Facebook Pixel Our Team | Balfour Winery on the Hush Heath Estate, Kent

Our Fantastic Team

Balfour Winery is a family-owned business, with a young team, who have built the company’s reputation as an innovative business in a highly competitive changing marketplace. We are a happy bunch of enthusiastic people who work together in all aspects of the business and we have a lot of fun. Our teams are at the frontline of our continuing battle for success and reflect the passion and pride of our Balfour brand.

Co-founders

Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn

Richard and Leslie Balfour-Lynn bought the 16th-century Manor near Staplehurst in 1986. It wasn’t until 2001 that the family acquired the 400-acre estate that surrounds the house. The Estate, originally a working farm, was put up for auction unexpectedly and having looked over the land for many years, they felt it was too good an opportunity to miss. With little more than an avid interest in vineyards and a genuine passion for wine the land was acquired and the first vines planted in 2002.

Winemakers

Owen and Fergus Elias

Father and son, Owen and Fergus Elias manage all aspects of winemaking at Balfour. Our state-of-the-art winery allows full control from receipt of grapes to pressing, fermentation, bottling, riddling, disgorging, labelling and packaging.

Owen Elias has been making wine at Hush Heath since our very first vintage in 2004. Awarded UK Winemaker of the Year on six occasions.

Fergus Elias is part of an exciting new generation of young winemakers graduating from Plumpton College, England’s dedicated vinicultural centre.  Always looking at how to adapt and innovate, he is continuing the success of his father and creating a brilliant partnership with him.

Viticultural Team

Cathy, Stef and Billy

The Estate is maintained and managed by the Turner family
– Cathy, Stef and Billy.

Three generations of both Cathy and Stef’s families have worked at Hush Heath, with Cathy’s grandparents originally looking after the Estate when it was a working farm.

They have an unmatched understanding of our soil and climate and a genuine love for every vine planted. Without their commitment to the estate and its sustainability, our wines wouldn’t have the quality they have now.

Join The Team

Join The Balfour Family

If you would like to join our team or are interested in our current vacancies we would love to hear from you. Contact us using our online form or give us a call to chat to one of our friendly team.

Get In Touch