Sussex Wine Wins the Prizes

Once home to Roman vineyards, SouthernThe Plumpton Estate is situated in the lee of the
England, in particular the counties of Sussex andSouth Downs and in 2009 it won a bronze medal
Kent, enjoys the highest average daytimefor its 2008 Cloudy Ridge Dry White wine, at the
temperatures and hours of sunshine in the UnitedDecanter World Wine Awards; its non-vintage
Kingdom.sparkling wines, The Dean and The Dean Blush,
This temperate climate, combined with theboth achieved silver medals at the annual UKVA
favourable chalky soil conditions of the South(United Kingdom Vineyard Association) Wine of
Downs and Weald, provides the perfectthe Year Competition.
combination for the numerous Sussex vineyardsSedlescombe Organic Vineyard
which have been established during the last twoLocated near the East Sussex border with Kent,
or three decades. Many of these flourishingSedlescombe has been growing vines organically
vineyards are now producing award-winning winesfor over 30 years. Rated by wine expert, Jancis
- red, white, rosé and sparkling,Robinson, as 'some of the most delicious English
champagne-type wines.wines' she has ever tasted, these wines have also
Breaky Bottom Vineyardwon a range of medals over recent years. From
This Sussex vineyard idyllically nestles in a fold ofApril to October, the vineyard offers tours
the South Downs near the old market town ofcombined with a 'tutored tasting' of their organic
Lewes; according to the BBC wine expert, Ozwines.
Clarke: 'There's no more beautiful vineyard inRidgeview Vineyard
Britain'.Situated just north of the ancient Sussex village
Since its establishment in 1974, this Sussexof Ditchling, Ridgeview is arguably the most
vineyard has produced wines which have graced,successful wine producer in the county at
among others, the tables of the G8 conference inpresent, and this year it received the prestigious
Gleneagles, as well as winning several prizes.accolade: 'Winemaker of the Year', as well as the
Seyval Blanc is the main grape variety grown atprize for the 'Best Sparkling Wine in England'.
Breaky Bottom; Peter Hall, the owner of theThese awards are in addition to the seven
vineyard, says that this grape makes the cleaninternational medals already achieved by the
Loire-style wines for which he has becomewine-producing Roberts family business, in 2009
well-known.alone. In total, in a little over 9 years of wine
Visitors will be greeted with a free wine-tastingsales, Ridgeview has won over 100 medals and 16
session, however, do telephone to make antrophies in national and international competitions.
appointment first.Ridgeview wines are now widely available in
Plumpton Agricultural CollegeWaitrose and Oddbins, as well as through many
Considerable success with its wines means thatindependent speciality resellers. Ridgeview regularly
Plumpton enjoys record applications for itsorganises courses in wine tasting, as well as
courses in viticulture and oenology (the sciencewelcoming visitors to the vineyard. Contact them
and study of wine-making). Christopher Foss,first if you're planning a trip.
Head of Wine Studies, says, with more than aThese are just four of the many vineyards,
hint of irony: "We are benefiting from a globalwhich are now producing great Sussex wines; in
disaster. It seems horrible, inappropriate, but that'saddition, there are also several very young
how it is... In less than 10 years, southern Englandvineyards which are yet to start selling their
will enjoy a climate similar to the Loire Valley, andwines.
in 20 years, a climate similar to Bordelais," theSo, taking due note of the warnings of global
vine-growing region around Bordeaux in southwestwarming, Sussex wine looks set to continue
France.winning the prizes.