Ridgeview Wine Estate

My friend and I did the tour and tasting on a wild and wet January Sunday. Our guide, James, was a great tour leader with his vast knowledge of the history and processes of English sparkling wine making. He delivered his facts in a strong voice that carried above the wind and then led us in a tasting inside, giving hints on what we might taste. The four wines we tried were wonderful and then we had a further complimentary glass with our roast. All in all, a very good value and enjoyable tour.

Unfortunately we picked a day where they were spraying the vines so a self guided tour wasn't possible, but the wine tasting was excellent and the staff incredibly friendly and knowledgeable. The real highlight for us though was the vineyards own restaurant the Rows & Vine. Sitting outside in a series of mostly enclosed garden rooms you have fantastic views of the estate that should be comfortable in all but the most inclement weather. The food is served as a series of smaller dishes, 2-3 of which will provide a sumptuous meal that will fill you up, particularly if you get some sides like bread or nuts. A good selection for vegetarians and a few for vegans should keep everyone happy. The Salmon tartar was outstanding, a beautiful balance of flavours with the very fresh fish whilst the squash, cheese and sage wontons with an incredible smoked chilli and garlic butter were worth the visit alone.

My husband surprised me by taking me to Ridgeview for my birthday! We did a tour, tasting and dinner. The tour was about 1hr and our guide was fascinating, I learnt so much! We then did the tasting (30-mins), which of course was delicious! Purchased some items from the shop (standard!) and then went for dinner. It was October and we were one of the last sittings outside. Alfresco dining next to the vines, with the sun setting and the South Downs as your backdrop was really spectacular! The food was delicious (small plates) and the service was fantastic. We will definitely be back. I heard they do a good Sunday Roast, so may try that next!

We had a fantastic day at Ridgeview. We started with the audio tour of the vineyards which we enjoyed doing ourselves. Special thanks to Simon who explained our wine tasting, he was very friendly and knowledgable and we decided to purchase the blanc de blanc. We also had a lovey meal at the Rows & Vines. We particularly enjoyed the cheese board, scallops and potato hash.

The staff were really friendly and knowledgeable on the wines. Fitzrovia was my personal favourite. The roast was delicious and quite filling. My only complaint is that the portion of the meat was a bit stingy. Just 1 thin slice of beef and a small scoop of brisket. They both tasted amazing but the plate could have definitely done with a larger portion of beef. The grounds during summer are great. A mix of open seating areas, a terrace for drinks, covered seating with sun shades and heater for colder weather with views of the vineyard. There are tours and a small shop on site, a decent amount of parking with a few EV spots.

Our recent wine tasting tour was an absolute delight and comes highly recommended. From start to finish, we thoroughly enjoyed every moment. The tour itself was informative and engaging, providing us with a deeper appreciation for the winemaking process. The wine tasting session that followed was exceptional, allowing us to savor a variety of high-quality wines. The location added to the experience, situated in a beautiful and convenient setting. The environment was pristine and well-maintained, making the visit even more enjoyable. Overall, this wine tasting tour was a wonderful experience, and we highly recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and educational outing.

We visited the restaurant (Row & Vine) for lunch on a Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed our visit. The menu consists of good-sized sharing plates which were all excellent - we had the cheese and ham platter, steak, pork belly, potted crab, fish tacos and green beans between three people (and could maybe have had one more dish). The sparkling wine is, of course, top quality and we enjoyed three bottles of Fitzrovia and one bottle of their sparkling red. They needed the table back after a few hours but there's a small garden area with seating where we had our last bottle in the sun. The service was very friendly and helpful and we would highly recommend. Suggest booking a taxi back to Burgess Hill (if getting the train) unless you want to walk, as it can be a little difficult to get one otherwise.

We came for Sunday lunch on recommendation and it didn't disappoint! Our table was ready, the service was friendly and efficient, and the food absolutely delicious. We were indoors as it is winter but hope to return for the outside seating in the summer.

This review certainly is a pleasure to write and a little bit of my childhood heritage. No, I wasn't a childhood alcoholic from a broken home, but the Estate is located right next to my 'backyard' where I grew up as a child. They are based next to Ditchling common and have ample parking. When you enter, you can see the heart of the production area before finding yourself in the sales/tasting room upstairs, overlooking the vineyard. They grow a lot of the grapes they use on site and there are tours available of the vineyards. Other grapes are bought in from the local area. They bottle only sparkling wines which are obviously not sold as 'champagne', but that is pretty much what you are getting in the bottle. The vineyard has received countless awards for the quality of their wines and they offer drop in tasting sessions, along with pre-arranged group sittings. When I went, there were only 2 varieties on offer, but by now the next seasons range will be on sale making 6 varieties available to sample and buy. I have bought a delicious pinot blended wine, which I am saving for my Masters graduation and that date cannot come around fast enough. Whether it's to celebrate a good grade, or to commiserate an epic failure, at least I will be drinking top notch booze. Worth every star i have given.