Last count, Sussex had nearly 140 vineyards, making it the biggest wine producer in England. In fact, anyone who has been in the Sussex region for the last 10 years will have noticed an evolving and creative wine industry with multi-award-winning wines. And this wine scene, with its associated wine tourism, tours and tasting, is fast becoming known as the Sussex Winelands.
The main reason for this is the geography: southern-facing slopes, maritime air, and chalky soil as well as a changing and warm climate. You’ll often hear Sussex wine folk reference the fact that Sussex is on the same ridge of land as Champagne, it’s just separated by the sea these days. It wasn’t always.
Discover the Sussex Winelands
It’s a compelling combination. Medieval castles and historic towns, the heady vistas of the South Downs, and local wineries tempting you in with vineyard tours, and local food and wine pairings in amongst the vines. With the wine scene fast becoming part of what Sussex folk are all about, it seems remiss not to spend a little time finding out more. So, we’ve put together a few ways to discover our Sussex Winelands.
Follow the South Downs Way (or some of it)
If you think this sounds a bit too hardcore, think again, because you can make your South Downs Way vineyard tour as long or as short, and as hard or easy as you like. The South Downs Way runs from Winchester to Eastbourne and is 160 km. You can walk it, cycle it and spread it over three, five, 10 or more days, staying in luxury on route (like at the likes of Rathfinny, Tottington Manor, Amberley Castle and Tinwood) or slumming it in a tent. But along the way, there are vineyards. Lots and lots of vineyards.
Starting from Eastbourne, you’ll find Rathfinny (just outside Alfriston), Breaky Bottom near Rodmell (and one of the pioneer vineyards of Sussex wine) and a cluster of vineyards near Ditchling which include Plumpton Wine Division (visit by appointment) a centre of Sussex wine excellence, Ridgeview, with its open air restaurant, tours and tastings, Court Garden and Albourne Estate. As you continue west, you’ll pass Wiston near Washington, and with a slight detour, a few more at Pulborough and West Chiltington like Nutbourne, Kinsbrook and Smock Alley.
Keep going as you head on towards Petworth, where you’ll find Roebuck Estate and Stopham Vineyard, and detour into Arundel for Digby Fine English Wines. They don’t offer tours but they do open their cellar door by appointment to those who wish to buy.
Join an organised Sussex wine tour
There are a couple of tour operators who offer organised Sussex wine tours. The Great British Wine Tours offer a Sussex two vineyard tour from Brighton in a 1960s Red Routemaster London Bus which includes insights into winemaking, tutored tastings, a picnic hamper paired with Sussex still wine among the vines and a journey home over the South Downs. They also offer a Steam & Vine Tour which includes a journey by Routemaster to the Bluebell Steam Railway, a steam train to Kingscote Estate & Vineyard for lunch, a tour, and wine tasting.
As the names suggests, Sussex Wine Tours also offer tours which include a Picnic Tasting Tour, a Picnic Explorer Tour, a Heart of Sussex Tour and Sparkling Tours. The joy of an organised tour is of course, that you haven’t got to drive.
Wine tastings, wine stores and self made tours
Of course, we’ve always had specialist wine merchants in Sussex, and these are great places to seek out expert knowledge and Sussex recommendations. For example, you’ll find excellent wine merchants in Petworth (Hennings), Horsham (Horsham Wine Cellar), Lindfield and Hurstpierpoint (South Downs Cellar), Goring by Sea (Partners in Wine), Battle (Sarah’s Cellar), Mayfield (Fine Wines of Mayfield) and Crowborough (Alteus) and online (L&C Wines).
Lots of the local wine merchants, hostelries and vineyards are now hosting excellent Sussex wine tastings or events where you get a chance to meet the wine makers and vineyard owners, as well as try and or buy their wares.
Wine tourism in Sussex and of the Sussex Winelands may not yet be quite as well oiled as some of the great wine regions of Europe and while we might not have an established network of off-road Via Vinos (yet), with a little planning, it’s possible to put together your own itinerary that includes a great weekend and a lot of Sussex wine.
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