Wine lovers will be able to sample the best of Kent when 16 vineyard owners showcase their wares this month.

The Canterbury Wine Festival 2025 on May 16 and 17 will bring together all the producers at the city’s Westgate Hall for a celebration of the county’s produce, where visitors can get to taste more than 70 wines.

Among them will be England’s biggest producer, Chapel Down, which last year reported a huge slump in profits, and Gusbourne, which in 2023/24, similarly, saw its revenues fall.

Yet Tenterden-based Chapel Down is still pushing ahead with its plans to relocate to a new £32 million winery at the Canterbury Business Park which has been bogged down by planning legal challenges.

The company expects a decision this summer.

Stephen Skelton, a Master of Wine who planted the very first vines for Chapel Down, says a mix of the cost-of-living crisis, the 25% cumulative inflation since 2018, the rise in the price of energy, plus rising interest rates have all raised the cost of wine production, nibbling away at margins and have reduced net income as never before.

He added: “Currently, what is being harvested and bottled is around three to four times the amount of wine being sold. Taken together, these factors paint a somewhat negative picture - too much wine, not enough sales and cash getting tighter.”

But the festival hopes to bring some fizz back to the industry where there are still some good news stories.

For example, making its first appearance will be Domaine Evremond - a new sparkling wine created by France’s historic and world-renowned Champagne house Taittinger and Hatch Mansfield on the slopes of Chilham.

Also celebrating will be Chartham Vineyard - a small family producer which has just been awarded a Gold Medal and 'Wine of the Year UK' at the London International Wine Competition for its Blanc de Blancs 2021.

Owners Richard and Roz Goodenough say they are delighted to have secured the accolade in the face of such strong opposition.

They will be exhibiting at the festival alongside other producers, such as Barnsole, Biddenden, Brabourne, Brenley Wine, Domaine Evremond, Gusbourne, Heppington, Nine Oaks, Oastwood Wine, Simpsons Wine Estate, Warehorne, Wayfarer, Woodchurch, Woolton Farm and the Wine Garden of England (Balfour, Chapel Down, Squerryes, Westwell, Yotes Court).

English wine specialist Corkk, based in Burgate, will also present a selection of local independent wines, and tasting pairings will be offered by Oyster Buoys and Cheesemakers of Canterbury.

Master of Wine Clive Barlow, who will be presenting masterclasses, says last year’s festival was a sell-out success.

“The Canterbury Wine Festival has developed into one of the top showcases of English wines,” he says. “It brings together the wine community of growers, winemakers and wine lovers to celebrate the vinous treasures of our county.

“It is a great opportunity to taste the many wines of recent vintages, both still and sparkling, and to talk to the growers who create them.”

The Westgate Hall venue is also celebrating its 10th anniversary since it was saved for the community after the council wanted to bulldoze it for car parking.

Canterbury Cathedral’s Canon Treasurer, the Rev Andrew Dodd will open the festival on Friday, May 16 with a blessing of wine and grapes as symbols of Canterbury’s role as the ‘spiritual home of English wine’ in a short service in the Cathedral nave.

It will be followed by a celebratory procession from the Cathedral to Westgate Hall, marking the centuries-old importance of wine for the city and its districts with a new tradition.

Wine lovers can choose from three sessions for which tickets cost £45 each and include all tastings from the vineyards.

They are from 7pm to 10 pm on the Friday, and two sessions on Saturday - midday to 3pm and 4pm to 7pm.