Vines & Wines: Birchden Vineyard hosts the Food & Drink Networking Club

The Food and Drink Networking Club met for its latest event on Wednesday 4 June hosted by Birchden Vineyard.

Guests spent a sunny evening at Birchden Vineyard in the delightful East Sussex countryside, where they were welcomed with a glass of Birchden’s pinot rose named ‘The Foxy Vixen’, and later enjoyed their sparkling rose and bacchus. The wine was paired with a delicious grazing board consisting of various charcuterie, cheeses, fruits and some lemon drizzle cake for dessert.

Thomson Snell & Passmore’s Oliver Butler, a Partner from the food and drink sector team, formally welcomed guests and introduced the evening, explaining that the club’s purpose is to bring local businesses in the food and drink sector together to make connections and to share knowledge and expertise.

We next heard from Andrea Lindeyer, co-owner of Birchden Vineyard with her husband Tom and his parents Ralph and Jane. Andrea introduced the story behind Birchden Vineyard which began in 2019 when they started to produce sparkling and still wines using three different types of grapes. Birchden Vineyard is committed to responsible and sustainable farming, in harmony with nature and the local community. Along with the wines, it also produces honey and apple juice.

Next up was Grace from Goupie who hosted a chocolate tasting table, which is owned by mother and daughter duo, Janet and Grace Simpson. Goupie is based in Goudhurst where they produce gluten-free and vegan friendly chocolate confectionery. Goupie chocolates are now stocked at various National Trust sites, as well as Liberty’s. Guests enjoyed samples of various different flavours of Goupie’s chocolates, including date and walnut, lemon meringue and hazelnut. As well as a special sample of a lavender chocolate that is currently in development.

The evening ended with Andrea taking guests on an idyllic tour around the vineyard where she explained the process of growing and pruning the vines, in addition to giving us a peek at their event spaces for private hire and dining, and their brand new Shepherd’s Hut.

The evening was a huge success and it was a pleasure to spend time with local food and drink businesses. If you work within the food and drink industry and would like to come along to our next event, then please email alisa.sweeney@ts-p.co.uk