The winelands of Sussex boast around 138 vineyards, representing a quarter of Great Britain under vine. Many are award-winning, offering tours, tastings, restaurants and accommodation, as well as a variety of events and activities.
They’re also pioneering: Sussex led the way by attaining the UK’s first Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in 2022, putting Sussex wine on the same footing as Champagne and Bordeaux.
Now the county has even entered the non-alcoholic wine market – Westmanson Estate in Ditchling produces a non-alcoholic grape juice called Verjuice, made from grapes picked at verasion (just before they turn ripe).
A partnership led by Sussex Modern including Plumpton College and South Downs National Park, with support from the Sussex Visitor Economy Initiative, launched a plan to grow Sussex's wine tourism sector from the current £25 million to £283 million by 2040. And that will put Sussex on the map as the UK’s premier wine tourism destination which is why Wiston Estate played host to the launch of a new map to help people navigate South East’s wine region.
‘Almost every winery on the map is within an hour of London, Brighton or a major airport, highlighting how easily accessible English wine can be,’ comments Fergus Elias, chairman of WineGB South South, the membership association for vineyards and wine producers in Kent, Surrey, Sussex and London South which produced the guide. ‘A map in paper form is special too, in a world where everything is online, a resource such as this which is tangible is rare and rather lovely.’
From East to West, Sussex Life shines a light on a few of the 26 Sussex vineyards that are featured and reveals how to make the most of your visit.
EAST SUSSEX
Artelium, Streat
The worlds of art and wine collide in this 45-acre estate. Before planting the vineyard in 2018 and 2019, husband and wife Mark Collins and Julie Bretland toyed with the idea of opening a sculpture park instead. They soon found a way to combine both their passions however by using their estate to showcase the works of local creatives. This year, Artelium has collaborated with celebrated Sussex sculptor, Walter Bailey, on a series of projects including a solo show and a new permanent sculpture for the vineyard, alongside artwork for one of their Artefact series – a collection of small batch wines that have individual labels designed by a contemporary artist.
Guided tours take place at 2pm Thursday to Sunday, while the tasting room is open to drop ins at selected times between midday and 5pm every day except Monday. Artelium also hosts regular after-hours food and wine events, including pizza nights with Sussex company Safari Pizzas and Seafood and Sparkling evenings.
Ridgeview, Ditchling Common
Foodies are in for a treat at Ridgeview Wine Estate after its al fresco vineyard restaurant, The Rows & Vine, was recently voted one of the top restaurants in Sussex.
Certified B-Corp earlier this year, Ridgeview is one of the pioneers of the English sparkling wine revolution, crafting traditional method wines since 1995. Its wines have won numerous national and international awards - last year its Rosé de Noirs 2018 was awarded a platinum medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards and its Sparkling Red Reserve was the first to be awarded the Pioneer’s Trophy at the WineGB Awards.
The estate, which sits in the heart of the Sussex Downs, stepped up its visitor offering with the opening of The Rows and Vine in 2022 – described by hospitality manager Matt Gayler as ‘a unique English wine experience. It’s all about the beauty of an alfresco space where you are outside amongst it all, sharing the magic of winemaking at Ridgeview.’
The restaurant is open seven days a week from June to August. A variety of tours, starting from £15 per person, take place throughout the week.
Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston
Rathfinny’s vast 230-acred vineyard estate has put visitors at its heart ever since it was founded by Mark and Sarah Driver in 2010. Not only does it host a variety of guided tours and tastings but the gates are open for guests to meander the vines nestled along the cradle valley on a self-guided tour, or admire views across to the coast from The Hut al fresco bar. You can also spend the night at the Flint Barns, or enjoy a plethora of dining experiences, from picnics to fine dining.
This month sees Rathfinny launch a partnership with Big Green Egg outdoor ovens to host a series of Summer Sunday Lunches in celebration of the EGGs 50-year anniversary. Running from Sunday, June 2, to Sunday, September 1, two XL Big Green Eggs will take up residency in the enclosed courtyard, where guests can relax among firepits, plants, and parasols and dine on dishes from Executive head chef Chris Bailey.
