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Wine Tasting Breaks in West Sussex

Wine tasting and tour Sussex
Wine tasting and tour Sussex

Wine tasting breaks in West Sussex

Tours and tastings at internationally acclaimed vineyards close to the Skoolie

Tours and tastings at internationally acclaimed vineyards​

Wine tasting and tour Sussex

Exploring the Sussex Wine Region

You may well have heard of Nyetimber and Bolney Wine, after all, they have put Sussex on the international wine map. But when it some to wine tasting in West Sussex but there are also several other vineyards in the area worth talking about. 

 

 

Skoolie Stays has several incredible vineyards within 5-10 miles of the site at Little Thakeham Farm. The majority are open year-round for visitors interested in tours and tastings, and there are often dining experiences too. 

 

Fine wine, fine food and fine company sounds like the perfect way to spend a day, so why not make your Skoolie Stay a full on Wine Tasting Break. 

West Sussex Wine Tasting success – the recipe

The secret behind their success of Sussex’s wine is the terroir and climate. it is incredibly similar to the Champagne region and the vines thrive on the diverse mix of clay, sand and limestone. They also benefit from the relatively mild weather and low rainfall – the proximity to the sea means temperatures are kept even. No extremes. Grapes ripen slowly and absorb all those minerals to develop the most exceptional flavours.

 

Just as in Champagne, many vintners opt to produce grape varieties like Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier as these make for fabulous sparkling wine. Some also create their own stills too and it’s been such a successful story that Sussex now has several vineyards of international acclaim with wine that rivals that of the French.

 

Sussex Modern writes in more detail about each vineyard and even lets you know who needs help with the picking, but if it’s just the sampling you are after, take a look at our list of favourite vineyards. Each one offers the opportunity to learn how the wine is created and aged, how to pair wines,  how to grow vines  – they offer a fascinating, informative (and delicious!) day out. 

Wine Tasting Map West Sussex - courtesy of Wine Cellar Door
Wine Tasting Map West Sussex - courtesy of Wine Cellar Door
Book your stay and explore the stunning Sussex Wine Region

Our favourite local vineyards​

stay near kinsbrook vineyard west sussex

Kinsbrook Vineyard - 2.5 miles

Within walking distance of the Skoolie, or just a short drive, Kinsbrook offers 90 minute public tours and tastings every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 11am from May to October They include a tasting of three wines and you get a guaranteed table at the end if you fancy staying for food. They can also arrange private tours and tastings outside of those times - just get in touch. Read more about Kinsbrook in our Sussex Vineyard Accommodation blog post.

Read more about Kinsbrook in our Sussex Vineyard Accommodation blog post

Nutbourne Vinyard

Nutbourne Vineyards - 3.5 miles

Nutbourne welcomes visitors to the vineyard and cellar door all year round. In Winter you can wander through the vines along the vineyard trail, take in the views from the windmill balcony, enjoy a selection of their wines with a cheese platter and pick up a bottle or two to take away.From Easter to Harvest in September, they offer wine by the glass, picnics, guided tours and events.

Nyetimber Vinyard

Nyetimber Vineyards - 3.5 miles

Nyetimber is is regarded as England's finest sparkling wine. It's less than a mile from Nutbourne - proof of some good soil! You can sign up to an open day to sample the famed Nyetimber wines, or even enjoy one of their dining experiences.

wine tasting sussex

Ambriel Vineyard - 4.5 miles

Ambriel is a family-run boutique vineyard that sits on sunny south-facing slopes overlooking the South Downs National Park. They can arrange a bespoke private tour for you, which includes a wine tasting They even focus on areas that you are particularly interested in - just let them know. Alternatively you can sign up to their open days and join a larger group.

Wiston Estate

West Sussex Wine Tasting at Wiston Wine Estate! - 5 miles

Wiston Estate is a family-owned estate that produces exceptional sparkling wines - for which they have received critical acclaim and several awards. They offer a range of tours and tastings, as well as special events. They also have Chalk restaurant, which is an experience in itself.

Stopham Vineyard

Stopham Vineyards - 6 miles

Stopham vineyard is based in an spot of outstanding natural beauty in West Sussex and forms part of the South Downs National Park. They offer wine tasting tours with the winemaker on the majority of Saturdays at 11am or 2pm between April and September. You can also choose to add lunch by the river. They are closed on Sundays and bank holidays.

Upperton Vineyard

Upperton Vineyards - 11 miles

Upperton is a family-run vineyard set in the heart of the South Downs, with spectacular views. They offer private tours around the vineyard tour with the owner, which include a wine tasting. They also have a terrace bar, open from April until the end of the season.

Bolney Wine Estate

Bolney Wine Estate - 15 miles

We had to include Bolney's award-winning wines! The Vineyard Shop is open daily from 9am to 5pm and they offer a variety of tours and tasting experiences where you can learn about the methodology as well as how to pair wine with cheese etc. They also have a restaurant and cafe onsite, so there is plenty to keep you busy!

