What’s not to love – wine, pizza and a night under the stars at Tillingham vineyard

Did you know that the chalky soil in Kent and Sussex creates viticulture conditions very similar to the Champagne region of France and our increasingly warmer summers and milder winters has lead to a proliferation of vineyards popping up across the south east. Where once there were hops now there’s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.

Many English vineyards offer tours and tastings, Tilingham has taken this hospitality to the next level with a Michelin Green Star restaurant, there is also an outside wood-fired pizza oven housed under the old Dutch barn and you can even stay the night in one of 11 double bedrooms with views across the vineyard or surrounding woodland.

However, if you really want to get back to nature, I highly recommend sleeping under canvas. There are two bell tents tucked away at the farm, each with a private terrace, king size bed, a little log burner for cooler nights and yes, you even have your own outside compost toilet.

After an afternoon’s wine tasting and tour of the vineyards followed by a delicious pizza, we wandered along a winding path through beautiful wildflower planting to our extremely comfortable tent, lit the log burner and enjoyed a final glass of red under the stars. I woke to the sound of wood pigeons before heading back to the main building for an excellent farmhouse breakfast.

Tillingham is set amongst 70 acres of vineyards and farmland with glorious views. It specialises in natural wines and much of the produce used in the kitchen is grown in the garden. The farm is also home to goats, chickens and pigs.

Getting there – Tillingham vineyard is remote, I recommend driving although you can catch a train to Rye and take a taxi from there. Why not make a weekend of it and spend the following day exploring the beautiful beach at Camber Sands or the delightful, medieval town of Rye