They also have a host of foodie events to celebrate English Wine Week including Dine in the Vines BBQs (June 14 to 16), and Sussex sparkling at The Hut al fresco bar on June 22.
Oxney Estate, Rye
There’s nothing like an escape to the countryside, particularly when it’s one that allows you to go completely off-grid, surrounded by some of the prettiest vine vistas in the county.
At Oxney not only can you sample the stunning wines from what is the largest single-estate producer of English organic wine in the country, but you can also spend the night either in one of two shepherd huts or, if you’re a larger group, in the Vineyard House, which is thought to be Jacobean, or across the three Oxney Barns.
Summer tour and tastings take place every Saturday at 11am and cost £30 per person and you can add a picnic for £25 per person. Two-night mid-week breaks, which include a tour and picnic, are from £175 per person.
Oastbrook, Bodiam
If you’re after a vineyard stay that breaks the mould, then Oastbrook is the place. Run by the effervescent America Brewer and her husband, Nick, the vineyard offers luxury glamping in bell tents with king-size beds, wine coolers, electric showers and a click and collect bar service. But if sleeping under canvas is still too much like roughing it then there’s the two-bedroom Vineyard Hollow and Scandi-inspired Avalon Waterside Lodge both complete with hot tub and private terrace or garden.
Tours are hosted by America or Nick themselves, and there’s even a tour put on for children by their teenage daughter Gabby.
On July 29, the vineyard hosts its summer party, where guests can try all the latest wines alongside a barbecue lunch and plenty of music and entertainment. Tickets cost £30.
Mousehall, Wadhurst
When Gary and Kathy Jordan, owners of Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa, discovered the neglected and over-grown Medieval Mousehall Estate in 2017, they couldn’t resist the challenge to bring it back to life. In 2019, together with their daughter, Christy, they planted their first Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyard.
Five years later and the estate has just last month released its first collection still wines – a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and rosé – under the Tidebrook brand, named after the brook that runs through their estate.
The journey so far has already seen them convert an abandoned barn into a winery and distillery – one of the first distilleries within a winery in the UK – and launch a gin and vodka.
Visitors can book 90-minute distillery tours for £25 (wine tours will be launching soon) and there is an 18th Century traditional oast house on site, which sleeps six and can be booked year-round.
Other East Sussex Vineyards on the map: Bluebell Estate, Breaky Bottom, Carr Taylor, Henners Vineyard, Hidden Spring, Off the Line, Plumpton, Westmeston Estate, Wildwood.
WEST SUSSEX
Nutbourne Vineyards, Pulborough
With an arable farming background and three ‘Local & Wild’ restaurants in London, which champion a farm to fork ethos, food is at the heart of Nutbourne Vineyards in Pulborough.
This month, the Gladwin family’s first cookbook was published, offering a rare insight into a year behind the scenes of Nutbourne Vineyard.
An English Vineyard Cookbook (RRP £25) has been produced in aid of food waste charity City Harvest, has over 100 locally-grown recipes from Peter, Oliver and Bridget Gladwin and feature artwork by Bridget, who also designs Nutbourne’s bottle labels, wine recommendations and foraging advice.
This summer, visitors can enjoy free self-guided tours, picnics and platters in the vines, as well as a monthly Burger & Bubbly and Pinot & Pizza evenings.
Wiston Estate, Washington
From nature walks and off-road biking to sundowner safaris and picnic tours, there’s a whole host of activities to suit different tastes at Wiston Estate this summer.
Even the traditional ‘Wiston’ tour (£25 per person) is one that you’ll remember thanks to the team’s ability to tell the story of the estate in an entertaining fashion and with plenty of passion.
Wiston, which is run by the Goring family, has been steadily growing since vines were first planted here in 2006 but vows to stay true to its core vision, to bring people together over wine.
To that affect, Chalk restaurant was opened in a converted flint barn in 2021 to offer people the opportunity to sample produce grown on the estate alongside its wines.
