Balfour Winery Review

If you’re looking for an unforgettable day trip from London, you may have come across Balfour Winery. After visiting recently for the Balfour Wine Estate Tour and Tasting, I thought I’d share my honest opinion about whether it’s worth the £70 price tag.

I visited with a friend for a wine weekend, and although I enjoy a glass of wine now and then, I definitely wouldn’t call myself a wine expert. This Balfour Winery review focuses on what the experience is actually like, what you’ll learn, and whether I’d recommend it to someone looking for a relaxing countryside escape.

Getting to Balfour Winery from London

One of the best things about visiting Balfour Winery is how easy it is to reach from London. We caught the train from London Charing Cross to Marden Station, which took around an hour. From there, Balfour provides a free shuttle bus between the station and the vineyard every 30 minutes. You don’t even need to book the shuttle in advance, so the journey feels completely stress-free.

First Impressions

Before arriving, I thought the £70 price was reasonable, especially considering the tour included a guided vineyard walk and six wine tastings. The vineyard is in the middle of the Kent countryside, surrounded by greenery and peaceful woodland. Instead of feeling commercial, everything felt calm and authentic. There were only a handful of people sitting outside when we arrived at around 12:45pm, so the entire estate had a relaxed atmosphere. The staff greeted us warmly, and check-in took a couple of minutes.

The Vineyard Tour

The first half of the experience involved a guided walk through the vineyard. Our guide, a Spanish woman who has lived in England for many years, had a good sense of humour and explained everything in a way that felt interesting rather than overwhelming.

One interesting thing I learned was that grape skins determine the colour of wine. The guide explained that when the skins oxidise, they produce orange wine. I haven’t tried orange wine before, but plan to during my trip abroad next month.

The vineyard walk lasted around an hour, which felt like the perfect amount of time. We never felt rushed, and the tour moved at a comfortable pace. Although we didn’t visit the production area, we spent plenty of time walking through the vines while learning about the estate and how wine is produced. We also got to see an area full of apples, as this vineyard also produces cider.

The Wine Tasting Experience

After the tour, we headed to an outdoor marquee and sampled six wines:

• Chardonnay (White)
• Bacchus (White)
• Pinot Noir (Red)
• Brut (Sparkling)
• Gold (Sparkling)
• Brut Rosé (Sparkling)

Before tasting the wines, our guide explained the best way to do it. She taught us to swirl the wine in the cup, then to smell it using each nostril separately before taking a big sip and swirling it around your mouth to experience all the flavours.

Everyone’s taste in wine is different, so I thought I’d share my honest favourites. My favourite white wine was definitely the Bacchus. It had an elderflower note and tasted fresh. But my friend wasn’t keen on it at all. When it came to the sparkling wines, the gold was the most popular choice across the whole group. Our guide explained that many British people prefer Gold because we generally enjoy slightly sweeter flavours. She then explained that many people in Spain tend to favour brut because their palate leans more towards savoury flavours.

Food and Facilities

There is a restaurant, but nothing there really appealed to either of us, so we decided to eat elsewhere. While I can’t comment on the quality of the food itself, I do think the menu could benefit from offering a little more variety. I am saying this as someone who isn’t a picky eater. But on a more positive note…the facilities were good. The toilets were clean and beautifully decorated, and the wine shop has a good selection if you want to take a bottle home.

Final Thoughts… Is Balfour Winery Worth It?

It’s definitely worth it! Both my friend and I agreed that we felt like the price was worth it. It’s also very convenient that they pick you up from the train station for free. If you’re looking for a peaceful countryside getaway, this is definitely an easy one to do from London.