Every cuvée worth knowing in Sussex: taste, food pairings, history and tags to find your match.
Every cuvée worth knowing in Sussex. Each page covers taste, food pairings, history and tags so you can filter by what you want, what you are eating or what mood you are in.
Combine filters to drill in. Each dropdown narrows the list further.
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Nyetimber's flagship multi-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. More than three years on lees give toasty, spicy aromas over a palate of honey, almond, pastry and baked apple, with fine bubbles and a long finish.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon blinis, Aged Sussex hard cheese, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
A sunset-pink multi-vintage rose of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Summer fruit and shortbread on the nose lead to redcurrant, raspberry and cherry, carried on a creamy, round texture and a silky finish.
Pairs with: Strawberries with cream, Charcuterie board, Seared tuna
Off Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Fruity
A demi-sec Chardonnay sparkler in light gold with a silver cast. Pure lemon, mineral, honey and tangerine on the nose, then a lively sweet-lemon attack offset by crisp acidity and a very clean structure.
Pairs with: Strawberries and cream, Thai green curry, Foie gras terrine
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Pale gold with a fine, delicate mousse. Lemon curd and greengage meet clotted cream and shortcrust pastry, then citrus, gooseberry, apple crumble and a flinty mineral streak. The finish is long, creamy and faintly saline.
Pairs with: Native oysters, Dover sole meuniere, Goat cheese tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant
Pale gold with very fine bubbles and an intense nose of raspberry, red apple skin and rose petal. The textured palate layers orange zest, raspberry, apricot and marzipan, with biscuit complexity from about five years on lees.
Pairs with: Roast partridge, Lobster thermidor, Truffled mushroom toast
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Wiston's best selling non-vintage blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from the chalk below the South Downs. At least four years from picking to release, with three to five of those on lees, giving autolytic depth behind bright orchard fruit.
Pairs with: Sussex oysters, Fish and chips, Cheese gougeres
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Four years in the making from hand harvested Chardonnay on Wiston's chalk. Three years on lees build autolytic texture over citrus and orchard fruit, and the wine is finished at 8 grams per litre of dosage.
Pairs with: Crab on toast, Grilled asparagus, Fresh goat cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Romantic
A non-vintage sparkling rose coloured by still red Pinot added at bottling, then rested about three years on lees. Red berry fruit sits over an autolytic, creamy base with the estate's chalk-driven acidity.
Pairs with: Cured ham and melon, Grilled sea bream, Summer berry pavlova
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative
The signature vintage wine of Wiston Estate, a classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier from Findon Park. Filigree texture, nectarine and honey over brioche, and the ageing potential the estate builds its reputation on.
Pairs with: Roast turbot, Chicken and morels in cream, Comte style aged cheese
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury
A single vineyard vintage Pinot Noir, barrel fermented in old French oak and given four to five years on lees. Rich and satisfying, with the weight barrel work brings and the length of five years in Wiston's cellars.
Pairs with: Roast guinea fowl, Mushroom risotto, Smoked eel
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Rathfinny's house style: a Pinot Noir led vintage blend grown and hand harvested on the single-site estate above Alfriston. Thirty six months on lees and a 5 gram dosage give elegant structure and a crisp, dry finesse that suits an aperitif.
Pairs with: Smoked trout pate, Gougeres and salted almonds, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Savoury
An onion-pink vintage rose whose colour comes from a dash of French oak aged Pinot Noir. Creamy perfume of ripe peach, red cherry and stewed strawberry, then saline red berries, yeasty red apple peel and white pepper spiced grapefruit with spiced nuts on the finish.
Pairs with: Sussex charcuterie, Grilled prawns, Duck liver parfait
Dry · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
Rathfinny's elegant expression, 100 per cent hand harvested Chardonnay from the Cuckmere valley chalk. Thirty months on lees and a dosage of just 3 grams per litre leave a saline kick and racy acidity in a taut, linear wine.
Pairs with: Oysters, Ceviche, Sushi
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold
Rathfinny's signature wine and its most gastronomic, made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier on the estate's south facing chalk. A minimum of 36 months on lees gives opulent texture behind vibrant red fruit character.
