Local Vineyards

Click on the text to be taken direct to the vineyard’s website.

Bolney – Haywards Heath award winning, a little smaller and further away than Denbies but worth a visit, and trip to the super care. Discount vouchers usually available online for tasting & tours.

Denbies – Dorking’s famous English Vineyard offers wonderful walks across the Downs as well as an educational tour or fun ride in the vineyard ‘train’, a good value meal in the restaurant and surprising shopping opportunities in their somewhat bizarre gift shop. Again, discount tours can usually be purchased online, but are worth the full price too. Reputed to be the UK’s largest vineyard – it’s worth booking a tour and finding out a bit about the history.

Denbies Vineyard

Tinwood, near Chichester – a notch above the others! Worth the trip. Book a tour & tasting, and take home a case of de-stressing memories and nectar. The much smaller, family owned Nutbourne Vineyard, is just down the road and worth a visit too if you’re in the area (see below).

Nutbourne Vineyard, Pulborough is a very welcoming, pretty little vineyard which produces really interesting wine with lots of depth and character. Owned and run by the Gladwin family – Peter Gladwin is one of the best known outside catering chefs in the city of London. Two of his sons run restaurants in central London locations, and the third son works at the vineyard & farm, where much of the meat served in the Gladwin Restaurants is reared. Bridget Gladwin heads up the vineyard, as well as being a successful artist; whose work is displayed on the labels of their wines. This is a really nice touch, underpinned by ‘tasting cards’ whose illustrations match each label. With a tasting description of each wine on the back, these cards add to the intrigue of the wines, and make the bottles a lovely gift.

The vineyard has a pretty outdoor bar (and, of course, oven!) where events are sometimes held, and an intriguing disused windmill, from which you will enjoy great views over the vines. A really interesting place to visit – where you will feel welcome, whether visiting just for a walk and to try & buy the wine, or for a tour, often led by Peter himself or for an event. Just down the road from the much larger Tinwood Estate.

Stopham Vineyard, Pulborough. Educational and very enjoyable tour & tasting, a little more expensive than some vineyards, but the knowledge gained and size of the tasting glasses accounts for that. There is a good walk too, from Fittleworth to Stopham. The Vineyard offers fantastic views across the Downs, and the tour of the barns gives an informative overview of the wine making process. The White Hart, overlooking the 13th century bridge is a lovely local.