Bubbles and Botanicals! A chance to meet local producers, learn more about them, and try and buy some of Sussex’s unique and outstanding sparkling wines and spirits. And in 2024, it will take place at Handcross Park School on the 2 November (save the date). But here is a round up of last year’s event.
Sussex and the surrounding area have found their place on the world stage when it comes to producing superb quality and award-winning wines and spirits. There are some 138 vineyards in the county and dozens more craft gin and spirit producers. They all share a passion for quality and both the science and art of the drinks they produce. And although wine was produced in our region as long ago as the Roman period, there is now a new and exciting drinks heritage and culture developing across Sussex. And what better way to both celebrate this and learn more about it than bringing some of those producers together?
Cue the Bubbles and Botanicals Fair
The Bubbles and Botanicals Fair brings together 15 outstanding local producers of Sussex sparkling wine and craft gin, along with industry experts who will be sharing their knowledge during the course of the afternoon. It’s an ideal opportunity to try, buy, learn and stock up for Christmas at the delightful South Lodge.
We wanted to make sure that the wines and spirits on offer reflect the diversity, complexity, and subtlety of our great county and we’re thrilled to be joined by producers from across the county and from vineyards and distilleries large and small. You can find out more and book your tickets here: Bubbles and Botanicals Fair
And here are details of some of the producers:
House Coren
A vineyard, négociant and winery based near Horsham producing sparkling wines using the Charmat method, a technique where the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in sealed tank rather than bottle.
Harley House Distillery
A small batch distillery based in Seaford, East Sussex creating unique produce that showcases the local area and leaves a lasting memory on the tastebuds. They use water from an aquifer in the South Downs in every batch and have a fabulous range.
Plumpton College Wine Division
The award-winning Plumpton Estate sparkling and still wines are produced by enthusiastic and talented students, working alongside a team of vinegrowing and winemaking experts.
Fox and Fox Wines
Based near Mayfield in East Sussex, the team at Fox and Fox combine Burgundian and Champagne clones of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Gris to create wines with enticing fruit flavours, aroma and complexity.
Cabin Pressure Spirits
Based in Horsham, West Sussex, Cabin Pressure produces award-winning small-batch spirits and liqueurs from their micro-distillery using a glass vacuum-still, and a gentle low-temperature approach to distillation which results in exceptional flavour clarity and particular smoothness.
Mountfield Winery
Just north of Battle in East Sussex, Mountfield has been developed over the last 12 years and produces low quantities of first-class sparkling wines in an artisan way. This beautiful vineyard has 14,000 vines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier.
Slake Spirits
An independent artisan gin distillery based in Worthing, West Sussex, Slake Spirits brings you unique gin recipes. They harness the sun to power their stills and seek out the very best ingredients to produce the finest artisan gin at the crossroads of science and nature.
Coolhurst Vineyards
The Coolhurst Vineyards are settled in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in West Sussex and form part of a seventh-generation family estate. They produce one of England’s finest sparkling rosé wines.
Spirit of the Downs
Making multi-award-winning Sussex brandies and grape spirits, made using pressed grapes from the finest small batch Sussex sparkling wine. They create delicate fruity, smooth, and complex spirits and their waste pomace is then used to to fertilise Trenchmore Farm’s apple orchard.
Loxwood Meadworks
Producing an elegant English honey wine that unlike other meads is created using 100% honey in the ferment (the process that makes the alcohol). It’s fermented dry, and then back-sweetened with honey, to give the most natural flavour and a delicate sweetness.
Goldstone Rum
Based in Henfield, Goldstone produces rum made using fresh sugar cane juice, jaggery, panela and molasses fermented and distilled in a little Sussex distillery.
Weyborne Estate
Uniquely located at the highest point of the South Downs National Park, their Family Reserve is the bottled essence of the annual production from the five vineyard blocks at Weyborne’s single vineyard estate. The Family Reserve is a Chardonnay led cuvée, so Blanc des Blancs in style.
Southlands Valley Wines
Owned by the family since 2014, this is a community enterprise with a cooperative of local workers who each have the responsibility to tend and care for a number of rows of vines. With just 2 hectares in West Chiltington, near Storrington, they grow Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes and their wine is produced at Wiston Estate Winery using traditional methods. Their Smock Alley Classic Cuvée is named after their location and the traditional Sussex smock mills.
Bolney Wine Estate
The oldest Sussex vineyard and perhaps the most well-known, Bolney was established in 1972 and was a pioneer of the Sussex wine industry. The team now produces award-winning still and sparkling wines from their Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris to their classic sparkling Bolney Bubbly and Blanc de Blancs.
Dillions Vineyard
Next to Nymans National Trust property and woodland, Dillions is in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and their focus is very much on sustainability and preservation. They are Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certified. Their first vines were planted in 2019 and in partnership with Defined Wines in Kent, and selected vineyards, they have produced award-winning wines since 2019. Look out for their Bacchus 2022 and our Rose 2022 vintages.
You can book your tickets here: www.bubblesandbotanicals.net