Pairs with: Roast partridge, Lobster with butter, Aged Gouda
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Refreshing
Rathfinny's Cradle Valley still label. A luscious peachy nose yields a rich palate of peach, pear and apricot with a long finish, kept fresh by cool-climate acidity off the chalk.
Pairs with: Crab linguine, Pan seared chalk stream trout, Thai crab cakes
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Ridgeview's best selling blend and the house definition of the classic method English style. Lemon zest, pear and floral notes open onto crisp green apple and citrus layered with toasted almond and buttery pastry, closing on saline minerality.
Pairs with: Canapes and gougeres, Fish and chips, Goat cheese and beetroot salad
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Fruity
The Pinot-led half of Ridgeview's signature pair. Bright red berry aromas and toasted almond give way to raspberry frangipane and a touch of bergamot orange, bold but balanced and built as a dinner-table wine.
Pairs with: Roast duck, Pan fried trout, Charcuterie
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
A delicate cherry blossom hue with fruit-driven purity and an abundance of fine bubbles. Wild raspberry and honeyed redcurrant on the nose, a spring-fresh sherbet palate, and a creamy, long finish.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Lobster salad, Eton mess
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative
Made solely from Chardonnay off Ridgeview's heritage vineyard in a single declared year. Bright orchard fruit and warm honeyed apricot lead, savoury coastal salinity unfolds, and layers of apple tarte tatin and spiced peach meet a luxurious mousse.
Pairs with: Oysters, Turbot with beurre blanc, Parmesan crisps
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury
A peach-gold vintage rose made only from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Fragrant redcurrant, summer berries and honey lead to bright strawberries and cherries layered with orange, cranberry and biscuit, on a soft, creamy texture.
Pairs with: Roast quail, Tuna tartare, Baked Camembert
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Bolney's sparkling English wine made from the classic Champagne varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The estate's benchmark traditional method bottling and the anchor of its sparkling range.
Pairs with: Smoked mackerel pate, Roast chicken, Sussex Charmer cheese
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Bolney's everyday Bacchus in the Lychgate range: a fresh, zesty and intensely aromatic dry white, built for early drinking rather than cellaring.
Pairs with: Grilled asparagus, Goat cheese salad, Thai fishcakes
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Fruity
Medium bodied and smooth, with plenty of fresh pear alongside citrus and honeysuckle, closing fresh with a grassy note. Bolney took a Silver at the WineGB Awards in 2019 for this bottling.
Pairs with: Tiger prawn cocktail crostini, Sushi, Vietnamese summer rolls
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
A delicate and sophisticated still Chardonnay from Bolney's own vines, with vanilla, orange blossom and apricot on the nose and crisp apple on the palate.
Pairs with: Roast chicken with tarragon, Crab linguine, Mushroom risotto
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Pale gold with a lovely mousse and a fine stream of bubbles. Citrus and melon fruit with hints of toast and honey, Chardonnay dominance bringing finesse and crisp freshness while the two Pinots add depth and character.
Pairs with: Charcuterie, Porchetta, Lobster
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
A delicate pale gold wine with silvery highlights. The palate has a firm attack that makes it genuinely refreshing, with green apple and white tropical fruits in abundance and a clean, balanced finish.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Scallops, Oysters
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
A stunning salmon colour with an abundance of bubbles and English raspberry and strawberry flavours. The Pinots hint at classic red fruits while the Chardonnay adds the freshness and finesse England is acclaimed for.
Pairs with: Stilton with honey, Dark chocolate, Berry based desserts
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold
A white sparkling wine made entirely from red grapes and released only as a limited edition. Delicate hints of toasty biscuit and blackcurrant with an appealing richness and balanced acidity.
Pairs with: Roast pheasant, Truffled scrambled eggs, Aged Comte style cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Ashling Park's house sparkling, a blend of the estate's three grapes with aromas of stone fruit and white flowers. Crisp and precise with impressive persistence and balance, good now but with real ageing potential.
