Sussex Wine Region

The Sussex PDO product specification records that Sussex has a long history of growing grapes, that the Kingdom of Sussex was established in Saxon times around 477AD, and that in 1832 it was divided into two districts, West and East. According to Nyetimber, its first vines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, were planted in 1988 in the lee of the South Downs, and Eric Heerema became the estate's owner in 2006. Decanter (2024) describes Bolney as one of the UK's oldest commercial vineyards, and Ridgeview, along with Nyetimber, as one of Sussex wine's most visible and longest-established names. Decanter (2024) also reports that Wiston planted its first vines in 2006 on an estate owned by the Goring family since 1743, that Rathfinny was established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, and that Oxney had its first vintage in 2014.

• The PDO specification records that Sussex was divided into two districts, West and East, in 1832
• Nyetimber planted its first vines in 1988, in the lee of the South Downs (Nyetimber)
• Decanter (2024) calls Bolney one of the UK's oldest commercial vineyards
• Rathfinny was established in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver (Decanter, 2024)

The Sussex PDO covers the counties of East and West Sussex, whose boundary, per the product specification, includes the vast majority of the South Downs National Park. The specification states that the majority of Sussex vineyards are based either on the chalk of the South Downs or on the mineral rich greensands to the north. The South Downs rise out of the sea at Beachy Head in East Sussex and run through West Sussex into Hampshire. The specification describes them as part of the same band of chalk, an extension of the Paris Basin, which runs through northern France into southern England, and Decanter's South Downs travel guide notes that the same seam of rock re-emerges on the other side of the Channel in Champagne country. According to the specification, chalk acts as a reservoir, storing an estimated 300 to 400 litres of water per cubic metre, that gives the vines a steady supply of water even in the driest summers, and it draws in water through capillary action. The greensand soils to the north of the South Downs also provide free draining soils. The specification calls Sussex one of the driest and warmest areas in England, with average rainfall typically between 600 and 850mm per annum and Growing Degree Days of around 970 to 1,050 in the April to October growing season. The cooler evenings and cool evening breezes are particularly important, helping grapes develop high levels of natural acidity, which the specification calls crucial for sparkling wine.

• Most Sussex vineyards sit on South Downs chalk or on the greensands to the north (Sussex PDO specification)
• The specification describes the South Downs chalk as an extension of the Paris Basin running through northern France into southern England
• Average rainfall is typically between 600 and 850mm per annum (Sussex PDO specification)
• Chalk stores an estimated 300 to 400 litres of water per cubic metre, according to the specification

Sussex was entered on the UK register of protected wine names as a Protected Designation of Origin on 5 July 2022, following an application dated 15 April 2021 (Defra register, GOV.UK). Decanter (2022) reports that producers including Rathfinny, Ridgeview and Bolney began their quest to turn Sussex into an appellation in 2015, and Defra's announcement said the registration was possible thanks to the UK's departure from the European Union. All grapes must come from vineyards inside East and West Sussex, and all winemaking, vinification, on-lees storage and finishing must take place within the same boundaries. Sparkling wine must be made by the traditional method from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Arbanne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Pinot Noir Précoce, with a minimum actual alcoholic strength of 11%. It must stay in bottle for at least 15 months before release, with a minimum of 12 months on tirage lees. At least 85% of the grapes must be of the nominated year for a vintage wine, and single variety wines must contain at least 90% of the stated variety. Sparkling wine grapes must be hand harvested, though the Sussex Wine Producers may give a dispensation for machine harvesting in exceptional years. Still wine may be made from a longer list of varieties including Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling and Dornfelder, and its grapes may be harvested by hand or machine. Still wines must reach a minimum of 10% ABV. For both categories the maximum harvest yield under normal conditions is 12 tonnes per hectare, with an absolute maximum of 14 tonnes per hectare in exceptional circumstances. Each cuvee of Sussex sparkling wine must be analysed by an accredited organisation before bottling, and before release it is tested by the Scheme Manager, Campden BRI, including a qualitative assessment by a panel certified as independent and competent; each still wine is also subject to an organoleptic test.