It’s also possible to stay on the vast 600-acre estate, in a restored pump house tucked away
at the foot of the South Downs with stunning views up to Chanctonbury Ring. Read our review of Chalk next month in the July issue of Sussex Life.
Leonardslee Vineyards, Lower Beeding and Mannings Heath
This month, visitors to Leonardslee will finally be able to taste the long-awaited English sparkling wines from Penny Streeter OBE and her family.
The 38-acres of vineyards, which sit across two sites on the outskirts of Horsham, were planted in 2017 with Chardonnay (60%), Pinot Noir (30%) and Pinot Meunier (10%). A trial planting of Pinotage – the first of its kind in the UK – was also planted in 2018 in homage to the Streeter family’s South African wine estate Benguela Cove.
Produced under the direction of winemaker Johann Fourie, the three traditional method sparkling wines include a Blanc de Blancs (£60), Brut Reserve (£45) and Brut Rosé (£45).
‘The last five years have been an incredible journey for us and the launch of our first Leondardslee English Sparkling wines is a real testament to the hard work of our amazing team and this magical location we have,’ says Penny.
As well as sampling the new wines, visitors can explore the gardens and new children’s adventure park, enjoy a Michelin Starred meal at Interlude, play golf at Mannings Heath and spend the night at Leonardslee House or Mannings Heath Vineyard Hotel.
Tinwood Estate, Goodwood
Once a salad farm, Tinwood Estate has transformed over the last couple of decades to become a fantastic destination for a great day out. Picnics, afternoon teas, tours and luxury wooden lodges mean you can easily spend a whole weekend here or use it as a base to explore this part of Sussex’s wine community. Nearby vineyards include Ashling Park, Upperton Vineyards and Roebuck Estates, which sit on The Great Sussex Wine Route and can be explored by car or by using the free bikes available for guests at Tinwood.
The Tukker family who run Tinwood have recently added five more lodges, complete with jacuzzi baths and private decked terraces to their offering, extending the opportunity for more guests to spend the night among the vines. Lodges cost from £255 per night and overnight guests get 20% off a vineyard tour.
Ashling Park, Chichester
Will Hardie of Channel 4’s Amazing Spaces is responsible for the accommodation at Ashling Park, a contemporary rural escape just 10 minutes from Chichester. Nestled on the edge of the vineyard the five one and two-bedroom lodges have indulgently large beds, luxurious bathrooms with rolltop baths, cosy living areas with wood burners and picture windows offering views across the vines.
Gail Gardner and her family have lived at Ashling Park for over 30 years, but it wasn’t until she spent some time living in Switzerland and was seduced by the romantic vineyards there that she convinced her family to plant vines in 2018 and welcome visitors to join them on the estate. They’ve since built Ashling Park to be the perfect place for an escape from it all, wine lover or not.
As well as the luxury lodges, there’s a state-of-the-art tasting room and restaurant and a gin school, where you can make your own gin (£160 for two) or take part in the weekly cocktail making class (£80 per couple).
Stopham Estate, Pulborough
While the majority of the county’s winelands are focused on sparkling wine production, Stopham was planted by winemaker Simon Woodhead in 2007 with the view of creating brilliant still wines. He, and the rest of the Stopham team, achieved that mission early on – their Pinot Blanc was selected for Queen Elizabeth II’s Royal Barge Diamond Jubilee party in 2012 and is served at top restaurants, such as Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons. Vineyard, winery and wine tasting tours with Simon, cost £25 and take place at Stopham most Saturdays between April and September at 11am or 2pm. Tours take visitors through the 15 acres of vines to discover an understanding of how the weather can impact yield, and the importance of the soil and the environment to the wine. Guests tour the converted Grade II listed Victorian barn winery next to learn about the winemaking process, before being talked through a tasting of all of Stopham’s wines including the renowned Pinot Blanc.
Other West Sussex Vineyards on the map: Albourne Estate, Ambriel, Dillions, Digby and Roebuck Estates.
