Champagne Taittinger’s project in Kent, Domaine Evremond, has received planning approval to build a winery and visitor centre
Domaine Evremond, in Chilham, Kent, is headed up by Pierre-Emmanuel Taittinger, Champagne Taittinger, and its UK partner Hatch Mansfield.
The partnership's plans for the construction of the new winery and visitor centre have now been approved by Ashford Borough Council.
‘We can confirm that Domaine Evremond has received planning permission to build a winery and visitor centre in Chilham,’ said Hatch Mansfield managing director Patrick McGrath. ‘This marks a key milestone for us and the long journey that started five years ago continues as we work through the process with further approvals to follow and different stages of work to be completed before building can commence at the wine estate. This is all very good news and there is plenty more work to be done.’
The site was originally acquired in 2015, while the first vines – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier – were planted two years later, in 2017. Further vines were planted in 2019 and 2020, and more planting is planned in the future.
The winery is said to have been designed ‘to meet the needs of the wine-making process, whilst limiting its impact within the surrounding landscape… the building been conceived to reflect the character and material palette of the Kent Downs while also incorporating significant environmental and biodiversity gains’.
A date for the start of the building works hasn’t been released yet.