Book your stay and explore the stunning Sussex Wine Region
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Discover West Sussex

Featured image things to do
Featured image things to do

Discover West Sussex

Find out more about the fun activities and day trips close to Skoolie Stays at Little Thakeham Farm

Typing in a skoolie

By Ruth

There is a wealth of things to discover in West Sussex. Think fairy tale castles, glorious stately homes, wineries and vineyards and then, of course, the rolling downs. 

 

Nestled into a private meadow right in the heart of rural West Sussex, Skoolie Stays is perfectly placed for you to explore the best the county has to offer, all within 30 minutes of our site.

Discover : castles and stately homes

Arundel Castle
Image courtesy of Arundel Castle

Arundel Castle & Cathedral - 30 minutes

Just a 30-minutes from the Skoolie Stays site and you are in picturesque Arundel. It’s lovely to wander in its own right, but as we are in a section dedicated to heritage, let’s focus on the two major draws: the Castle and the Cathedral, both of which dominate the Arundel skyline.

Home of the Dukes of Norfolk and their ancestors, the Castle has been in occupation since 1067. It has stunning furniture, paintings, armour, tapestries and everything else you’d expect from a castle, as well as incredible views from the Keep. We love the gardens – they run regular re-enactments, which are always fun to watch, but  in April they are also full of glorious tulips. You can check their events page to see what they have going on. 

It is also worth visiting the gothic Cathedral. It is beautiful on the inside and out, but for a real wow factor it is worth coinciding your visit with their world famous Carpet of Flowers exhibition, which comes out just after Easter. Beautiful!

 

Both the Castle and the Cathedral are involved in Augusts’ Festival of the Arts. 

Parham House and Gardens - 10 minutes

A 10 minute drive away and you reach the beautiful Parham House and Gardens. This Elizabethan mansion was built in 1557 and is still lived in by the descendants of the original family.

The house has been sensitively restored so that guests can enjoy the beautiful furniture, paintings, books, textiles and clocks. The garden is also open to the public so that they can enjoy the deer park, mature trees, four-acre walled garden with herbaceous borders, and seven acres of landscaped pleasure grounds.  It really is a very beautiful spot. 

Petworth House - 27 minutes

Managed by the National Trust, this 17th century mansion, inspired by the Baroque mansions of Europe, has one of the finest art collections in the care of the National Trust. It was also the setting for several scenes in Netflix’s Bridgerton.

 

While the house is very lovely, our favourite activity at Petworth is walking and picnicking in the grounds. The house is set in a 700-acre deer park, designed by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, and include the Ionic Rotunda erected in about 1765. 

Discover: archaeological sites and museums

Cissbury ring
Cissbury Ring - Image courtesy of National Trust

Amberley Museum - 15 minutes

Amberley Museum is dedicated to preserving the South East’s industrial heritage and it’s a fun day out, particularly for smaller kids.

There are 36 acres to explore and over 40 exhibits to visit, including a working print shop, traditional crafts people demonstrations, lime kilns and other ancient monuments that date back to when the site was a working chalk quarry. It also has a ‘connected Earth’ telecommunications hall (so that you can show the kids a life before mobile phones!) and an industrial narrow gauge railway.

Bignor Roman Villa - 25 minutes

A farmer discovered these famous Roman mosaics whilst he was ploughing the fields in 1811!  The family still farm the land but they leave this part for the visitors to enjoy. And it is quite a sight. 


The  mosaics themselves are some of the most complete and intricate in the country. Everything is explained and there are lots of interactive elements. Fascinating stuff! Of course if your children get bored, as children have a tendency to do at historic exhibits, they also have other things going on. At the time of writing, a stunning sunflower maze was open and a pumpkin patch was due to launch for October.   

Cissbury Ring - 14 minutes

Cissbury Ring is the largest hill fort in Sussex, and the second largest in the country. The 60 acre site is owned by the National Trust and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest, its fortificatons built around the beginning of the Middle Iron-Age, possibly around 250 BC.

The site has some spectacular views and butterfly-lovers will enjoy spotting the chalkhill blues, marbled whites and Adonnis that live here. 

Chanctonbury Ring - 19 minutes

Chanctonbury Ring is another Iron Age hill fort, later used as a Roman religious site.  It is easily visible from various locations in Sussex due to its distinguishable crown of beech trees.

 

 

Again, the site has lovely views and is ideal for picnics as it’s a relatively short 30 minute walk up to the top.  We love the lower part of the walk as there are some fabulous trees with their roots exposed due to chalk erosion. It’s the perfect spot for a game of hide and seek!  

Discover: places to wander and watch wildlife

Pulborough Brooks
RSPB Pulborough Brooks: courtesy of the RSPB

Arundel Wetlands Centre - 30 minutes

A 30-minute drive away, this 65-acre nature reserve run by the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust provides a protected habitat for swans, geese, ducks, and other beautiful wetland birds. It has lovely walkways and play areas – it’s very kid-friendly.