Pairs with: Selsey crab on toast, Cheese souffle, Salted almonds and olives
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
A delicate, lambent gold with fine dancing bubbles. Fresh citrus, brioche and white flowers on the nose, then subtle chalk and minerality overlaid with lime, marzipan, almond and toasty notes, closing long and complex.
Pairs with: Oysters, Sole with brown butter, Almond financiers
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
A crisp English white with heady gooseberry, elderflower and lime zest mingling with spicy white pepper and clove, then honeysuckle and geranium on the palate with a juicy citric zing.
Pairs with: Goat cheese and asparagus tart, Ceviche, Chichester harbour prawns
Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Savoury
Ashling Park's best red fruit of the year, aged almost a year in French and American oak for structure, complexity and depth. Dark cherry, blackberry and subtle oak make it a table wine rather than an aperitif.
Pairs with: Roast duck breast, Mushroom and thyme tart, Slow roast lamb shoulder
Off Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Easygoing
Stopham's signature wine and the best known English Pinot Gris. Off-dry, with a little sweetness and texture carrying aromatic peach and pear fruit off the vineyard's warm sandy soils.
Pairs with: Thai green curry, Pork belly with apple, Mild blue cheese
Off Dry · Light-bodied · Medium acidity · Easygoing · Fruity
Floral on the nose with orange peel and grapefruit on the palate, moderate acidity and a touch of sweetness. A gentler, rounder reading of Bacchus than the bone-dry English norm.
Pairs with: Smoked haddock chowder, Dim sum, Summer salad with peach
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury
Pinot Blanc fermented in French oak barrels for texture and richness. Aromas of cream and apple lead to ripe melon and citrus on a rounder, more textural palate than Stopham's tank-fermented whites.
Pairs with: Seafood, Roast chicken, Leek and potato gratin
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Easygoing
Stopham's first estate Pinot Noir, a light bodied red with vibrant red cherry and raspberry aromas. Elegant on the palate with bright acidity, red berry flavours and a subtle hint of spice.
Pairs with: Roast beetroot and goat cheese, Charcuterie, Grilled salmon
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Nutbourne's classic method sparkling wine from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Blanc. White gold in colour with a natural richness and floral bouquet, part barrel matured then aged 36 months in the underground cave before hand disgorging.
Pairs with: Canapes, Oysters, Smoked salmon
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
An outstanding dry white made from 100 per cent Bacchus: crisp, fresh and enticing, with a pronounced elderflower bouquet followed by delicate gooseberries and a botanical, aromatic finish.
Pairs with: English asparagus, Heritage tomato salad, Sussex lamb
Off Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium acidity · Rustic · Fruity
An off-dry blend of Nutbourne's Riesling-style German varietals, including fruit from forty-year-old vines. A big wildflower bouquet and an abundance of hedgerow fruit, richer than a dry white but well short of dessert sweetness.
Pairs with: Strong blue cheese, Spiced duck pancakes, Pork terrine with chutney
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Festive
Highdown's traditionally made sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, grown on the chalk at Ferring. Well balanced, with orange blossom and citrus aromas carried through on the palate and a pleasing creaminess against a sherbet zing.
Pairs with: Fish and chips, Potted shrimps, Lemon drizzle cake
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Refreshing
A blush sparkling rose from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, fresh and vivacious with a delicate apple scent. Citrus on the palate combines with subtle apricot undertones and the merest hint of honey.
Pairs with: Crab salad, Parma ham with figs, Strawberry tart
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Highdown's five-grape still white blend of Reichensteiner, Bacchus, Schonburger, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Dry, fruity, clean, crisp and elegant, with flavours of peach, melon, green apple and grapefruit.
Pairs with: Grilled sardines, Summer salad with feta, Chicken caesar
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Kinsbrook's flagship traditional method sparkling wine, 70 per cent Chardonnay with Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier making up the balance. Bottle fermented and classed by the estate as a dry sparkling wine, from the Orchard Site vines planted in 2017.
Pairs with: Seared scallops, Sussex charcuterie, Fish pie
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
Kinsbrook's traditional method rose, blending Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier in that order of weight. The 2021 vintage came from a challenging growing year of frost, rain and cool summer temperatures rescued by a sunny September.
