English wine has come a long way in recent years, and Sussex is one of the most exciting wine regions in the country. Located just south of London, Sussex is home to some of the best vineyards in the country. Many of these vineyards produce award-winning wines that are enjoyed all over the world with some of the most famous English wines come from Sussex, including sparkling wines from Nyetimber and Chapel Down.
If you're looking for a delicious English wine to enjoy, be sure to check out some of the bottles from Sussex itself.
Why Most English Wines Are Grown And Made In Sussex
The climate in Sussex is perfect for viticulture, and the chalky soils are ideal for grapevines. The soils are similar to those found in Champagne, France, which is one of the reasons why Sussex is such a great place for Sparkling wine production. The climate is also perfect for still wines, and many different varieties of grapes grown here go on to become award-winning blends.
The grapes grown in UK vineyards include: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris, Bacchus, Ortega, Pinot Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc & more.
This region has a long history of winemaking, dating back to Roman times. In recent years, Sussex has seen a rise in popularity, thanks to the quality of its wines. Today, Sussex is home to over 50 vineyards. Many of these vineyards are open to the public, so you can visit and taste the stuff for yourself. If you're looking for a particular type of wine, be sure to ask the vineyard staff for their recommendations.
That being said, here are some of the best and most famous English Wines produced in Sussex from our books.
Famous English Wines From Sussex Vineyards
Kingscote Estate
Kingscote Estate is a beautiful winery located in Sussex, England. The winery is set in the heart of West Sussex and it offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside including the Bluebell steam train, fishing lakes and more. Kingscote Estate is well known for its award-winning sparkling wines, which are made with traditional champagne methods.
The winery produces a wide range of sparkling wines, including Brut, Rosé, and Vintage varieties. The Sparkling Brut is a delicious sparkling wine that you can find for under £20 - an excellent quality wine without breaking the bank! The Sparkling Rosé is perfect for a summer BBQ - it's one of our favourites for warmer seasons. These bottles are a must-try if you enjoy prosecco!
Albourne Estate
Albourne Estate is a beautiful winery located in Sussex, England. It's one of the newer estates, having only been around since 2010 but don't let this put you off as the Albourne Estate has rapidly grown in the last 10+ years, even winning UK Wine Of The Year with its second-ever harvest! Now that's impressive.
The winery produces a wide range of still wines and sparkling wines including their Bacchus Frizzante and their Multi-Vintage traditional method sparkling wines. This vineyard estate is a great place to find delicious wine.
Bolney Wine Estate
Bolney Wine Estate is famous for its award-winning premium red, white, rosé and sparkling English wines. It's been around since 1972 and is one of the pioneers of English wine, helping to put Sussex on the map as a top wine region.
We love Bolney Estate so much that we've included it in our "Taste Of Sussex" case here. Our favourite bottles are BOLNEY BLANC DE BLANCS, BOLNEY ESTATE BUBBLY BRUT and BOLNEY ESTATE LYCHGATE RED but honestly, they create such a large variety of delicious wines that we just can't choose. Not to mention, they also offer tours and wine tasting there...
Gusbourne Estate
Gusbourne Estate is a stunning winery located in Kent, England It has been producing world-class sparkling wines since 2004 and has quickly become one of the most renowned wineries in the UK.
The estate grows a variety of grape varietals, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, which are used to produce its award-winning sparkling wines. The flagship wine is the Gusbourne sparkling wine, Brut Reserve, a delicious blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier.
Nyetimber
Nyetimber is a well-known producer of premium English sparkling wines - its earliest mentions were in the Domesday Book of 1086, almost 1,000 years ago! With such a rich history, it's probably the most globally known English wine, and for a good reason too.
Its signature bottle is the NYETIMBER CLASSIC CUVEE NV, consisting of a Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier blend. If you want to try this masterpiece without committing too much, try this half bottle here.
Nyetimber's wines are enjoyed all over the world, and they have won numerous awards over the years. If you're looking for delicious English sparkling wine, be sure to check out some of the bottles from Nyetimber. If you can get your hands on some vineyard tour tickets, even better!
Chapel Down
Now, we always call this one "the famous one". Chapel Down Estate is a well-known winery in the Sussex area, and it's famous for its award-winning sparkling and still wines. Chapel Down grows a variety of grapes including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Bacchus vines.
Its most famous wine is the Chapel Down Brut English Sparkling Wine. This wine has won numerous awards over the years, including the prestigious IWC Gold Award.
The Chapel Down rosé is also one of our favourites for warm English summers. You won't be disappointed by Chapel Down, that's for sure.
And That's It From Us.
English wines are changing the game in quality and popularity, grown and produced from our very own English soils in Sussex. If you ever have the time to visit these prestigious English vineyards or go on their wine tours, make sure to pinch a bottle or two of Sussex sparkling wines while you're at it.
Alternatively, why not check out our "Taste Of Sussex" case here - featuring three Sussex beauties: Davenport Horsmonden, Bolney Estate Lychgate Red and Wiston Estate Brut. We promise you'll love it.
