Nyetimber Manor Vineyard — Winery in Pulborough

One of the founders of English sparkling wine, and... with a Dutch owner! Eight vineyards of its own, together more than 150 hectares: six in West Sussex (on sandy greensand soils) and two in Hampshire (on chalk), all south-facing on a gentle slope for optimal sun and shelter. The Open Day tour (2.5 hours) starts in the "White Barn" with an introduction to the history of the estate, followed by a guided walk through the vineyards, including some of the oldest vines in England, with a ranger from the South Downs National Park. Along the way you learn about the soil, the microclimate and why southern England is so well suited to sparkling wine. The tour ends in the 15th-century Medieval Barn with a guided tasting of four top wines: the gold-medal-winning Classic Cuvée Multi-Vintage, Rosé Multi-Vintage, Cuvée Chérie Multi-Vintage and the Blanc de Blancs.