Kent County Council (KCC) has appointed specialist brand and communications consultancy, Wondersphere, to deliver a new county-wide strategic communications programme for Kent’s viticulture sector. The 12-month brief, awarded following a competitive tender, represents the first time the county’s vineyards will be supported through a single, joined-up communications framework.
Kent is currently the most planted wine-producing county in the UK, holding roughly double the vine hectarage of its closest regional competitors. As part of the South East block, which achieved the highest average yields in the UK in 2024, Kent’s scale is increasingly matched by critical acclaim, with the county’s producers consistently leading medal tables for English wine at major national and international competitions.
The new programme aims to convert this production volume and quality into sustained economic growth. By building clearer awareness of Kent’s diverse visitor offer, which spans large-scale commercial estates to small independent growers, the initiative seeks to drive increased footfall and support long-term sales across the region.
Francis Court, Founder of Wondersphere, said: “Kent has an established track record and a visitor offer that warrants a clearer, more cohesive public story. Our objective is to provide a confident voice for the region that respects the individuality of the growers while making it easier for a broader audience to discover the depth of what is available here. It is about creating reasons for people to visit, and more importantly, to return.”
David Wimble, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Special Projects, added: “Kent’s vineyards are an essential component of our rural economy and tourism sector. We appointed Wondersphere based on their specialist sector knowledge and their ability to develop a practical communications approach that provides value to vineyards of all sizes and ambitions.”
The 12-month programme will set a clear county-wide standard for how Kent wine is positioned, marketed and experienced, building shared narrative, messaging and campaign infrastructure that individual vineyards can use to drive awareness, visits and sales.
