The Vinify Podcast

This week’s guest is Josh Donaghay-Spire, Head Winemaker at Chapel Down, the Kent producer that describes itself as England’s leading wine producer and has earned major international recognition, including a Decanter World Wine Awards Best in Show for its Rosé. In this episode, we explore why English sparkling wine is no longer a curiosity, but a serious category in its own right. Josh explains how Kent’s chalk soils, cool maritime climate, and long growing season shape a style defined by precision, freshness, and aging potential. We also discuss how England compares with Champagne, why the differences matter more than the similarities, and how Chapel Down is mapping and farming new vineyard sites across Kent to understand a still-young wine region from the ground up.The conversation also goes deep on Kit’s Coty, Chapel Down’s standout single-vineyard site, where Chardonnay has become the basis for both still and sparkling wines. Along the way, Josh talks about dosage, acidity, reserve wines, vintage variation, innovation in the cellar, and why a young region like England may have more freedom to experiment than more established appellations.