Pairs with: Salmon en croute, Roast beetroot salad, Strawberries and cream
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Super aromatic on the nose with floral elderflower and citrus notes. Bright, light and dry on the palate, the house describes it as dangerously drinkable.
Pairs with: Asparagus with hollandaise, Fresh crab, Goat cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Bold · Savoury
Kinsbrook's first foray into oaked wines, a Chardonnay that spent thirteen months in new oak barrels. Toasted buttery popcorn on the nose followed by subtle vanilla and tonka bean, aimed squarely at the Anything But Chardonnay sceptics the name jokes about.
Pairs with: Roast chicken with lemon, Lobster with drawn butter, Wild mushroom pappardelle
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Roebuck's house wine and, like everything the estate makes, a single vintage. Baked apple and ripe apricot layer with biscuity richness and a delicate hint of toasted almond, and fine bubbles carry vibrant acidity to a long, balanced finish.
Pairs with: Smoked chicken salad, Cheese and onion tart, Dressed crab
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Romantic
Made from handpicked Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier alone. Wild strawberries, ripe red berries and a hint of toasted walnut are complemented by biscuity richness and vibrant acidity, leading to a long, beautifully poised finish.
Pairs with: Duck liver parfait, Seared pigeon breast, Raspberry tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative
Produced exclusively from hand-harvested West Sussex Chardonnay, partly fermented in old Burgundian oak and aged more than five years on lees. Delicate ripe citrus and stone fruit layer with white flowers and toasted hazelnut.
Pairs with: Turbot with hollandaise, Oysters, Hazelnut crusted goat cheese
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Bold
Roebuck makes this only in exceptional years, from handpicked Pinot Noir grown at the Roman Villa vineyard. Complex and refined with delicate bubbles and a silky texture, citrus and baked apple layered with toasted brioche, honey and sweet spice.
Pairs with: Roast grouse, Roast pork belly, Aged Cheddar
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
One hundred per cent Chardonnay from a sheltered south facing slope in the Leonardslee gardens at Lower Beeding, bottle matured 36 months on lees. The estate calls it the most precise expression of the site and releases it in limited quantities each year.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Roast turbot, Parmesan and almond biscuits
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Bold · Savoury
Rose gold and seductive, and genuinely unusual: an English sparkling rose carrying 10 per cent Pinotage, a nod to the owning family's South African winemaking heritage. The estate says the variety brings unmistakable depth and originality, and production is small each year.
Pairs with: Barbecued lamb kofta, Charcuterie, Roast beetroot and goat cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Easygoing
Digby's everyday expression of what the house calls its sophisticated yet racy style. A three-way split between Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir offering richness and vitality in equal measure.
Pairs with: Fish and chips, Cheese straws, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Fruity
A vibrant pink fizz made in Leander Club's particular shade of cerise. Digby is the official English sparkling wine of the Henley-on-Thames rowing club and donates a share of profits from every bottle back to the club's young athletes.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon sandwiches, Strawberries, Coronation chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative
Digby's flagship fizz and its most Chardonnay-driven wine, at 62 per cent. The house describes the 2014 as elegant, rounded and astonishingly fresh, with extensive ageing potential.
Pairs with: Roast turbot, Chicken with morels, Aged Comte style cheese
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Bold · Savoury
Not an average pink fizz, as Digby puts it: luscious red fruit reigns with power and weight. Eighty per cent Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier make this the fullest wine in the house range.
Pairs with: Roast duck with cherries, Barbecued quail, Baked Vacherin
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
A classic mature English blanc de blancs, blended predominantly from Chardonnay with a careful addition of Pinot Blanc. Crisp and refined, with English apple, pear and peach lifted by tertiary almond and brioche, and a smooth creaminess that grows with age.
Pairs with: Oysters, Crab salad, Roasted chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Easygoing · Festive
An approachable and expressive multi-vintage sparkler drawing on five grapes: Pinot Noir for structure and red fruit, Chardonnay for elegance and citrus, Pinot Meunier for roundness, Pinot Blanc for vibrant acidity and Pinot Gris for creamy texture. Balanced, with complex primary fruit and secondary fermentation aromas.
