Cobham House Vineyard, Cobham, Kent, United Kingdom

Cobham House Vineyard is a family-run, 29-acre (12-hectare) vineyard in the historic village of Cobham, Kent. Established in 2021, the vineyard brings together four generations of the Sengupta family, united by an ambition to make exceptional English wines while caring for the land and opening up opportunities for others.

The story began in 1991, when Kim and Pallab Sengupta moved to the French countryside with their three young children. Living near the Champagne region inspired a love of vineyards and a dream of one day planting their own. Thirty years later, that dream took root in their home county of Kent.

Today, the family works alongside vineyard manager Martin Winslade, viticulture consultancy Vinescapes, and winemaker Emma Rice. Set on gentle, south-facing slopes in the North Kent Downs, the vineyard’s chalk-rich soils allow grapes to ripen slowly while retaining their freshness. Cobham House has become known for its rosé, made from hand-picked Gamay grapes. Its debut 2024 vintage won the Best Still Rosé trophy at the 2025 WineGB Awards, and the 2025 vintage received a Gold medal at the 2026 WineGB Awards. The family is also developing a still Chardonnay and a still red Gamay from its own grapes.

At Cobham House, the family believes the quality of its wine depends on the health of the land. Grasses and cover crops grow between the vine rows, protecting the ground from erosion, improving soil structure, and returning organic matter to the soil. The cover crop’s deep roots improve soil structure and help water soak into the ground, improving soil health, while the vegetation provides habitat for beneficial insects and other wildlife among the vines. Wildflowers and insect life are actively encouraged, and the vineyard is managed as an ecosystem in which the vines, soil, and surrounding wildlife all receive attention.

Throughout the growing season, the team carefully manages vine shoots and foliage so sunlight reaches the fruit and air circulates around the vines, helping grapes ripen and reducing the damp conditions that can foster disease. Regular monitoring allows the team to make timely decisions, while building soil organic matter and maintaining ground cover help to conserve soil moisture and strengthen the vineyard’s resilience to changing weather. The Gamay grapes are hand-harvested, so the fruit can be carefully selected for the rosé.

Nurturing the next generation is an important part of the business. Through the Cobham House Scholarship Award, established in partnership with Plumpton College, the family provides £2,000 bursaries to eligible UK-resident students from minority ethnic backgrounds studying wine production, wine business, viticulture, and oenology, helping to widen access to careers in English wine. The vineyard also supports an apprentice, offering the chance to learn through hands-on experience among the vines.

For the Sengupta family, Certified Regenerative by AGW offers a way to have their management practices and commitment independently assessed and clearly communicated, and provides a framework for continued improvement.

“With seven grandchildren, sustainability is deeply personal to us,” says Pallab Sengupta, Cobham House Vineyard’s co-founder. “We want to leave them healthy land and a thriving natural environment, and to build a family business they can be proud of. AGW’s emphasis on soil health, biodiversity, people, and continuous improvement reflects what matters to us and how we want to develop Cobham House.”

For customers in the UK and beyond, the Certified Regenerative by AGW mark provides independent assurance that Cobham House Vineyard is managing its vineyard in a way that delivers more biodiverse ecosystems, healthier soils, cleaner air and water, and better outcomes for workers and the surrounding environment.

Cobham House wines are available to order online via their website, and can be found at The Connaught, Annabel’s, and Cornus in London, and aboard the Belmond British Pullman.

The first Cobham House wines to carry the Certified Regenerative by AGW logo are expected in 2027. Check the AGW directory for details.

Follow Cobham House Vineyard on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or contact info@cobhamhouse.co.uk.