Sussex
Sussex vineyards to visit
Sussex sits on the South Downs, the chalk ridge that runs along England's south coast. The soil, the slopes and the sea breeze suit sparkling wine, and the county now has some of the most admired estates in Britain. Several are a short taxi ride from a station on the line from London to Brighton.
14 November 20265 min read
Picolo Editorial
In short: Sussex vineyards
Ridgeview at Ditchling Common is the classic, with a 30-minute tasting for £20 and the Rows & Vine restaurant. Rathfinny near Alfriston has rooms in the Flint Barns and free walking trails, and Wiston near Washington runs winery tours for £30. Bolney, one of the oldest commercial vineyards in Britain, is open daily. Amberley Castle, at the foot of the Downs, is our first choice for a night.
Last checked: November 2026.
East of the Downs
Ridgeview, Ditchling Common
Ridgeview planted its chardonnay in 1995 and has since invested £4.8 million in a new winery and restaurant. The 30-minute Taste of Ridgeview costs £20, and the tasting bar looks over the vines. The Rows & Vine restaurant opens in spring and summer and must be booked. From Burgess Hill station it is a ten-minute taxi.
Rathfinny, Alfriston
Rathfinny was founded in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver and now has 93 hectares of vines in a valley a little inland from Seaford. The walking trails across the estate are free, and The Hut serves wine from a van to walkers. There are ten bedrooms in the Flint Barns, with Sunday lunch and dinner. Berwick and Seaford stations are about ten minutes away by taxi.
The middle of the county
Bolney, near Haywards Heath
Bolney was founded in 1972 and is one of the oldest commercial vineyards in Britain. The café and wine bar is open daily without booking, and the Eighteen Acre restaurant upstairs has a balcony over the vines. Haywards Heath station is about 15 minutes away by taxi.
Leonardslee, near Horsham
At Leonardslee, a three-wine flight costs £15, with no booking needed, from 11 in the morning every day. The estate is known for its gardens, and Restaurant Interlude, with a Michelin star, is about three miles away at Lower Beeding.
West of the Downs
Wiston, Washington
Wiston has belonged to the Goring family since 1743, and they planted the first vines in 2006. Winery tours cost £30 and run from Thursday to Sunday all year, and lunch is served at the Chalk restaurant. From Worthing or Horsham station, the taxi takes about 20 minutes.
Tinwood, near Chichester
Tinwood began growing vines in 2007 on a farm that once grew iceberg lettuce. The Vineyard Kitchen serves small dishes and sparkling afternoon teas, and eight lodges look out over the vines. In summer there is outdoor cinema and yoga among the rows.
Nyetimber
Nyetimber is one of the best-known names in English sparkling wine, but it seldom opens to visitors. Look for it on wine lists instead.
Planning a day
Choose east or west. Rathfinny lies in the east of the county, Wiston and Tinwood in the west. Plan a day around one end.
Use the Brighton line. Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath are on the line from London, a short taxi from Ridgeview and Bolney.
Book a driver. Most estates have no station within walking distance.
For the vineyards of Kent, see our guide to Kent vineyards. For all of southern England, see English vineyards to visit.
Picolo picks the hotel for you
Picolo is the hotel guest's best friend. We take on the role of guide and do the work before you book: we look at the hotels in the area, where they stand, what guests say and what is actually there. Then we choose the one hotel that suits this particular trip best. For a vineyard weekend in West Sussex the choice fell on Amberley Castle, a short drive from Wiston and Tinwood. Guests rate it 9.4 out of 10 on Hotels.com.
Our first choice in Sussex
Amberley Castle
Amberley Castle began as a timber lodge built for the bishops of Chichester in 1103 and was fortified in 1377, when the walls and the gatehouse were built. It has been a country house hotel since 1988 and is listed Grade I. The Queens Room Restaurant serves British cooking, and the South Downs and the River Arun are on the doorstep. Wiston and Tinwood are a short drive away.
Frequently asked questions about Sussex vineyards
What is the best vineyard to visit in Sussex?
Ridgeview at Ditchling Common is the classic, with tastings, tours and a restaurant over the vines. Rathfinny near Alfriston suits a longer visit, with walking trails and rooms. Wiston near Washington runs winery tours all year, and Bolney is open daily for walk-in tastings.
Can you visit Sussex vineyards by train?
Yes, with a taxi for the last stretch. Ridgeview is ten minutes from Burgess Hill station, and Bolney about 15 minutes from Haywards Heath. Rathfinny is around ten minutes from Berwick or Seaford, and Wiston about 20 minutes from Worthing or Horsham.
How much does a vineyard tour in Sussex cost?
A short tasting at Ridgeview costs £20, and a three-wine flight at Leonardslee £15. Winery tours at Wiston cost £30. Walking the trails at Rathfinny is free. Longer experiences with lunch cost more, so check prices on each estate's own website.
Can you stay at a vineyard in Sussex?
Yes. Rathfinny has ten bedrooms in the Flint Barns, Tinwood has eight lodges among the vines, and Wiston has a self-catering cottage. For a hotel, Amberley Castle is a short drive from Wiston and Tinwood, and Ockenden Manor is close to Ridgeview and Bolney.
Sources
Estate details, prices and stations come from Charlie on Travel's guide to vineyards near Brighton and Decanter's Sussex wine tour. Ridgeview's planting date comes from Club Oenologique. The history of Amberley Castle comes from Wikipedia. Brianmaclondon and Simon Burchell took the vineyard photographs, via Wikimedia Commons. Hotel photographs are from Hotels.com (Expedia Group). Last checked November 2026.
Cheers from Sussex
Picolo Editorial