Pairs with: Salted nuts and olives, Battered fish, Chicken and leek pie
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Pale, with a crisp light mouthfeel and the aromatic complexity English Bacchus is known for. The range runs from herbaceous tomato leaf, basil, sage and nettle through citrus and tropical fruit to elderflower and honeysuckle.
Pairs with: Asparagus and pea risotto, Sussex goat cheese, Vietnamese herb salad
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
A still white made from dark-skinned sparkling varietals, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, across two vintages. Intriguing and unusual, with subtle white cherry, wild strawberry and rose over a crisp distinctive minerality and a light, pleasing finish.
Pairs with: Trout with almonds, Charcuterie, Roast vegetable salad
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
A bold, aromatic English Bacchus that opens with a distinctive floral nose. Classic notes of apple, elderflower and gooseberry unfold on the palate with great acidity and a lingering, crisp finish.
Pairs with: Grilled asparagus, Smoked trout salad, Cream cheese and cucumber sandwiches
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Romantic
A Meunier-dominant English sparkling rose at 65 per cent, with Pinot Noir filling the rest. Fresh acidity and luscious English summer fruits give flavours of raspberry, strawberry and shortbread.
Pairs with: Summer berry tart, Cold poached salmon, Parma ham
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing
Dry, lightly oaked and refreshing. A bold, aromatic, rich and buttery nose with notes of English hedgerow gives way to a bright, crisp palate of lemon sherbet and green apple with a soft, creamy, lingering finish.
Pairs with: Roast chicken, Fish pie, Mushrooms on toast
Dry · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Contemplative · Elegant
Dermot Sugrue's signature single-vintage cuvee, Chardonnay-led and grown on South Downs chalk in the mould of Cote des Blancs grower Champagne. Open, bright, textural, salty and electric, with barrique and demi-muid work behind it and a dosage of just 6 grams per litre.
Pairs with: Native oysters, Turbot with brown butter, Aged Comte style cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Contemplative · Elegant
Named for Dermot Sugrue's late brother Barry, known as Boz, this is the house's fullest expression of English Chardonnay on South Downs chalk. Made only in the best vintages and bottled as separate single-site expressions built for long cellar ageing.
Pairs with: Roast turbot, Lobster with butter, Aged hard cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Funky · Savoury
Sugrue's unique take on English still Chardonnay, using oak fermentation, ageing under flor and controlled oxidation as well as vintage blending. The second version is a purer, more elegant and salty expression with the same patina of oak and creamy texture.
Pairs with: Manchego and marcona almonds, Grilled sardines, Roast chicken with lemon
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Bold
A dry English rose made deliberately deep in colour and character, taking its cue from Bandol, Rioja and Corsica rather than pale Provence. Blended from barrels of perfectly ripe, gently macerated Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grown across the Sugrue vineyards.
Pairs with: Grilled lamb chops, Bouillabaisse, Roast red peppers with anchovy
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Refreshing
Court Garden's classic Ditchling blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Pale silver with a lime-leaf green cast and continuous small bubbles, toasty with under-ripe pineapple and greengage behind, balanced by a creamy mousse and real freshness.
Pairs with: Seafood platter, Canapes, Fish and chips
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
One hundred per cent Chardonnay in a gentle and elegant style. International Wine Challenge judges described the 2011 as sliced green apples and gala melon, fine boned with persistent chalky length. Court Garden calls it the perfect welcome drink.
Pairs with: Canapes, Oysters, Sole goujons
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Contemplative
Court Garden's white sparkling from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier alone, made by bottle fermentation with long ageing on lees for complexity. Labelled Extra Dry, it carries a fraction more dosage than the house Brut wines and pairs as well with food as it does as an aperitif.
Pairs with: Roast pheasant, Smoked duck breast, Aged Gouda
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Savoury
A warm pink, frothy sparkling rose of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Dried cranberry and autolytic brioche over nicely defined red fruit, with lively acidity balancing a creamy mousse and a savoury finish.
