Say Cheers this Christmas with Wines from Kent and Sussex
Toast the festive season and support local at the same time with a bottle or two of bubbly from one of our many local vineyards.
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Our corner of the country offers a wealth of award-winning wines and is making its mark on the world stage gaining accolades in international awards. Our chalk soils, favourable climate and south-facing slopes all offer ideal conditions for producing sparkling varieties and along with our growing number of skilled winemakers we are producing some world class wines.
Here are some vineyards right here on our doorstep where you can support local and raise a glass to Christmas and the new year too.
Chapel Down, Kent
Located in Tenterden in Kent, Chapel Down is 'England’s leading wine producer' and is home to a range of award-winning varieties grown in the chalky terroir of the North Downs. Last year its sparkling Rose officially became England’s best rose with an award win at the Decanter Wine Awards for Best In Show. Its best-selling rose, it is a “classic blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Early Pinot Noir” with “aromas of redcurrant, citrus and wild strawberry”. It is 12% ABV and is ideally served at 8-10C.
Ridgeview, Sussex
Ridgeview Wine Estate is located in Ditchling Common in East Sussex and began producing wine in 1995. In 1999 it built England’s first underground wine cellars and the following year Ridgeview's first bottling was released, winning English Wine of the Year. It has since gone on to win numerous awards and in 2006 Queen Elizabeth II celebrated her 80th birthday with the Blanc de Blanc 2004 duing her banquet. Ridgeview’s Bloomsbury NV is made from a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier and was the official wine served for Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The flavour of this 12% ABV sparkling wine is described as “fruit-driven with vibrant citrus aromas and notes of lemon zest, green apple and honey”. Awards for it include Silver in the Decanter World Wine Awards 2018 and Silver Oustanding in International Wine and Spirit Competition 2018.
Gusbourne, Kent & Sussex
Established for over 20 years, Gusbourne’s estate includes 60 hectares in Appledore, Kent and 30 hectares next to the Goodwood Estate in West Sussex. Growing the highest quality Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes its debut vintages received critical acclaim in 2010 and Gusbourne has gone on to win prestigious national and international industry awards each year. Its best selling wine is the Brut Reserve and has won more than 19 awards including being a Gold Medal Winner at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2025, winning Gold at the IWC 2024, Silver at the IWSC 2024 and in 2024 winning the Decanter Silver at the World Wine Awards. The 2022 vintage, which is 12% ABV, has "more developed biscuit notes, toasted cobnuts and delicate spice, leading to a long, zesty finish". It would also make a lovely gift and you can get a complimentary gift box if needed.
The Bolney Estate, Sussex
One of the first UK commercial vineyards, The Bolney Estate in Haywards Heath, Sussex, beagn its story in 1972, going on to win its first award in 1985 for its Bolne 1983. It has since grown building a winery, vistor centre, café and shop. Its award-winning Cuvee Rose 2019, 12.3 ABV, has floral notes with red apple and cranberry and is made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes. Among its awards it most recently won silver at the Wine GB 2021 and Best English Sparkling Wine (National champion) at the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships 2019.
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Squerryes, Kent
Squerryes estate is found in Westerham in Kent and crafts its wine using the traditional method, growing high quality grapes on the chalk-rich slopes of the North Downs, which has seen it awarded more then 15 gold medals across three major wine awards over the last decade. Its Blanc de Blancs 2018 sparkling wine won best in show at the Decanter World Wine Awards in 2021 and is described by estate owner, Henry Warde, to be “the finest wine to leave the estate”. Using the finest Chardonnay grapes this sparkling variety is 12% ABV.
Tinwood Estate, Sussex
Situated in a charming corner of the South Downs, the Tinwood Estate is a family-owned wine estate established in 2007 when 28 acres of vines were planted. The vineyard has since continued to grow now covering 110 acres. It grows Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes on the flinty, chalky soils of the estate near Chichester in Sussex. Made 100% from the Chardonnay grape, Tinwood Estate’s Blanc de Blancs is a multiple international Gold award-winner – in 2022 it won at the International Wine Challenge (IWC) and International Wine & Spirits Challenge (IWSC). Tinwood says the 12% ABV sparkling wine’s “palate has a firm attack, making this wine genuinely refreshing, with green apple and white tropical fruits in abundance".
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Balfour Winery, Kent
In the heart of Kent, Balfour Winery is “pioneers for both English traditional method sparkling wines, and a new wave of English still wines". Located in Staplehurst, the first vines were planted in 2002 on the Hush Heath Estate and in 2007 the Balfour Brut Rosé 2004 became the first English wine to win a gold medal and the Trophy at the International Wine Challenge. One of Balfour’s signature wines Leslie’s Reserve Brut, 12% ABV, is crafted using the traditional Champagne Method, with grapes grown in Wealden clay, greensand and chalk soil, offering a drink that offers fresh green apple, citrus zest and hints of dried herbs.
Simpsons, Kent
Simpsons’ estate is situated on the iconic chalk slopes of the North Downs of Kent in Elham Valley. In 2014 it planted its first 10 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir on the estate, followed by a further 20 hectares in 2016-2017. Simpson's sparkling Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs 2021, which was created from exclusively estate grown Pinot Noir Clone 115 that were hand-picked from the vineyards, won gold at the International Wine Challenge 2020 and gold in the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships 2022. At 12% ABV, this wine has luxurious, pâtisserie and stone fruit aromas.
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Kingscote Estate & Vineyard, Sussex
Located in the heart of West Sussex, Kingscote Esatate & Vineyard is an award-winning family-owned vineyard with more than 70 acres of vines offering a variety of grapes. Made with Meunier and Pinot Noir grapes through the original method, Kingscote’s 12% ABV Rose Brut NV has “fresh acidity and luscious English summer fruits are abundant in this delightfully complex wine, boasting flavours of raspberry, strawberry and shortbread”.
Biddenden, Kent
Owned and managed by the Barnes family since 1969, Biddenden Vineyard is located on south-facing slopes just outside the Kent village and spans 23 acres, growing 12 different grape varieties, producing numerous award-winning white, rose, red and sparkling English wines. Biddenden’s Gribble Bridge Sparkling Rosé won bronze at the 2023 Decanter World Wine Awards and Wine GB Awards 2021 as well as at the London Wine Competition 2023. Produced from Pinot Noir and Reichensteiner, it is off-dry with a palate of summer fruits, strawberry, raspberry and pear, with an ABV of 12% and is best served at 6-8C.
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