Taste English vintages in Sussex
With over 200 vineyards to visit and tour in Britain, there’s never been a better time to treat yourself to a quintessentially British boozy getaway. Our home-grown, zesty wines and bubbly are making a mark on the international wine map, with many high-profile producers tucked away in the south of England. On the edge of the South Downs in sunny Sussex, surrounded by rolling hills and sheltered by woodland on either side, Bolney Wine Estate’s protected pastures, sandstone soil and ideal microclimate make for a viticultural sweet spot. For an exploration of the vineyard and winery, including a tasting of five wines and cheeses, try the ‘taster tour’ (£20 per person; bolneywineestate.com). For something more luxurious, tuck into the ‘grand gourmet’, a tour of the vines coupled with a seasonal two-course English buffet lunch, matched with five Bolney wines (£45 per person). If you’re happy to linger, take a seat at The Eighteen Acre, the elegant onsite restaurant with panoramic views over the vines. The menu changes seasonally, but expect such informal offerings as a a hearty ploughman’s with local cheeses and meats, or a warming seasonal soup. Don’t leave without sampling a glass or two of the latest harvest on the terrace overlooking the vineyard. The Estate Bacchus is a delicious balance of zesty acidity and sweet fruity flavours, with a hint of hedgerow fruits like gooseberry and elderflower. Fancy something bubbly? Try the blanc de blancs, a classic sparkling wine packed with citrus and floral notes. Bolney’s efforts to use up excess ingredients from wine productions has resulted in some sustainable spirits. Sip a rosso vermouth and tonic (£6), or a Foxhole G&T (£6.50) as a tasty alternative to the traditional wines.
Combine your day of wine-fuelled wanderings with a stay at Ockenden Manor, an Elizabethan manor house and spa, around a 10-minute taxi-ride away. Indulgence is the order of the day here; fill your time with pampering spa treatments and home-grown food in peaceful surroundings. Choose from a traditional room in the main manor or a modern spa suite. The contemporary spa building is set inside a 19th-century walled garden. The indoor and outdoor pools, jacuzzis and seemingly endless relaxation nooks are worth the trip in themselves. Unwind before dinner with a muscle melt massage (£64). Start your evening with a tipple in the drawing room while you choose from the menu. Ockenden is ideally located to take advantage of local produce, from Golden Cross goat’s cheese to sparkling wine. The Sussex Menu offers up mouth-watering Trenchmore Farm salt beef, South Coast lobster, and molten goat’s cheese croquettes. Georgina Kiely
Sample a glass or two of the latest harvest on theterrace withviews overthe vineyard