Discovering local produce can be an absolute joy and Kent certainly ticks the boxes if you enjoy the odd tipple. Whether you love wine, beer, cider or fruit juice, Kent has some gems when it comes to local producers who are keen to welcome visitors of all interest levels from beginners to connoisseurs. Here's a selection of attractions that you could visit as part of a 'Kentish drinking tour'.

Enjoy FREE wine and cider tastings at Biddenden Vineyards
Biddenden Vineyards is Kent's oldest commercial vineyard, established by the Barnes family in 1969. Eleven varieties of grapes are grown at Biddenden to produce White, Red, Rosé and Quality Sparkling wines. Traditional Kentish ciders have also been made at Biddenden for over 20 years together with farm pressed apple and pear juices.

Visitors are welcome to stroll around the 23 acres of vines, set in the beautiful Kentish countryside with two routes marked out around the vineyard to follow at your leisure. Guests can see the presses and bottling line in the winery and then head over to the shop to enjoy FREE tastings of wines, ciders and apple & pear juices. If you'd like a more in depth experience of Biddenden, they also run FREE guided tours throughout the year.

Explore the orchards of Brogdale Collections
Exploring Brogdale's fruit orchards is a real joy. The orchards are full of fruit trees including apples, pears, plums, cherries, cobnuts, strawberries and quinces. They run guided tours so that you can be taken around the orchards tasting your favourite fruits as you go. Their tour guides have a wealth of knowledge to share on the historical background to the fruit varieties in season and they offer tastings while you explore.

Tastings vary with the seasons but it's certainly worth looking out for their festivals where they have lots of activities taking place. Upcoming festivals include their Cider and Apple festivals taking place in September and October respectively.

Enjoy great wines at The Chapel Down Winery
Tenterden is the home of England's leading premium wine producer. Designed and built by local artisans, using the materials used in the winemaking process and set in landscaped grounds, including over 22 acres of vineyards, the winery gives English wine a home to be proud of.

If you fancy a gentle stroll around the grounds to take in the old Herb Garden and the vineyards, visitors are free to do so and there are even vineyard maps and trails to help you find your way around. If however, you want to get more involved, they offer guided tours which explain all about the winemaking process and what makes the Chapel Down wines so great. Tastings are available 7 days a week in their Wine and Food Store (10am - 5pm).

If you feel the need to decamp for longer (and why wouldn't you), you might want to pay a visit to ‘The Swan’, their newly refurbished restaurant. It serves great value, locally sourced English meals throughout the day and has a bar with terrace for you to relax in.

Visit Shepherd Neame Visitor Centre - Britain's oldest brewer
Take a guided tour of Shepherd Neame – Britain’s oldest brewer. The award-winning Visitor Centre is set in a beautifully-restored medieval hall house and, from here, you can join a guided tour which will take you through the heart of this busy working brewery, to see how beer is made from barley to bottle and from hop to hand-pump!

See the traditional mash tuns; taste natural mineral water from the brewery’s well; try some malted barley; smell locally-grown Kentish hops; see bygone delivery vehicles and step into a recreated cooper’s workshop. And once that's all done, there's some liquid refreshment waiting at a fascinating tutored tasting of their Kentish ales and speciality lagers. Tours run most days - advance booking recommended.

SPECIAL OFFER - To celebrate their GOLD Award at the national enjoyEngland Awards for excellence, the brewery is offering Kent Attractions web users a 20% discount off daytime brewery tours. Advance booking is strongly recommended. Please telephone 01795 542285 to book and quote "Kent Attractions Offer"