Ridgeview Wine Estate

When	Days	Hours
Sunday to Thursday	Sun, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu	10:30–16:00
Friday and Saturday	Fri, Sat	10:30–17:00

Wine Bar and Shop hours (the walk-in visitor experience) per the sites own Opening Hours page. The Rows and Vine restaurant runs longer and separate hours (Sun-Thu 10am-7pm, Fri-Sat 10am-9pm, last sittings earlier). Tour and Tasting experiences run per individual booking confirmation. Previous entry showed a flat Mon-Sun 9am-5pm, which was actually the Office and Winery staff hours (Mon-Fri 8am-4.30pm), not the visitor-facing Wine Bar and Shop.

Opening hours can change for private events - it's always worth checking the vineyard's website before you visit.

What's the vibe?

Ridgeview Wine Estate offers a serene escape into the beautiful Sussex countryside, providing an elegant and welcoming atmosphere with stunning views of the South Downs. It’s a place where you can enjoy world-class English sparkling wine in a picturesque setting.

Tastings: Drop-in tastings are available in the wine bar. A structured sit-down tasting of six wines takes around 30 minutes and is priced from £20 per person. Food add-ons - including local cheese and light bites - can be arranged alongside.

Tours: The Classic Tour & Wine Tasting runs for approximately 1.5 hours and takes in the vineyard and winery before a guided tasting, priced from £35 per person. Tours must be booked in advance. Participants must be 18 or over.

Restaurant: The Rows & Vine, Ridgeview's on-site restaurant, offers vineyard dining. Table bookings are recommended. The restaurant can also be hired exclusively for private events and group celebrations of up to 150 guests.

Special Events: Ridgeview hosts a variety of special events throughout the year, including the annual Ridgefest music festival, unique restaurant collaborations, Christmas craft workshops, and family-friendly Easter trails.

Children & Dogs: Children under 18 are not permitted on winery tours due to health and safety regulations. However, they are welcome in the restaurant, shop, or at special events when accompanied by an adult. Guide dogs are welcome across the estate; the wine bar, shop and outdoor areas are open to four-legged visitors.

Parking & EV Charging: Free on-site visitor parking is available, including dedicated disabled bays. EV charging points are provided in the car park.

Accessibility: The estate offers step-free access across its vineyard, winery shop, tasting rooms, restaurant, and bathrooms, with dedicated disabled parking bays available.

Ridgeview is a pioneer in the English wine industry, known for crafting world-class sparkling wines using the traditional method. Their portfolio primarily features English sparkling white, rosé, and red wines, predominantly made from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. They have also introduced a still Chardonnay.

The vineyard has earned numerous accolades over the years. Ridgeview was crowned Global Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2018, and was listed among the 'Top 50 World's Best Vineyards'. More recently, their Bloomsbury Magnum NV won Sparkling Wine of the Year at the Sommelier Wine Awards 2024. In 2023, they received Platinum, Gold, and Silver medals at both the WineGB and Decanter World Wine Awards, with their Sparkling Red Reserve being awarded the new Pioneer's Trophy. A significant achievement was in 2010 when their Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2006 was named Best International Sparkling Wine at the Decanter World Wine Awards, marking the first time a non-Champagne won this prestigious title.

Ridgeview is deeply committed to sustainable and ethical practices. They are a Certified B Corp, achieving this status in 2022, and are a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB), holding a Gold certification for their vineyard. Their sustainability initiatives include improving soil health, significantly reducing chemical use (with the vineyard being herbicide-free for over two years), and conserving water and energy. Their underground cellars utilise natural ambient temperature control, and a Bio-Bubble system treats all wastewater on the estate. Ridgeview has committed to being carbon neutral by 2030 and is already carbon negative across Scope 1 and 2 emissions.

The estate operates its own state-of-the-art winery, where their award-winning wines are meticulously crafted from grape to bottle.

Ridgeview Wine Estate is located at Fragbarrow Lane, Ditchling Common, East Sussex, BN6 8TP.

By Car: Onsite visitor parking is available.

By Public Transport: The nearest train station is Burgess Hill. From there, Ridgeview is approximately a 5-minute taxi ride or a 40-minute walk.

Book train tickets in advance via Trainline.

Other Vineyards:
Nyetimber

Court Garden

Notable Restaurants & Hotels:
The Bull Inn, Ditchling: A historic pub with rooms offering a warm welcome and great food, just a short distance from Ridgeview. The Bull Inn Website

Ockenden Manor Hotel & Spa, Cuckfield: A luxurious Elizabethan manor house with a Michelin-starred restaurant and a renowned spa. Ockenden Manor Website

Notable Attractions:
South Downs National Park: Ridgeview is nestled within this stunning national park, offering extensive trails and breathtaking landscapes. South Downs National Park Website

Brighton & Hove: A vibrant coastal city, approximately a 20-minute drive from the vineyard, offering a diverse range of attractions, dining, and shopping. Visit Brighton Website