It has the same chalky soil as the Champagne region and its wine has the same protected status – and often beats French fizz in blind tastings. Now Sussex has launched a plan to attract many more visitors to its 138 vineyards, aiming to increase the value of wine tourism from £25m today to £283m by 2040.
Sussex has 888 hectares of vineyards, or 25.5% of the British land under vine, second only to Kent at 29.6%. But according to the authors of the growth plan – the tourism development agency Sussex Modern and the Sussex Visitor Economy Initiative – there are 40,000 hectares of land suitable for grapes available, giving the county enormous growth potential.
It is not just about increasing the number or size of the vineyards, however. The plan, which was launched in parliament on 14 June, also aims to expand the number of vineyards that are open to the public. Currently just over a quarter have cellar door sales, tours and tastings, restaurants, accommodation or wedding licences.
Other development projects include a new Sussex wine festival; guided and self-guided wine tours of the region; a network of cycling and walking routes connecting vineyards; and one- to three-day itineraries centred around wine, food, art and landscape.
“Wine is an outstanding success story for Sussex. In the last few years, it has emerged as a world-class region for wine-producing and wine tourism,” says Nathaniel Hepburn, the chair of Sussex Modern. “Pairing vineyard tours and visits with other destinations and activities is a sure-fire way of making the most of what Sussex has to offer.”
In the meantime, here are six of the best Sussex vineyards that are already welcoming visitors.
EAST SUSSEX
For foodies: Ridgeview
Ridgeview near Burgess Hill was established in 1995. Its Rows & Vine restaurant opened last autumn: a series of covered pavilions around a central bar with a raised, open-air terrace overlooking the vineyard and woodland, and gardens designed by Andy Sturgeon. It serves seasonal small plates and wine by the glass, bottle or flight; there are aperitivo nights on Fridays and roasts – served with sparkling red wine – on Sundays. The winery also hosts a music festival, Ridgefest, in August. The shop is open daily and tours start from £20 for a vineyard walk and tasting. Burgess Hill railway station is a 40-minute walk away.
For art lovers: Artelium
Also near Burgess Hill, Artelium brings together wine, art and nature. There are tours on Saturdays, tastings from Thursday to Sunday, and regular events such as tai chi among the vines and pizza nights. It has commissioned artworks for its wine bottles and the walls of the winery, and sculptures for the grounds. It also holds regular exhibitions – the summer exhibition focuses on the sculptor John Skelton (until 5 August) – and a twice-yearly makers’ market (next market 2 December). Plumpton railway station is a 20-minute walk away.
Family-friendly: Oastbrook Estate
Oastbrook, near Bodiam Castle, is a newer winery, with the first vines planted in 2018. It has family-friendly accommodation – bell tents, a hobbit-style house and a lakeside lodge – and runs children’s tours of the vineyard, led by the owners’ teenage daughter (£8, ages five to 16). Parents are then free to join the new summer wine tastings (selected Saturdays, £20) or the vineyard tour and tasting (£30). The estate is four miles east of Robertsbridge railway station.
WEST SUSSEX
Stay the night: Wiston Estate
The Wiston Estate has been in the Goring family since 1743, and the first vines were planted in 2006. It has a restaurant, Chalk, and runs a variety of tours and tastings, from an off-road bike tour and lunch to a “sundowner safari” and dinner. This month, it has opened its first accommodation, a renovated cottage called the Pump House. The cottage sleeps up to four people and two dogs, and all bookings include a bottle of Wiston Brut NV (from £660 for four nights). The estate is five miles north of Worthing, close to Findon.
Learn about wine: Bolney Wine Estate
Established in 1972, Bolney was one of England’s first wine estates – and claims to be one of the most beautiful. It serves breakfast and lunch in its Eighteen Acre Cafe (plus dinner on Fridays and Saturdays), which has a balcony overlooking the vines, and runs popular cheese and wine tasting tours. The estate is five miles west of Haywards Heath. New this month is Wine Down Wednesdays, a series of mini masterclasses with a winemaker. First up: sparkling wine (£35, 19 July).
For wine sceptics: Ashling Park Estate
Ashling Park, four miles from Chichester, has tours, tastings, a restaurant and lodges to stay in. And for those who aren’t huge fans of wine, it has a gin school, with hands-on classes (£160 for two people) where participants make two bottles of their own gin. It has also partnered with Southern eBike Rentals that will deliver push bikes or e-bikes to the vineyard, allowing guests to explore the nearby Kingley Vale nature reserve on two wheels, or cycle to Wittering beach or Chichester harbour.