As we celebrate 20 years since Gusbourne’s debut harvest, we reflect on the stories each vintage holds – and invite you to discover where they begin.
Winemakers have a peculiar way of moving through time. Each year becomes a vintage: a story of wind and weather, fortune and foresight, care and craft. Twenty years after our first harvest, we have a collection of stories waiting in the cellar. Each bottle is a tribute to the year it was made.
For 2026, the tale is one of sunshine. Our vines in Kent flourished through long, bright days, bringing one of the earliest harvests in Gusbourne’s history. The Pinot Noir arrived full of colour and character. Head Winemaker Mary Bridges describes the young wines as having “a lot of big personalities in the mix.”
We don’t yet know quite how those personalities will develop. That anticipation is part of the pleasure of vintage wine. In the cool, calm of the cellar, the wines gain depth and complexity, carrying something of this summer into the years ahead.
A bottle belongs first to the year that made it. Then, when the cork is drawn, it becomes part of another story. Over 20 vintages, Gusbourne wines have been opened to mark beginnings, triumphs, reunions and ordinary days made extraordinary by the people around the table. We’re delighted to have supported Chichester Festival Theatre this season, helping to celebrate a few more of those shared occasions.
To experience the story at its source, come and visit us in Appledore, Kent. Walk between the vines, take in the landscape that shapes our wines and taste vintages born of different summers. Over a leisurely lunch or a guided tasting, you can discover how the character of a year finds its way into your glass.
In years to come, our 2026 wines will be ready to enjoy. For now, we’d love to welcome you to the place where their story began – and help you make a few memories of your own.
Explore our vineyard tours, tastings and dining experiences here. Or, discover more about the 2026 harvest here.