Pairs with: Canapes, Charcuterie, Smoked fish
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Elegant
One of Peter Hall's named single-vintage Seyval Blanc cuvees from the fold of the Downs above Rodmell. Breaky Bottom has bottled Seyval since 1974 and releases each vintage under a different dedication, held back for years before it reaches the shop.
Pairs with: Native oysters, Smoked haddock, Sussex hard cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury
An older Seyval Blanc release from Breaky Bottom, dedicated to Brian James and drawn from a warm vintage. Extra years in the cellar deepen the autolytic character that long-aged Seyval develops.
Pairs with: Dover sole, Chicken with morels, Parmesan and walnuts
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Contemplative
Breaky Bottom's Chardonnay cuvee, dedicated to Geoffrey Aldred and drawn from the 2018 vintage. The estate planted Chardonnay alongside its founding Seyval Blanc and bottles it separately in the same long-aged style.
Pairs with: Turbot with hollandaise, Oysters, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
The classic traditional method blend from Plumpton College's own vineyards and winery under the Downs near Lewes. Hand picked, whole bunch pressed and fermented variety by variety, with part of the blend given time in old oak before assembly.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Cheese and onion tart, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Romantic
A classic traditional method rose led by Pinot Meunier with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Colour comes from a skin-fermented portion of Pinot Noir blended back in, a technique the college teaches as well as practises.
Pairs with: Charcuterie, Salmon fishcakes, Strawberries
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Refreshing
A deliberately unusual blend of Riesling, Seyval Blanc, Pinot Blanc and Regner, made by the traditional method and aged five years on lees. Plumpton calls it a one-of-a-kind alternative to the classic three-grape English cuvee.
Pairs with: Thai crab cakes, Smoked mackerel pate, Fresh goat cheese
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Crafted exclusively from hand-picked grapes grown in Plumpton's own Sussex vineyard on sandstone and clay soils. Bacchus is one of the first white varieties to ripen at the college, and the Reserve bottling is released as a numbered lot.
Pairs with: Asparagus, Sussex goat cheese, Fresh crab
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Festive
Elegant yet generous, the result of careful parcel selection and patient ageing. Parcels of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier are brought together to balance freshness with depth and precision with character, and the nose is reminiscent of delicately scented flowers.
Pairs with: Dressed crab, Gruyere gougeres, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Romantic
A bright and characterful Pinot Noir led sparkling rose made by Dermot Sugrue from hand-picked Sussex and Hampshire fruit. Fresh cranberry and red currant sit alongside subtle spice and toasted brioche in an approachable style, reminiscent of the long warm summer it came from.
Pairs with: Charcuterie, Seared tuna, Cranberry-glazed ham
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
A multi-layered still Chardonnay that evolves in the glass. Bright and precise, with orchard fruit, citrus zest and beeswax notes carried on a long elegant finish, shaped by clay loam and chalk soils that lend both freshness and depth.
Pairs with: Roast chicken, Crab linguine, Soft sheep cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Fruity
A crisp and refined still white with notes of pear and fresh pollen and a medium-bodied, creamy texture. Artelium calls it a uniquely English expression of the grape, showing the cool maritime climate and the diversity of Sussex terroir.
Pairs with: Roast pork with apple, Smoked trout, Mild curry
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Festive · Elegant
Bluebell's first multi-vintage Classic Cuvee, blending wines from five different harvest years. A beautiful straw gold with fine bubbles, aromas of baked apples, elderflower and brioche leading to lime, mandarin spice, red apple skin and pastry, with a long lingering finish.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Cheese and ham croquettes, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Made exclusively from Chardonnay in a single vintage. Invigorating scents of citrus blossom and lime with underlying crisp hints of gooseberry, elderflower and peach, closing lively with well-balanced acidity.
Pairs with: Oysters, Light fish dishes, Goat cheese and elderflower salad
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
An elegant vintage rose of 61 per cent Pinot Noir and 39 per cent Pinot Meunier. Soft peach, wild strawberry, raspberry and rose hip on the nose, underpinned by plum, Turkish delight, nectarine and violet for a rounded wine with a delicate creamy finish.
