We hope you all had a wonderful festive season. After the pre-Christmas rush, we were very much hunkering down at the Oast House with our family and friends. We love this time of year and the enforced pause that Christmas brings, and spending time all together is the best part (though the kids would of course disagree and say it’s the presents!).

We had a chance to reflect on a very busy December, when the farm was buzzing with a festive atmosphere. The Tasting Den was busy, the coffee truck was up and running and gorgeous Christmas trees were on sale at the barn.

In November, we also launched our wines at the Wealden Times Festive Fair, it was truly rewarding to introduce our produce to so many people, to tell the story of the vineyard and see them enjoying the wine. We hope to see lots of you again here this Spring and Summer for tours and tastings.

Now that we’re back into the swing of things in January, we have a packed schedule ahead and lots of exciting things underway. We’re visiting the winery to check on our 2021 Blanc de Noirs, (launch date TBC, these things simply cannot be rushed!), the Vixens are returning very soon to begin work on the vines pruning and pulling out, and we’re getting everything prepped to welcome more visitors in 2025.

We’ve also been labelling and jarring more Bees Knees Birchden Honey, as it has been incredibly popular, which is so exciting. Stocks are now replenished for 2025. 

We collect the honey in small batches and pass it through a strainer leaving all the enzymes, vitamins and minerals intact. It’s very different to the heated (pasteurised) version you often find on the supermarket shelves, and we can certainly taste the difference. It’s great stirred into hot drinks to help fend off coughs and colds this season… spring is just around the corner, but until then stay warm and cosy!