Hop On Over To Biddenden Vineyard For Their Easter Bunny Hunt

Guest written by Kate Owen - follow her on Instagram at @girlinthedrink

I attended the Annual Easter Bunny Hunt at Biddenden, and the whole experience was sweet like chocolate!

Considered Kent’s original winery, Biddenden has been owned and run by the Barnes family since 1969, and the single estate vineyard now spans 23 acres of beautiful Wealden Kent countryside. Here, the second and third generations of the family work together to produce an array of award-winning white, rosé, red and English sparkling wines.

At Biddenden, Easter comes early with the Bunny Hunt running from the 7th - 19th of April. Young and old alike (in our party, we covered three generations) are invited to join the hunt for Peter and his friends, with promises of prizes for the whole family. 

We checked in at the Vineyard shop on arrival, and we were greeted by the lovely team of ladies on duty. They set us up with our map and our answer sheet, ready to get started on the bunny hunt. For the hunt itself, little ones are tasked with spotting 15 bunnies dotted around the vineyard and writing down each one's name. Meanwhile, the adults can indulge in a quiz made up of 15 questions in total, to challenge you before you’ve earned your prize.

The weather was fresh, so we didn’t hang around and got going straight away. I’m a regular to Kent’s vineyards, so I came prepared with my trusty welly boots, but they weren't needed as the sun was out and the sky was blue. The walk is about a 30-minute (45 minutes with a toddler), gently sloping ramble around the estate. The path is clearly marked on the map, and red arrows signpost the route. You will see rows and rows of vines, all showcasing different grape varieties, wild flowers, and there are apparently even some deer who have been spotted on the grounds. 

As you wander down the path, it’s easy to get distracted by the stunning vistas across the estate - but try to keep your eyes peeled for bunnies hiding in the grass! If you manage to find all of the bunnies' names, children are rewarded with a bottle of Biddenden Apple juice and a chocolate treat, whilst adults receive a bottle of Biddenden still wine and can enter a raffle to win a fantastic Easter hamper. 

The bunny hunt kept my daughter engaged throughout the walk, and she was hunting high and low, always keen to spot the next bunny on the path. Number 8 proved tricky to locate, but we tracked him down eventually. Meanwhile, the quiz was a mix of wine and Easter themed questions, all challenging in their own way and sparking a lively debate amongst our party.

The Easter Bunny Hunt is the perfect way to explore a vineyard in a fun family friendly way. As a wine enthusiast who has only recently discovered the wealth of wonderful vineyards Kent is blessed with, I would love to spend all my time hopping from Cellar Door to Cellar Door and sampling all the best bubbles! However, it can feel intimidating to bring your child with you, so it was such a delight to find a place that actively welcomes families to visit.

When we reached the end, we received our reward, and they had a brilliant Happy Easter sign and bunny ears to borrow to capture the perfect Easter photos. And let me tell you - the chocolate didn’t last long, and I don’t think the wine will either! 

All of the wines are produced only using grapes grown on the estate, picked by hand by the estate team and bottled onsite to ensure quality control under the watchful eye of the Barnes family. If you'd like to visit, you can join a tour, meet the winemaker or even make a weekend of it at The Grape Escape.

With the weather staying warm, we just had to stick around for a quick drink in the beautiful sun trap of a courtyard. I went for the tasting flight, which lets you choose three wines to sample, and chose a sweet Schoburger (2024), a sparkling Ortega demi-sec and the dry Ortega. The Schoburger was a surprise favourite, and was rich with flavours of honey and lychee. 

Before we left, we browsed the wine shop and I couldn’t resist picking up a few mementos to relive our wonderful day at home. We grabbed some Kent Crisps, a box of Goupie chocolate and Twisted Wheel beers. I can’t wait to come back again and sample more of the exciting array of wines that Biddenden has to offer.

So, if you are looking for a last-minute Easter activity that provides fun and fresh air for the whole family, why don’t you grab the last few tickets for Biddenden’s Easter Bunny Hunt? Tickets need to be purchased in advance, but you can get yours from the link below - £7 per child (under 1’s go free) and £16 per adult. Please be aware that all children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult, paying adults can accompany up to 4 children.

Book tickets here