The dry and sunny summers of West Sussex are the perfect climate for producing wine, and our local vineyards are gaining a reputation for their award-winning vintages. Come with your friends and family and experience wine tasting in the picturesque valleys of the South Downs. Oakwood West holiday cottages are fabulously placed for West Sussex wine tasting, with the Ashling Park Estate only a few drive minutes away or a 25 minute stroll. Below are a few of our favourites from the local area, there are over 50 to explore in West Sussex!
Ashling Park Vineyard
Tour the vineyard with an expert guide before heading back to the tasting experience room to try 5 of their wines, including two award winning Sparkling Wines from £25 per person. Try your hand at making your own gin, at their gin school experience. You’ll leave with two bottles of your own recipe gin. Stay to dine in their Napa Valley style winery restaurant serving beautiful locally sourced food. Find out more.
Tinwood Estate Vineyard
A 20-minute drive away in Halnaker, near Chichester, you will find the Tinwood Estate. Book onto a wine tasting tour, from £21 per person, to explore their picturesque vineyards and to find out how the chalky, flinty soil of the South Downs makes a wonderful location to grow grape vines. Taste three sparkling wines after the tour with the option to pair with specially crafted dishes from the Vineyard Kitchen. Tinwood also host a special celebration afternoon tea from £49 per person which includes three glasses of Tinwood wine and a tempting selection of sandwiches and cakes. Find out more.
Bolney Estate Vineyard
An hour away, in Haywards Heath, you’ll find the Bolney Estate, an expansive vineyard established 50 years ago. It's a beautiful site where they produce the full ensemble of red, white, rose & sparkling wines. There have a wonderful selection of tours and experiences including afternoon tea, cheese and wine tours, and dining in the vines. Find out more.
Nutbourne Vineyard
Close to Pulborough, is Nutbourne Vineyard a family run and boutique wine producer making still and sparkling wines. Every part of the wine making process is done on site, so your tour will show you the whole process from start to finish. They have some quirky events too, including the popular Burgers and Bubbly event on Thursday evenings. Two burgers, a bottle of Nutty Wild & salad for £40. Enjoy them in the vineyard with music wafting through the vines. Find out more.
Hambledon Vineyard
Over the border in Hampshire, is the oldest commercial vineyard in England. It’s a place steeped in wine making knowledge, the tours include a visit to the underground cellars cut into white chalk and a visit to the state of the art winery, that is the only one of its kind in the UK. Try some of their wonderful sparkling wines and stay to enjoy afternoon tea or a cheeseboard. Find out more.
Kinsbrooke Vineyard
In the beautiful village of West Chiltington, close to Chichester. you'll find the Kinsbrooke Vineyard. It's a relaxed place, with a farmhouse restaurant for a bite to eat after your tour around the vineyard. In the summer pop down on a Sunday afternoon for the chill out summer music sessions where you can hear local acoustic artists playing whilst enjoying a glass of an exceptional Kinsbrooke wine. Find out more.
Nyetimber Vineyard
All of the wines made at Nyetimber are made slowly using traditional methods to create complex flavours. Nyetimber wines have won international awards and blind tasting competitions. Their skillful grape blending create sensational wines and their beautiful setting (pictured below) is one more reason to visit. Visit them on the estate on weekend days throughout the year, with a prebooked ticket and the chance to buy discounted cases of wine from the cellar door. Find out more.
Wine Tasting at Home
Let us bring the tastes of Sussex wines to you, from the best vineyards near Chichester, when you stay at our holiday cottages, with a carefully selected local wines box accompanied by expert tasting notes. Sit back in your hot tub and sip on some of the best from the local vineyards. Get in contact with us to arrange your personalised box.