Our pick of Sussex vineyards

When you think about wine-producing countries, England is probably not the first one that springs to mind. However, there are a number of English vineyards that produce highly respected wines. In particular, Sussex has a fine choice of vineyards that offer tours.

There are a number of factors that make Sussex a good choice for producing wine. The Gulf Stream contributes to keeping temperaturaes warm enough for grapes to grow and ripen, as does a low altitude. In addition, long summer days provide lots of sunshine and soils such as clay and sandstone are full of nutrients that encourage healthy vines. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just keen to discover more about the wine-making process, the Sussex vineyards below are sure to provide an entertaining and educating visit.

Ridgeview

A producer of respected sparkling wines that are sold around the world, Ridgeview is located in the South Downs and is normally open for tastings from Monday to Saturday between 11am and 4pm. A tour of the vineyard and winery which includes a tasting session costs £15 per person and lasts around 90 minutes to two hours.

Breaky Bottom

Established in 1974, the vineyard of Breaky Bottom is located in East Sussex around 5 miles from Lewes and really is fantastic to visit. The primary grape grown at the vineyard is Seyval Blanc, although Muller Thurgau is also grown. An appointment is required to visit Breaky Bottom but one can usually be obtained at short notice.

Carr Taylor

The family-run vineyard of Carr Taylor situated just outside the village of Westfield grows a number of grape varieties, though their most successful variety is Reichensteiner. This award-winning vineyard offers a choice of tours, including self-guided tours which do not require booking in advance and which cost £1.50 per person or are free for children under 16 years old. Group tours, which require advanced booking, include a tour of the vineyard, a visit to the winery and the bottling room, as well as a tutored tasting. The cost is £6 per person (or £4.50 for OAPs) if the group includes at least 15 people. If there are 14 people or less in the group, the minimum charge is £69.

Bolney Wine Estate

Located in the picturesque village of Bolney is the aptly named Bolney Wine Estate https://www.bolneywineestate.com/index.php which specialises in red wines. There are a variety of tours on offer to suit a range of budgets. A taster tour, which includes a vineyard and winery tour and a tutored tasting, costs around £16 per person. A luxury tour and tasting with lunch for two people costs around £79.

Sedlescombe

Sedlescombe was established in 1979 and is the oldest organic vineyard in England. A self-guided vineyard and woodland nature trail that includes wine tasting is available for £6 for adults (free for children under 16) without booking required. Guided tours for groups are £9 for groups with 30+ people or £9.50 for groups with 12 to 30 people. Guided tours for two people start at £49.50 including lunch or afternoon tea.

Denbies

Dorking, in the neighbouring county of Surrey, is home to the biggest vineyard in England. Denbies Wine Estate stretches over 265 acres and is responsible for more than 10% of the plantings that are done in the UK. Denbies is open all year and offers a selection of tours that last about 50 minutes. Prices start at £9 per person for a sparkling wine tasting tour with a minimum group of 10 people.

An informative and intriguing trip that will delight the taste buds

A visit to one of the Sussex vineyards above is an experience that can be enjoyed by friends, couples and families (even if youngsters don’t get to taste the wine, they can still have fun exploring!). Whether you’re a wine expert or just fancy a day trip that’s a bit different from the norm, a vineyard visit provides a memorable day of discovery with the chance to sample delicious wines.