 

There are always a host of activities taking place, from pond dipping to wood carving to boat safaris, and they also run seasonal events – check their calendar for details.  There’s also a rather lovely pub next door – The Black Rabbit…. just saying!

Knepp Castle Estate - 16 minutes

16 minutes drive away and you reach the 3,500 acre Knepp Estate,  owned by the Burrell family for over 220 years. In 2001 they embarked on a ‘rewilding’ project, using grazing animals and restoring natural water courses in order to increase wildlife in the area. It’s triggered a return of rare species, including nightingales, peregrine falcons, turtle doves and purple emperor butterflies.

 

 

There are lots of footpaths that weave through 16 miles of the Knepp Estate, allowing you to see the effects of the rewilding project up close. Kids (and adults!) will also enjoy the five tree-viewing platforms which give fabulous,  panoramic views of the surrounding countryside.

Pulborough Brooks Nature Reserve - 12 minutes

Just four miles away, the RSPB site at Pulborough Brooks offers the chance to explore grasslands, pools, wildflower meadows and newly restored heathland.

 

The visitor centre is open year-round and there are some wonderful wildlife viewing opportunities – check out their seasonal calendar to find out what you might spot.

 

Warren Hill Park - 6 minutes

Warren Hill Park , 6 minutes drive away, is a recreational green space owned by the National Trust. A classic small forestry estate, you can still recognise small plantations of softwoods, hazel and sweet chestnut coppice, and beautiful straight oaks as well as semi-natural woodland. 

 

There are plenty of broad paths, grassy glades and a small pocket of heathland and kids will love hunting for wildlife while you picnic under the trees.

Discover: hiking and biking in the South Downs

South Downs Way - from 10 minutes

Biking South Downs
Biking South Downs

The 100 miles (160 Km) long South Downs Way is a National Trail that follows the old routes and droveways along the chalk escarpment and ridges of the South Downs. Every section of it offers something different and the 48 mile stretch through West Sussex, and the areas closest to Skoolie Stays, are no exception.

 

 

Upwaltham (27 minutes drive) to Amberley is a 6.5 mile hike, taking you over Burton Down, Westburton and Bury Hill before dropping down to the River Arun. This is one of the two places where the muddy waters of the Weald have cut their way through the chalky mass of the South Downs and are a haven for wildlife.

 

 

It’s a tough climb out of Amberley as you head on the 6 mile hike towards Washington. From there it’s a 7.5 mile hike towards Washington – a hike that gives you the chance to spot the hill fort at Chanctonbury (see above).

West Sussex biking - from 10 minutes

There are some great options for mountain biking in West Sussex: the wide chalky trails of the South Downs Way, the woodland areas of Houghton or the Steyning Downland Scheme, a number of trails with varying degrees of difficulty, carefully planned, built and maintained by local volunteers and riders.

 

 

For serious mountain bikers, there are plenty of longer rides. A favourite of ours is Mountain Biking magazine’s: South Downs (MBUK 315) which takes you past Cissbury Ring. Stunning views!  For other ideas you can check out Trailforks or Outdoor Active West Sussex suggestions.

Discover: vineyards, wineries, and breweries

From-Wiston-Estate-FB-page
Image courtesy of Wiston Estate

Wiston Estate - 11 minutes

Wiston Estate has been farmed by the Goring family since 1743. The ancient chalk downland produces exceptional fruit and their cuvées, both Vintage and Non-Vintage, are delicious.

 

They offer a variety of tours from the winery, where guests can learn about the wine production, taste the award-winning wines or enjoy the Landscape and Nature tours which take in the wider estate. There is also a lovely eatery: The Chalk Restaurant. It serves up seasonal and locally sourced dishes in a  refurbished barn.

Nutbourne Vineyards - 11 minutes

Nutbourne is a family run, boutique vineyard and winery with a range of award winning still and sparkling wines. They focus on biodiversity, carbon neutral in the vineyard and reduced footprint from production and distribution.

 

It is a lovely place to visit, with wildflower meadows, alpacas, lakes, places to picnic and stunning views along the vineyard trail. In the Summer they run guided tours and tastings

 

Kinsbrook Vineyard - 7 minutes

Kinsbrook Vineyard is a relatively new vineyard that was founded in 2014 by the Beckett family. It describes itself as young and progressive and they have worked hard to create an inclusive space to teach about minimal-interventionalist, regenerative practices.

 

They have a KIN Cafe Bar, where you can try a glass of their wine, or pick up a bottle (or more!) to take away. There is also supper clubs, Sunday afternoon events (summer only) and a farm shop and eatery.

Arundel Brewery - 30 minutes

Arundel Brewery creates award-winning beers and their Brewhouse Project is the perfect place to try beers from the brewery alongside delicious homemade food.

They also hold regular events here such as Jazz Thursdays, DJ Friday nights and regular invite street food pop ups to share the site.

Hepworth Brewery - 13 minutes

 

Hepworth brews a range of lagers, bitters, pale ales, and stouts. They offer tours to groups and also have a Tap Room selling their beers, as well as others, local wines, gin and ciders.

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