Pairs with: Duck liver parfait, Roast pork with plums, Raspberry pavlova
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Easygoing
A rare expression of English Pinot Noir, crafted exclusively from estate-grown fruit at Bluebell. Delicate aromas of wild strawberries, red cherries and subtle spice lead into a balanced palate with bright fruit, silky tannins and refreshing acidity.
Pairs with: Roast beetroot and goat cheese, Duck breast, Mushroom tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Refreshing
A blend of all three classic grapes from Oxney's certified organic single estate near Rye. Dry, with notes of red apple, lemon and brioche over the high acidity the eastern Weald delivers.
Pairs with: Rye Bay scallops, Smoked salmon, Roast chicken
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Festive
A brilliant gold traditional method sparkler with a very fine perlage, built on 78 per cent Pinot Noir with Müller-Thurgau, Chenin Blanc and Ortega filling out the blend. A warm aromatic nose of orange and white peach over a generous, refined and textural chalky palate.
Pairs with: Wood-fired pizza, Roast chicken, Aged Cheddar
Dry · Medium-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Funky
A skin contact Ortega in which apricot, yellow peach and honeysuckle unfold alongside orange blossom and citrus zest. Broad and expressive with a supple richness, fine skin-derived tannins giving a gentle tea-like grip, and dried citrus peel on the long finish.
Pairs with: Roast squash with tahini, Moroccan lamb tagine, Washed rind cheese
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Ortega fermented in clay qvevri. White peach, elderflower and citrus peel are underpinned by a distinct chalky minerality, and the palate is poised and fine with nectarine and greengage, a gentle saline character and a persistent finish defined by purity.
Pairs with: Grilled sea bass, Oysters, Green herb salad with feta
Dry · Medium-bodied · Racy acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Zingy and vibrant with lifted aromatics that unfurl as the wine opens, all fresh lemon tart, pastry and all. A bright but delicate shade of gold, striking a balance of tension from a fine-boned growing year against the texture of several different ageing vessels. Tillingham advises serving it cool rather than cold.
Pairs with: Roast chicken, Rye Bay plaice, Leek and cheese tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Savoury
Oastbrook calls this a perfect expression of a lightly oaked aromatic English Chardonnay, grown on the clay soils of the Rother valley near Bodiam that owner and winemaker America Brewer planted from 2018.
Pairs with: Roast chicken, Fish pie, Mushrooms on toast
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Refreshing
A generous bouquet of ripe pear, peach and honeydew melon with crisp minerality underneath. One of the softer, rounder whites in Oastbrook's Rother valley range.
Pairs with: Trout with almonds, Chicken and tarragon, Summer vegetable tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Elegant
Pure nectar of ripe stonefruits and honeysuckle, as the estate puts it. A single-block bottling from Oastbrook's Rother valley vines, richer and more perfumed than the estate's Pinot Blanc.
Pairs with: Roast pork with apple, Thai crab cakes, Smoked duck salad
Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Savoury
Oastbrook's flagship red, described by the estate as a perfect expression of terroir from an exceptional vintage, with an intense ruby colour and a rich palate that shows what English Pinot Noir is capable of.
Pairs with: Roast duck, Venison from the Weald, Mushroom and thyme risotto
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Elegant · Savoury
An elegant fifty-fifty blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay with complex aromas of honeysuckle, fig and mandarin, ending on savoury characteristics with an intense length developed over five years of lees ageing.
Pairs with: Roast turbot, Rye Bay scallops, Aged Gouda
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Easygoing · Festive
The entry point to the Charles Palmer range: a traditional method sparkling wine from a fifty-fifty Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend, given two years in vat and nine months on lees. Inviting melon, brioche and subtle citrus over delicate ripe stone fruit and baked apple.
Pairs with: Fish and chips, Cheese straws, Prawn cocktail
Dry · Full-bodied · High acidity · Contemplative · Savoury
A blanc de noirs made from 100 per cent Pinot Noir with three years on lees. Savoury aromas with hints of pine and manuka honey, then cantaloupe and truffle on the palate with a zesty finish.
