Whitewolfe Estates was founded by Clare Whitehead and Luke Wolfe, two friends who met studying oenology and viticulture at Plumpton College. They make remarkable Chardonnay from their 10-hectare ‘Whitewolfe’ vineyard that shows why Kit’s Coty, in Kent’s North Downs, is fast becoming one of England’s most sought-after wine regions.
 
The south-facing ‘Whitewolfe’ vineyard at the base of Blue Bell Hill has a micro-climate that helps protect against heavy rains. Weather fronts that approach from the River Medway (less than 1-kilometre southeast) split just before the vineyard and largely fall on land on either side, increasing the vineyard’s average temperature. Combined with chalk-rich soils that drain freely and retain heat, this results in a longer, more consistent ripening period during England’s unpredictable summers.
 
Clare and Luke planted the ’Whitewolfe’ vineyard in 2020 with seven Chardonnay clones, to express different characteristics of the site. Clones 95 and 76, which originate from Burgundy, are often used for sparkling winemaking in the UK. However, with the right care and attention, these clones can be ripened to produce wines with fine, elegant aromas and a rich, balanced structure reminiscent of Saint-Aubin or Cru Chablis. Clones such as 96 and 121 (also from Burgundy) provide more ‘typical’ Chardonnay characters with a lively freshness. Each block within the vineyard is managed according to the specifics of its clone.
 
As the ‘Whitewolfe’ vineyard is still relatively new, Clare and Luke are experimenting in the cellar to discover the best techniques for the site, varying yeasts, press fractions and oak barrels. The resulting wines offer distinctive and varied expressions of the vineyard while still conveying a specific sense of place. ‘KC1’, predominantly made from clones 76, 95 and 121, is fine-tuned and elegant with complex notes of citrus fruit, flinty minerality and crushed oyster shells. Meanwhile, ‘KC2’, made primarily from clones 95 and 121, is more powerful, with a richly textured palate of intense citrus, lemon curd and nuanced, savoury undertones.
 
Matthew Jukes tasted in August last year and wrote the following for Vineyard Magazine:
 
“The launch of the Whitewolfe trio of Chardonnays is one of the most exciting moments of 2024. Clare Whitehead and Luke Wolfe are two great friends who met in 2009 while studying oenology and viticulture at Plumpton College. They can be justifiably chuffed with their incredible efforts over the last six years since they started pursuing their dream. Established in 2019, Clare and Luke’s vineyard is an exceptional piece of turf... Their vineyard is a neolithic site situated in Kent’s North Downs, and it yields awesome Chardonnay fruit from its young vines. Luke’s viticultural talents (he is a highly sought-after viti-consultant), coupled with Clare’s marketing and communications acumen and Ben Smith’s mercurial winemaking (at Itasca Wines) have resulted in a genuine dream team... All three wines draw on the KC initials, standing for Kits Coty, which cleverly gives these bottles their two-letter GPS locator. The label design is stunning, as you can see, and I know, having spoken at length to Clare about her vision, that they have strained every sinew and used every second of their combined experiences in the wine trade to make these wines as impactful as possible... With the staggering quality of this thrilling trio, I imagine that they will start to increase their production exponentially before too long, and I can see myself signing up for a standing order, too!”
Matthew Jukes, August 2024

“This wine has a perfume and flavour that set my palate alight. I have never tasted a Chardonnay quite like this, as it is so loaded with crushed seashells and nerve-tingling freshness it rearranges your central nervous system while romancing your taste buds in a spellbinding fashion. Firm, statuesque, and with stellar length, the fruit is so commanding that oak nuance is nowhere to be seen. This apparent barrel invisibility is so clever because it allows the fruit the chance to revel in the spotlight, showing every inch of its undoubted quality. If this is what they can do with their very first vintage, I can see I will have to dig deep in my score pouch in search of a perfect number before too long!”
Matthew Jukes