There was a time when the phrase “corporate away day” conjured images of lukewarm coffee in a hotel conference suite and a trust exercise involving Post-it notes and reluctant enthusiasm. Thankfully, things have moved on. Increasingly, businesses are swapping grey carpets for green space, and few places make the case for that better than Balfour Winery in Kent.
Set among rolling vineyards in the Garden of England, Balfour has quietly become one of the leading names in English wine, producing both still and sparkling wines that have helped cement the UK’s reputation as a serious player in the world of viticulture.
The sparkling rosé, in particular, has become something of a calling card: bright, elegant and confidently modern, the Balfour Brut Rosé won gold at the International Wine Masters and went on to become the first English sparkling wine to be poured in British Airways’s first-class service.
But the wine is only part of the story. Balfour’s vineyards and estate have also emerged as a compelling setting for corporate events, team-building days and client entertaining. And unlike many “experiences” dreamed up in meeting rooms by people who use the phrase “blue-sky thinking” without irony, this one has genuine appeal. There are vineyard tours, guided tastings, long lunches overlooking the vines, and enough fresh Kent air to reset even the most screen-fatigued team.
The beauty of a winery as a corporate destination is that it manages to feel both indulgent and useful. Conversations flow more easily with a glass in hand. Teams relax into themselves. Clients tend to remember the afternoon they spent among vines rather better than they recall yet another hotel function room with suspiciously echoing acoustics.
Then there’s the gifting side of things. In a world of forgettable hampers and branded merchandise destined for the back of kitchen cupboards, a bottle of English sparkling wine feels thoughtful, modern and quietly assured. Balfour’s range makes an especially strong gift for clients or colleagues: polished without being showy, celebratory without trying too hard.
Discover more at balfourwinery.com.