Pairs with: Truffled scrambled eggs, Roast pheasant, Aged Comte style cheese
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Easygoing · Refreshing
One of the few tank method sparkling wines in Sussex, made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Fresh mineral and baked apple on the nose with a hint of meadow hay, then soft apricot and vanilla on the palate and a gentle savoury finish.
Pairs with: Antipasti, Salted popcorn, Apple tart
Dry · Medium-bodied · Medium tannin · High acidity · Bold
Aged twelve months in French oak and built on the 777 Pinot Noir clone the vineyard selected for its quality. A rich, fruit-forward bouquet with hints of tobacco opens onto a palate layered with blackberry, cherry, dark chocolate and spice.
Pairs with: Roast venison, Duck with cherries, Mushroom and chestnut pie
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
Styled deliberately to show cool climate character, with no oak and none of the heavy buttery notes Chardonnay often carries. Fruit from the Marlpit vineyard's Jurassic clay bed lends minerality, and the palate runs to pear, baked apple, white peach and lime.
Pairs with: Grilled Rye Bay plaice, Chicken salad, Fresh goat cheese
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Funky · Easygoing
A natural, unfiltered ancestral method sparkling wine with a gentle mousse. Spicy baked apple notes on the nose are balanced by a mouthwatering sherbet apple hit, and the fine bubbles give a gentle, engaging texture at just 10.5 per cent alcohol.
Pairs with: Sourdough and salted butter, Fish tacos, Fresh goat cheese
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
An organic white built on Solaris with Reichensteiner and Johanniter. An aromatic orange pith bouquet develops into fresh citrus fruit and flavours on the palate, light at 10.5 per cent alcohol.
Pairs with: Grilled mackerel, Green salad with citrus dressing, Steamed mussels
Dry · Light-bodied · Low tannin · High acidity · Rustic
A lightly spiced organic red from Regent and Rondo, the two hybrid reds that actually ripen in the eastern Weald. Tantalising aromas of pepper and smoked bramble over rich dark fruit flavours balanced by soft tannins, at just 9.5 per cent alcohol.
Pairs with: Charcuterie, Mushroom pasta, Sausage and lentils
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Elegant
A very special English organic and biodynamic white from 32 year old Rivaner vines, some of the oldest commercial vines in the county. Fine elderflower aromas lead to an intensely fresh fruit palate that the vineyard likens to Riesling.
Pairs with: Smoked eel, Pork schnitzel with lemon, Asparagus
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Romantic · Fruity
A refined and elegant sparkling rose crafted from Burgundian Pinot Noir. Small bunches of beautifully ripe fruit give a delicate salmon pink colour with persistent bubbles, soft on the palate and brimming with summer fruits, raspberries and strawberries with a touch of cream.
Pairs with: Smoked salmon, Strawberries and cream, Parma ham and melon
Dry · Light-bodied · High acidity · Refreshing · Easygoing
Bright and vibrant, with aromas of elderflower, nectarine, pear and peach, a lively minerality and flavours of fresh lime zest, grapefruit and layered stone fruit. The vineyard calls it British summertime in a glass.
Pairs with: Asparagus with poached egg, Sussex goat cheese, Thai fishcakes
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Fruity · Refreshing
Packed with tropical fruit over a floral honeysuckle nose and a flinty minerality. Aromas of pear and citrus work with flavours of pear, apricot, honey and grapefruit, with a creamy complexity and an exuberant finish.
Pairs with: Roast pork with apple, Smoked haddock, Mild Thai curry
Dry · Medium-bodied · High acidity · Savoury · Elegant
A Bacchus Fume: Bacchus aged in oak barrels for subtle richness and complexity. It belongs to Hidden Spring's Alchemy range, where only the finest hand-selected grapes are used and each release is a unique small batch.
Pairs with: Roast chicken with herbs, Smoked trout pate, Mushrooms on toast
Peak wine-travel season in Sussex is spring through autumn, with harvest the standout window.
classified-growth and grand-cru estates require booking days to weeks ahead; smaller family domaines often take walk-ins midweek.
most estates open 10:00 to 17:00 by appointment, often closed Sunday and Monday.
tipping is not expected at tastings; buying a bottle from the cellar door is the customary thank-you.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. Sussex rewards trust.
