A guide to Wiston Estate, Nutbourne, and Kinsbrook
West Sussex has become one of the finest areas to make both sparkling and still wine in the UK. With the right climate, and the same chalky soil Champagne also boasts, West Sussex has everything it needs to be an ideal location to make fantastic British wine. It is, therefore, no surprise that Sussex is the largest wine producer in the UK. In this article, I will take a closer look at Wiston Estate, Kinsbrook and Nutbourne - three of the best known wineries and vineyards in West Sussex. Here you can see an example of how the chalk lies with the vine growing through!
First up, I visited Wiston Estate. Their care to both their winemaking process and customers alike is outstanding. It is a family-owned vineyard which has been producing award-winning sparkling wine since 2006, having won ‘winery of the year’ in 2018, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The vineyard is planted over 12 hectares and is known for its Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. The land has been in the family since 1743, when Elizabeth Fagge, heiress to Wiston House, married her neighbouring farmer, Sir Charles Matthew Goring. The land has since stayed in the Goring family. When Harry Goring went to South Africa, he met Pip, and later married her coming back to take over the Estate in 1972. Pip had a dream of setting up vineyards there, but nothing came to fruition until 2006 when Richard Goring, Harry and Pip’s son, returned from Canada with his wife Kirsty and took over the Estate.
One thing you can be sure of, is how much patience goes into the winemaking in Wiston. The grapes are handpicked after a minimum of two years from planting the vine. The grapes are pressed in their own winery at the Wiston Estate in their Coquard press from Champagne - one of only four outside of France, and juices left to ferment making a still wine. Once the wine is made, it’s left to rest in steel tanks or oak barrels for another 8-9 months, then the wines are blended to the desired mix. Finally, it’s bottled with yeast and sugar, tightly sealed, left to ferment and age for a minimum of 3 years. They specialise in sparkling wine and not only is the wine delicious, the feeling of ease and care across the Estate is wonderful.
Next, I visited Kinsbrook. Kinsbrooke is a boutique winery which specialises in producing small-batch, handcrafted wines. This vineyard is run by Joe Beckett (as seen in this picture) and Rebecca Dancer, they’re the UK’s youngest vineyard owners. I had a wine tasting of 3 of their wines, each different and fantastic. They have Rondo grapes, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meuneir, Bacchus, and Pinot Gris.
Joe explained things in a way which felt easy and relatable, it was a great experience and a breath of fresh air. In 2017, Joe came back from New Zealand having had been inspired by the wine scene with a plan to grow vines on his family land. He had no experience, but jumped in head first planting 20,000 vines. Today, they have created an amazing area to see the vineyards, they have beehives, plant their own produce, and have a big farmhouse with a deli, selling the wine and a fantastic eatery. Their biggest philosophy is ‘from the ground up’, to keep everything as you find it, keeping the soil in great condition and being sustainable.
My final stop was Nutbourne which is another family run vineyard producing premium wines since 2010, and every part of the winemaking process is done on site. The vineyard is located in the heart of West Sussex and is known for its unique terroir, allowing it to produce exceptional still and sparkling wines, across 26 acres of land. The area is beautiful, with a shop, mill, huge expanses of vineyards and is just a fantastic day out. Incredibly, they have also become carbon neutral.
The vineyards have been owned and run by the Gladwin family for over 30 years. Peter Gladwin's passion and love for what he does was clear from the get go, which is wonderful to see as you’re going around. They grow 8 different grapes which are: The Rieseling style (Bacchus, Huxelrebe and Rechensteiner), and also Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc, to make both their still and sparkling wines. Their sparkling blend “Nutty”, has been awarded the Gore-Browne Trophy (for overall wine of the year) at the English and Welsh Wine of the Year Competition 2013.
West Sussex is a treasure trove of wineries and vineyards, each with its unique character and style. Whether you are a seasoned wine connoisseur or a casual enthusiast, a visit to Wiston Estate, Kinsbrook and Nutbourne is sure to be an unforgettable experience. So, pack your bags, grab a glass, and let’s explore the best of West Sussex’s wine country!