For the casual wine connoisseur, it may come as a surprise to learn that Britain and, indeed, Sussex, have some of the best wineries and vineyards in Europe. After visiting one of these vineyards for an exclusive wine-tasting tour, you’ll be stocking the wine rack with some of Sussex’s best homegrown wines, rather than reaching for an Australian Shiraz or a Chilean Malbec to raise a toast with.
Bluebell Vineyard Estates
Named after its enviable and idyllic location in the bluebell-strewn woodland of Furner’s Green in Sussex, Bluebell Vineyard Estates has been producing world-class wines for nearly twenty years.
The land where the Estate grows its grapes is home to over 100,000 vines, while the winery stocks its very own Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Merlot.
Bluebell Vineyard Estates is proud of stocking exclusively vintage wines, using grapes grown in a single calendar year. The wines are therefore imbued with both a fresh and timeless quality.
The Estates offers a variety of tours and tastings which give visitors an insight into the painstaking procedures that go into producing fine, homegrown wines. With tours and tastings starting at £22.95 a head, a trip to this winery won’t break the bank.
Address: Glenmore Farm, Slider’s Ln, Furner’s Green, Uckfield, TN22 3RU
Website: bluebellwines.com
Ridgeview Wine Estate
Out of all the wines, British viticulture arguably does the best job with sparkling wine. Ridgeview Wine Estate in the South Downs National Park specialises in all things sparkling wine and isn’t too far of a trip for Brighton locals and visitors to the city looking to spend the day exploring a beautiful vineyard.
Ridgeview Wine Estate is a family-owned and family-run business and has been in operation since 1995. Nearly thirty years ago, Ridgeview’s founders saw an opportunity to put British winemaking on the map, with the natural landscape of its vineyard’s enviable location in the South Downs National Park providing perfect conditions to grow grapes that produce world-class sparkling wines.
The cool climate of the United Kingdom isn’t exactly tailor-made for viticulture, but the winemakers at Ridgeview Wine Estate are specialists in it and have been making award-winning wines using the Sussex soil for many years.
In addition to its standard tours and taste trips, the Estate also runs its very own annual festival in late August, Ridgefest, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of the South Downs whilst dancing the night away with a glass of wine in hand. Tickets for the festival can be purchased through the Estate’s website.
Address: Ditchling Common, Fragbarrow Lane, BN6 ATP
Website: ridgeview.co.uk
Charles Palmer Vineyards
Situated on the scenic flats of Winchelsea, Charles Palmer Vineyards enjoys all the benefits of an ideal growing climate in this famously sunny part of Sussex. The location of the vineyard, being in close proximity to the sea whilst also enjoying a south-facing slope, makes it an enviable spot for cool climate viticulture.
Each bottle of wine produced at Charles Palmer Vineyards is made using the Champagne Method, which involves pressing a whole bunch of grapes using low pressure to ensure the richest juices are extracted before fermentation. The wines then spend a minimum of two years on the lees before being sold.
Charles and his wife Sally have been producing fine vintage wines on the Estate since 1998 and welcome visitors and wine enthusiasts year-round.
Address: Wickham Manor, Wickham Rock Ln, Winchelsea, TN36 4AG
Website: charlespalmer-vineyards.co.uk
Hidden Spring Vineyard
Situated in Horam, just outside of Heathfield in Sussex, Hidden Spring Vineyard is a charming small holding with 23 acres of land to grow grapes on.
One of Sussex’s oldest vineyards, owners Richard and Sara Asman have been producing fine wines here since 2022, but the vineyard has been in operation since 1986. However, the vineyard expanded to its current acreage in 2015 and reclaimed the lands for winemaking after a short stint as a campsite.
The Vineyard comes complete with a winery, a tasting room, and a shop, so it’s no wonder that wine enthusiasts travel from all over the country to visit this hidden gem.
The Vineyard has its very own wine club where members can enjoy discounts on group tasting and the vast selection of wines stocked in its cellar.
Address: Vines Cross Rd, Horam, Heathfield, TN21 0HG
Website: hiddenspring.co.uk
Oxney Organic Estate
Located near the popular town of Rye in East Sussex, Oxney Organic Estate is the largest single-estate producer of organic wines in the United Kingdom.
The estate’s ethos is grounded in the cultivation of its soil. Viticulture in the United Kingdom is complicated due to the country’s cool climate, so the procedure is paramount in ensuring that each wine is brought into existence with careful care and consideration.
The estate grounds are as impressive as the wine produced at Oxney, and the vineyard offers guests the opportunity to stay in a Jacobean house overnight or in one of their many shepherd huts.
For more information on how to arrange a tour or book a stay in the estate’s accommodation, visit the vineyard’s website.
Address: Hobbs Ln, Rye, TN31 6TU
Website: oxneyestate.com
Rathfinny Wine Estate
Established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, Rathfinny Wine Estate has swiftly become a prized jewel in Sussex’s viticulture crown. As is customary in this part of the world, the estate specialises in fine sparkling wines and has opened its doors to the public to explore its grounds and learn more about the process of its winemaking.
Rathfinny is located on a south-facing slope in the picturesque South Downs and benefits from the richness of the chalk soil that is prevalent in the region.
In Mark and Sarah’s own words Rathfinny’s ambition is: “that in twenty years’ time you will walk into a bar or restaurant in New York or Beijing and you’ll be asked ‘would you like a glass of champagne or a delicious glass of Sussex? I can recommend Rathfinny.”
Aside from the wine produced here, the estate is stunning and a perfect place to enjoy the majesty of the Sussex Downs in all its splendour.
Address: Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, BN26 5TU
Website: rathfinnyestate.com
Henners Vineyard
Located in the stunningly scenic village of Herstmonceux, Henners Vineyard benefits from its position next to the famous Pevensey Levels Nature Reserve, while the climate in the region is one of the driest in the country which helps produce the fertile grapes grown here.
The Vineyard has been in operation since 2007 and began with the planting of three grape varieties, the classics: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
Due to the vineyard’s position near the coast, its low elevation and the richness of its free-draining clay soils, Henners proudly produces some of the finest vintage wines in the country.
Visiting Herstmonceux is a must for those making the trip to Sussex for their holidays, and Henners hosts a variety of tours and wine-tasting events to entertain viticulture enthusiasts and holidaymakers alike.
Address: Henners Vineyard, Herstomonceux, Hailsham, BN27 1RJ
Website: hennersvineyard.co.uk
