The Old Rectory

Cary Wine Estate grows its vines on land that was once old cherry orchards, at The Old Rectory in Norton, near Faversham. The Cary family moved into the house in November 2019 and cleared the orchard for their first vineyard. The land between the Swale and the Kent Downs has been fruit-growing country for centuries, and the soils here are free-draining chalk. In May 2020, 8,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier were planted by GPS in the old orchard to make the Cherry Orchard vineyard. A second, the Cricket Pitch, followed in May 2022 with 4,000 vines. Across the estate there are wild flower meadows and mowing is kept to a minimum at certain times of year to encourage biodiversity.