Sussex Vineyards for Summer Tours and Twilight Events

With summer finally here, it is the perfect time to explore the incredible wine scene right on our doorstep. Sussex holds a quarter of all England’s vineyards, and many of them are just a short drive or bus ride from Brighton. Whether you are looking for a relaxed evening with a glass of sparkling wine or a full day out learning how our local bottles are made, there are plenty of tours and twilight events happening over the coming months.

If you want to head out on a warm evening, Albourne Estate is located just eight miles from Brighton. They are running their Twilight Tour & Tasting on selected Wednesdays and Fridays throughout the summer, starting at 17:00. It includes a 30-minute walk through the vines and a guided tasting of four wines in their tasting room, which looks out over the South Downs. They also host a Friday Night Supper Club with local street food vendors, and on weekends from May to September, you can book a longer tour that pairs their wines with Sussex cheeses. Just down the road in Streat, Artelium Wine Estate offers public tours from Friday to Sunday, with their tasting room open late until 20:00 on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. You can easily reach Artelium by taking the train to Plumpton Station, followed by a 30-minute walk.

For those who prefer not to drive, Great British Wine Tours runs dedicated day trips departing directly from Brighton between April and October. Their scheduled departures include specific summer dates like today, the 24th of May, as well as upcoming dates in June, July, and August. You can choose between their classic Vineyard & Brewery Adventure, a vintage London bus tour, or even a premium Pullman wine train experience. If you want to explore independently, Bolney Wine Estate is about a 15-minute drive from Brighton and offers a variety of guided walks, including a cheese and wine tasting tour and a longer three-hour food and wine pairing experience.

Further afield but still within easy reach for a day trip, you will find unique summer events scattered across the county. Wiston Estate in Washington is hosting a 20th Anniversary Summer Celebration in the vines on June 27th, while Everflyht in Ditchling is running monthly flower crown workshops alongside stargazing events later in the autumn. Over at Tinwood Estate near Chichester, you can join outdoor yoga sessions in the vines on Tuesday evenings, and Rathfinny Wine Estate in Alfriston is hosting a Sussex Producers Market on June 6th. Whether you want a structured tasting or just a quiet afternoon with a picnic hamper in the countryside, the local vineyards have plenty of ways to enjoy the sunshine this season.