May saw the Automate UK event team host the Denbies factory wine tour at Denbies Wine Estate situated on the North Downs, within an area of natural beauty.

Members were treated to an early continental breakfast at the estate before embarking on an outdoor train tour of the vineyard. Denbies wine estate comprises over 627 acres, 265 acres of which are planted. The vineyard was planted in 1986 to capitalise on the Champagne-like soil profile and aspect. The south-facing slopes sit in a protected valley, allowing for optimum heat and sunshine exposure, enabling the estate to produce 525 tonnes of fruit, making some of the finest sparkling and table wines in Europe.

Following the outdoor tour, members were shown the grape picking machinery and the bottling plant. Seeing the wine making process from grape, all the way through to packaging and labelling for distribution gave our members a sense of the volume of product that Denbies deliver.

No wine factory tour would be complete without a tasting session. Denbies wine competes on an international level, so it was only right that Automate UK members tasted a gold, award winning sparkling white wine, and an equally successful English rosé. Denbies red wine is only made in the best of seasons from 100% hand-picked grapes, so, it was a treat to taste the Pinot Noir from 2022, a spectacular vintage.

Members then enjoyed a delicious lunch together in the garden rooms; where they  could network, and reflect on the tour.

For more information about our upcoming events visit https://www.automate-uk.com/what-we-do/events-exhibitions/view-all-events/