Lord Foster and his team have designed plans for a UK winery being proposed in Kent.
How the proposed new winery could fit into the landscape.
(Image credit: Copyright holder: Foster & Partners)

Lord Foster’s architecture firm, Foster & Partners, has turned its focus to the UK winery scene after previously designing cellars at Château Margaux and Le Dôme in Bordeaux, as well as the Bodegas Portia winery in Ribera del Duero.

It has drawn up designs for a winemaking and tourism centre known as The Kentish Wine Vault, to be based near Cuxton in south-east England.

The Kentish Wine Vault, a proposed new winery with designs created by Foster & Partners.

An impression of the vat room at the proposed winery. Image copyright: Foster & Partners.
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

If built, the English wine facility could make between one and five million bottles of wine per year, according to Vineyard Farms, the group behind the project.

A public consultation on the plans was launched last month and a spokesperson for Vineyard Farms said the group intends to apply for planning permission.

Gary Smith, CEO of Vineyard Farms, said, ‘The Kentish Wine Vault will kickstart a revolution in the English wine industry. Our vision is to produce a domestic sparkling wine which is accessible to all, whilst matching the high-quality standards of European alternatives.’

The UK’s wine industry has been enjoying a boom period in recent years, with vineyard land rising rapidly and both sparkling and still wines scooping major awards.

Smith said the Kentish Wine Vault would create hundreds of jobs and that the team is committed to high environmental standards, as well as innovative design. The group said the project will deliver a ‘multi-million pound investment’ in the local economy.

New UK winery project designed by Foster & Partners for Kent.

The winery project will include new walking routes and habitat creation, said Vineyard Farms. Image copyright: Foster & Partners.
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

‘The wine making and bottling facility will be largely underground to minimise any visual impact on the surrounding area,’ said Smith in a statement released at the beginning of the public consultation period last month.

The group added that the new facility ‘will be operationally zero carbon’ and is set to included new planting and habitat creation, as well as a ‘green’ roof to help support biodiversity.

A view across the Kent vineyard landscape with an impression of a proposed new winery designed by Foster and Partners.

How the new winery could look next to the vineyards. Image copyright: Foster and Partners.
(Image credit: Credit Unknown)

Alongside the winery, there would also be a restaurant, tasting space and visitor centre at the venue.

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Chris Mercer
Chris Mercer

Chris Mercer is a Bristol-based freelance editor and journalist who spent nearly four years as digital editor of Decanter.com, having previously been Decanter’s news editor across online and print.

He has written about, and reported on, the wine and food sectors for more than 10 years for both consumer and trade media.

Chris first became interested in the wine world while living in Languedoc-Roussillon after completing a journalism Masters in the UK. These days, his love of wine commonly tests his budgeting skills.

Beyond wine, Chris also has an MSc in food policy and has a particular interest in sustainability issues. He has also been a food judge at the UK’s Great Taste Awards.