champagne Taittinger, said: "We have to improve our habits and change the calendar.

"What we are doing now is what we might not do in ten years but we will work with nature."

The site officially opened in Chilham on Thursday

Domaine Evremond is also the name of the wine produced at the site.

English sparkling wine cannot be called Champagne because the name is protected for wines harvested and produced in the Champagne region of France.

However, the Kent vineyards are on chalky soil similar to that found in the Champagne region.

The first bottles go on sale in the spring at £50 each.