Mousehall is a family-run distillery and winery in England, led by Gary and Kathy Jordan and run together with their daughter Christy. The restored Mousehall Oast also offers accommodation – once upon a time, it was a traditional oast house used for drying out hops. The sun is setting when we arrive, casting the already magical scene in an even more ethereal light. An ancient dawn redwood frames the manor. The tree is extremely rare, dating back to the Mesozoic period about 65-million years ago. From here, bright yellow daffodils lead the way. Mousehall dates back to 1086, and was named after the first traceable owner, James de Mouleshale, who inhabited it in the 11th century. Gary calls me over to show me symbols scratched into the oak beams propping up the crumbling bricks. Witches’ marks to deter evil spirits. Sunken into a wall, a moss-covered stone goblin leers through the centuries.
“It was neglected and overgrown,” says Kathy of the property when they purchased it in 2017. Luckily, they’d had the same experience with their Stellenbosch estate. “We did the same with Jordan Wine Estate – we turned it around.” The Jordans were drawn to this property for the promising terroir. Gary, a trained geologist, identified it as prime for viticulture with soils of Tunbridge Wells – sandstone, clay, chalk, and iron deposits. The focus is on sustainability for both the wines and the spirits.
The vineyard is planted to yield chardonnay, pinot noir, and meunier varietals. Eighteen Dorper sheep – a South African breed – mow between the rows as part of the regenerative farming plan, and nine beehives are on the farm. We head off to take in some of the 12-acres, along a footpath that is said to have been an ancient drovers’ route. The lane winds past the Tidebrook stream, after which the Jordans have named their maiden wine range, released this May. We pass the Oast house with the emblematic mouse on its cowl, stirring in the breeze. We’re pursued by ducks as we make our way to the distillery and winery, which is situated in a converted barn. Next door to this is a botanical garden for their spirits. “We often joked that Mousehall was like Narnia,” shares Christy later. “We didn’t realise that this was closer to the truth than we imagined.” Some locals reached out to the family, providing information that C.S Lewis’ publisher proofread all of the great author’s books in the study at Mousehall, including The Chronicles of Narnia. “We are now certain Mousehall is a magical place.”
