Wine in Arundel and the coastal plain, Sussex

Digby Fine English ★ 4.4

Sparkling wine house founded by Trevor Clough and Jason Humphries, first wines released in 2013, with an Arundel tasting room and fruit bought from partner vineyards across the south.

Tasting: Tasting room on Arundel High Street pouring the sparkling range by the glass and flight

Highdown Vineyard ★ 3.9

Vineyard on the southern slopes of the Downs between Littlehampton and Worthing, run as a weddings and events venue pouring its own wine rather than as a daily cellar door.

Digby Fine English Cellar Door ★ 4.5

Arundel high street tasting room for Digby's traditional-method English sparkling, open Thursday to Sunday for flights or a glass without booking ahead.

Slake Spirits ★ 4.1

Worthing distillery run by Dr Thomas Martin-Wells, distilling gin from hand-foraged botanicals at The Chalk House and opening for tastings by appointment.

Highdown Vineyard ★ 3.9

The vineyard below Highdown Hill pours its own wine at weddings and private events rather than opening a daily tasting room, which is why it stays off the standard Sussex wine trail.

Why locals love it: Vines on the southern slope of the Downs between Littlehampton and Worthing, run as an events venue rather than a cellar door, so almost nobody lists it.

Tip: There is no walk-in tasting. Contact the vineyard directly, and walk Highdown Hill above it for the view over the vines to the sea.