• Registered as a PDO on the UK scheme on 5 July 2022 (Defra register)
• Sparkling: traditional method, at least 15 months in bottle including a minimum of 12 months on tirage lees, minimum 11% alcohol
• Sparkling varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Arbanne, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Petit Meslier and Pinot Noir Précoce
• Yield: 12 tonnes per hectare under normal conditions, 14 tonnes per hectare absolute maximum

Nyetimber says it uses only estate-grown grapes from its own vineyards, spread across several separate sites on the greensand and chalk soils of Sussex, Hampshire and Kent; Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs and Winemaker Brad Greatrix first joined in 2007. Decanter (2024) reports that Ridgeview, near Ditchling Common Country Park, is run by Simon Roberts, his wife Mardi and his sister Tamara, and sources grapes from all over the south of England. Rathfinny, a little inland from Seaford, has 93ha planted and offers accommodation in the Flint Barns (Decanter, 2024); its founder Mark Driver was spokesperson for the Sussex Wine Producers, the applicant named in the PDO specification. Bolney was family owned until it was bought in 2022 by Freixenet Copestick (Decanter, 2024). Decanter's 2024 itinerary also covers Wiston, Ambriel, which has 9.5ha of vines on greensand soils, and Oxney, which planted 14ha of vines. The PDO specification credits the expansion of Plumpton College, located just north of Brighton, with bolstering winemaking skills in Sussex, and notes that many of the region's winemakers and vineyard managers have attended its courses.

• Nyetimber: first vines 1988; estate-grown grapes from sites in Sussex, Hampshire and Kent (Nyetimber)
• Ridgeview: near Ditchling Common, sources grapes from all over the south of England (Decanter, 2024)
• Rathfinny: established 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, 93ha planted (Decanter, 2024)
• Plumpton College, just north of Brighton, has trained many Sussex winemakers and vineyard managers (Sussex PDO specification)

The PDO specification defines Sussex sparkling wine as a traditional method quality sparkling white, rosé and red wine. The specification describes crisp lemon citrus and green apple acidity from the Chardonnays, while the Pinots can have a more earthy mix of red berry and baked apple flavours. With extended lees aging, the wines develop toasty, brioche-like autolytic notes, fresh toast, melon, and honey aromas, as the specification describes for longer on-lees bottle aging. Under the PDO rules, a Blanc de Blancs contains at least 90% Chardonnay, and a Blanc de Noirs no less than 90% Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier. The specification links the warm days, cooler evenings and long growing season to sparkling wines with refreshing natural acidity. For still wine, it describes mainly light wines from crisp dry whites to fruity reds and elegant rosés, with the whites showing lemon, lime, elderflower and other floral notes, apple, pear and gooseberry. Reds are described as generally lighter in style, with hints of red and black fruits, leather, juicy plums and wild berry.

• Chardonnay brings crisp lemon citrus and green apple acidity to Sussex sparkling wine (Sussex PDO specification)
• Longer on-lees bottle aging brings autolytic notes of brioche, fresh toast, melon and honey
• Blanc de Blancs: at least 90% Chardonnay; Blanc de Noirs: at least 90% Pinot Noir and/or Pinot Meunier
• Still whites show lemon, lime, elderflower, apple, pear and gooseberry (Sussex PDO specification)

In Food Standards Agency data reported in WineGB's June 2025 Industry Report, West Sussex had 671ha of vines, second among UK counties behind Kent, and East Sussex had 461ha, fourth. The same report ranks West Sussex third (188ha) and East Sussex fifth (74ha) for the largest plantings in the last five years. Decanter (2024) reports that Sussex accounts for more than a quarter of England's vineyard plantings. Announcing the PDO in 2022, Food and Farming Minister Victoria Prentis cited a 90% increase in vineyards in the South Downs national park since 2016. Decanter (2024) describes a burgeoning wine tourism offering promoted by Sussex Modern, an independent consortium of businesses. Rathfinny offers accommodation in the Flint Barns, and Wiston has its Chalk Restaurant and a visitor centre offering tours and tastings (Decanter, 2024).

• West Sussex 671ha and East Sussex 461ha under vine (WineGB Industry Report, June 2025, Food Standards Agency data)
• Sussex accounts for more than a quarter of England's vineyard plantings (Decanter, 2024)
• Defra's 2022 announcement cited a 90% increase in vineyards in the South Downs national park since 2016
• Sussex Modern, an independent consortium of businesses, promotes the region's wine tourism (Decanter, 2024)

Primary sources (Defra's UK register of protected wine names on GOV.UK and the Sussex PDO product specification, WineGB, and Nyetimber's own site for its own facts): https://www.gov.uk/protected-food-drink-names/sussex, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/64198e2ce90e0769f47f4755/Product_specification_for_Sussex_final_.docx, https://winegb.co.uk/2022/06/15/press-release-from-defra-sussex-pdo-approved/, https://winegb.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/WineGB-2025-Industry-Report.pdf, https://nyetimber.com/our-story/, https://nyetimber.com/product/classic-cuvee-mv/. Secondary: https://www.decanter.com/wine-news/sussex-wine-producers-celebrate-after-earning-pdo-status-482496/, https://www.decanter.com/wine/sussex-wine-tour-your-five-day-itinerary-530297/, https://www.decanter.com/wine-travel/united-kingdom/wine-trails-south-downs-travel-guide-282433/. Last verified 2026-09-28