English Wine has been enjoying a growing reputation and popularity in recent years. At last count there were over 4,000 hectares of vineyards in England and Wales. English sparkling wines have even defeated heritage brand French champagnes in taste tests, and for many people a bottle of sparkling English wine is a connoisseur’s choice.
We took a small group tour and tasting at the fantastic Ridgeview Wine Estate. Read on for our full report.
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About
Ridgeview Wine Estate has been producing some of the best English sparkling wines in Sussex since planting their first vines in 1995.
They have a pronounced focus on sustainability, being B-Corp certified (businesses meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and legal accountability).
One of Ridgeview’s proudest moments was having their Blanc de Blancs 2004 served at Queen Elizabeth II’s 80th birthday banquet. Their Bloomsbury sparkling white is available to buy in Waitrose.
Awards and achievements
- 2005, their Bloomsbury 2002 won the IWSC Best International Sparking Wine.
- 2010, Ridgeview’s Blanc de Blancs 2006 wins the Decanter Trophy for Best Global Sparkling Wine.
- Founder Mike Roberts is award an MBE.
- President Barack Obama is served their rosé at a state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace.
- 2012, Bloomsbury 2009 is chosen as the official sparkling wine of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
- 2015, Blanc de Blancs 2009 is enjoyed by President Xi Jinping of China at another Buckingham Palace state banquet.
- 2016, Ridgeview becomes an official wine partner of Downing Street.
- 2018, the IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) recognises Ridgeview as International Winemaker of the Year.
- 2022, B-Corp status achieved.
- 2024, Gold Award from Sustainable Wines of Great Britain.
Getting there
Situated in the South of England in Sussex’s South Downs (location map here), the wine estate is a great choice for a day trip from London, and is easily reachable by train on the Thameslink line. We were in London for an event the previous day, so we took a train to nearby Burgess Hill Station, followed by a short taxi ride from there to the Wine Estate.
Brighton lies a little further South, and if you are staying there for a few days then a visit to Ridgeview to sample some wonderful English wine is a must-add for your list of things to do in and around Brighton.
Growing grapes in England
Growing the grapes to make these champagne style English wines in the UK represents quite the challenge given our unpredictable climate!
During our tour of the vineyard our knowledgeable guide talked us through the growing and harvesting process, as well as explaining the B-Corp status, and the general history of Ridgeview. By no means are we wine geeks, but we found it an interesting and engaging talk.
The measures that are needed to mitigate against the frosts were a fascinating aspect of this talk. When the frosts come it is necessary to use bougies (large purpose built candles) as effective frost protection.
Moving indoors, we were shown around inside the main production centre for the estate (which is located inside modern industrial units) and talked through the manufacturing process in fascinating detail. Again our guide was extremely knowledgeable in this regard.
Tasting!
The part we were most looking forward to (all in the name of research of course!). We moved back inside to the intimate and pleasant indoor area which encompasses the gift shop and an array of tables laid out for wine tasting.
We sampled two sparkling whites and two sparkling Rosés. All four were excellent and far surpassed our expectations in their flavour and complexity.
At a push we favoured the Fitzrovia Rosé, but all four of the wines were superb, and in all honesty were way better than any champagne or sparkling wine that I have ever tried before! It was easy to see why English wine is now being taken seriously worldwide, and has beaten French Champagne in several international competitions and taste tests.
The Rows and Vine Restaurant
“Drinking good wine with good food in good company is one of life’s most civilised pleasures.” Michael Broadbent.
Taking wine critic Broadbent’s quote as a form of instruction, we of course had to have some more English wine, accompanied of course by some good food at the on site Rows and Vine Restaurant.
Fortunately, Ridgeview has you covered in this regard! Outside there is a very lovely outdoor dining area overlooking the lines of green vines cascading down the rolling Surrey hills. This being England, effective outdoor heating is provided, of which we were grateful on a typically damp British day with an Autumnal chill in the air.
The dining area has an excellent menu of beautifully presented dishes, which changes seasonally. We chose a selection of mainly seafood based small plates, with a bottle of English wine, of course… the Fitzrovia Rosé with which we had fallen in love during the tasting.
All the dishes were wonderfully presented and extremely delicious. As I certified cheeseboard enthusiast, I could not resist ordering one to finish the day off!
Conclusion
English wine is really in the ascendancy right now, and Ridgeview must surely rank as one of the UK’s finest exponents of the style.
With it’s setting in the glorious Surrey hills, a day out at Ridgeview makes for a very special day out from London or Brighton. Whether you’re into English wine specifically, or wine in general, this is a must do experience.
In truth though, you don’t even have to be a wine enthusiast at all to enjoy a tour and tasting here. The tour and tasing is fascinating and will interest those who do and don’t know about wine alike. A visit for a fantastic food experience in the restaurant is also highly recommended.
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See our other articles about things to see and do in the UK, or read our reports from further afield here
