Meopham Valley Vineyard Sunday 16 August 2026

Eight Wines, One Wonderful Afternoon

Review by Philip Smith 22.08.26 This was the last vineyard tour ran as part of the Salisbury Dining Society

There are wine tastings, and then there are experiences that stay with you long after the last glass has been poured. Our visit to Meopham Valley Vineyard in Kent on Sunday 16 August 2026 was very much the latter.

Set among the beautiful countryside of the North Downs, Meopham Valley Vineyard is a family-run vineyard covering around 25 acres. The vineyard sits on an east-facing slope overlooking the picturesque Happy Valley, creating a wonderfully peaceful setting for an afternoon of wine tasting.

We arrived looking forward to discovering some English wines, but the afternoon turned out to be about much more than what was in the glass. From the moment we arrived, there was a genuine sense of hospitality, enthusiasm and pride in what the family has created.

The Story Behind the Vineyard

Before we began tasting, we heard about the history of Meopham Valley Vineyard and the family behind it. That introduction really added something to the experience.

The vineyard was originally established in 1991, and Surjit and Surrinder Bassi took over in 2015 after having worked closely with the previous owner. Their passion for the vineyard and for English wine was obvious throughout the afternoon.

Rather than simply being handed eight glasses of wine and told what we were drinking, we were taken through the story behind the vineyard, the grapes and the winemaking process. It made each wine feel much more connected to the place where it had been produced.

Eight Wines to Discover

The highlight, of course, was the tasting itself — eight wines from Meopham Valley Vineyard, giving us the opportunity to experience the range and character of the vineyard.

More Than Just a Wine Tasting

What made our visit particularly memorable was the atmosphere.

There was no feeling of being hurried through the experience. Instead, we had time to listen, ask questions, taste the wines and enjoy the surroundings.

Recent visitors have similarly described the experience as informative and relaxed, with the eight-wine tasting accompanied by the vineyard's history and the family's hospitality.

And that family element really does make a difference. Meopham Valley Vineyard feels like somewhere where the people behind the wine genuinely want you to enjoy yourself and understand what makes their vineyard special.

The Perfect Kent Afternoon

By the end of the tasting, we had experienced eight different wines, learnt more about English wine and the history of the vineyard, and spent a wonderful afternoon in the Kent countryside.

Meopham Valley Vineyard is a reminder that a great wine-tasting experience isn't just about finding your favourite bottle. It's about the setting, the people, the stories and the opportunity to slow down and enjoy something properly.

For us, Sunday 16 August was exactly that.

Eight wines, beautiful surroundings, fascinating stories and wonderful hospitality — a memorable afternoon at Meopham Valley Vineyard that we would happily repeat.

If you're looking for a relaxed and personal wine-tasting experience in Kent, Meopham Valley Vineyard is certainly worth putting on your list.