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Vineyard guide · Albourne
Visiting Albourne Estate
Albourne is a family-owned vineyard and winery looking across to the South Downs, about eight miles from Brighton, where everything is grown and made on the estate. Its Bacchus was named UK Wine of the Year in 2015. It is a summer place: book the Saturday vineyard tour with cheese, then sit out with a glass at the Tasting Room.
Seasonal note: Closed for the winter. The tasting room and shop open again at weekends from early May 2027.
Albourne at a glance
| Founded | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Bacchus, traditional method sparkling wine and its own English vermouth |
| Awards | UK Wine of the Year (2015) for its Bacchus |
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Bacchus, Ortega and Dornfelder |
| Open | Tasting Room and shop from early May to the end of September, Saturday 11am to 6pm and Sunday 11am to 5pm. Closed for the winter. Pre-ordered wine can be collected Monday to Friday |
| Booking | Tours and guided tastings booked online; no booking needed for the Tasting Room, but groups of more than six should reserve a table. Tickets non-refundable, can be moved with 48 hours’ notice |
| Food | Light platters in the Tasting Room, and Sussex cheese and charcuterie boards to add to a tour or tasting |
| Dogs | Well-behaved dogs on a lead in the vineyard and the outdoor area by the Tasting Room. Not in the winery or Tasting Room, and not on tours |
| Children | Welcome in the Tasting Room and outdoor areas. No under-18s on tours |
| By train | Hassocks, about 12 to 15 minutes by taxi |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in November 2026.
About Albourne
Alison Nightingale and Nick Cooper set up Albourne in 2010. Alison had a career in marketing before she took a degree in viticulture and oenology at Plumpton College, and the couple found Albourne Farm near Hurstpierpoint.
Over the next 14 years they built the vineyard, the winery and the Tasting Room, and they still live on the estate, with Alison running it day to day.
The vineyard covers about 30 acres, with just over 44,000 vines on a south-facing slope of a low ridge. Underneath is Cretaceous greensand, which drains well. The site is 36 metres up at its highest point and eight miles from the sea.
The wines are made in the estate’s own winery, from its own grapes, in small quantities. Recognition came early. The Bacchus from only the second harvest was named UK Wine of the Year in 2015. The estate holds Sustainable Wines of Great Britain certification and has planted new woodland on the farm.
The wines
Try the Bacchus first, since it made Albourne’s name. The sparkling range is all traditional method and single estate: a Multi-Vintage white and rosé, a Blanc de Blancs and a Blanc de Noirs from 2018, and the Estate Premier Cuvée 2017.
The 40 English Vermouth is the bottle you will not find at many other English vineyards, and it turns up in the tour tasting. Among the still wines there is also a Sandstone Ridge Chardonnay, a barrel-aged ’Barrel 27’ Chardonnay, a White Pinot and a Sussex Rosé. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at Albourne
Albourne only opens to the public from May to September, and there are no more tours or tastings in 2026, so this is one to plan for next summer. The tour is the one we would book.
It is the only way into the winery, and the cheese pairings are built into the ticket. Tours start promptly, so arrive at least 15 minutes early, and wear shoes that cope with grass and rough track. On open days the Tasting Room needs no booking.
You can sit on the balcony or the grass looking over the vines with a glass or a flight, and the free trail is open while it is.
Children can come to the Tasting Room but not on tours, and dogs stay outside. The Tasting Room is step-free, though the path up from the car park is gravel with a slight slope, and the tour tasting area has steps. Outside the season, private tours can still be arranged.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineyard Tour with Sussex Wine and Cheese Tasting A guided walk through the vineyard and a look at the winery, then four wines, one sparkling, two still and the English vermouth, each paired with a Sussex cheese. Up to 22 people. Over-18s only. Tours run in all weathers over rough ground and grass. | Not published; a gift voucher for two is from £64 | About 1 hour 45 minutes | Most Saturdays at 11am and 2pm from May to September, plus Sundays at 2pm in July and August. 2027 dates released in January |
| Guided Wine Tasting A seated, hosted tasting of five Albourne wines, under the tipi or in the Old Dairy. Food can be ordered for before or after, not during. | Not published | – | Selected Saturdays and Sundays at 1.30pm in June, July and August, and 3pm in September. 2027 dates released in January |
| Self-guided Vineyard Trail A trail through the vines, with maps and guides from the Tasting Room. | Free | – | Tasting Room opening hours |
| Private tours and tastings Private tours and tastings, with cheese and charcuterie boards, for groups who get in touch by phone or email. | On request | – | All year, by arrangement |
Book these on the Albourne website.
Buy Albourne wines
None of our wine partners has these wines in stock this week. The vineyard sells them in its own shop, or see our pick of English wines to buy online.
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Getting there
Hassocks is the nearest station, under an hour by fast train from London and under ten minutes from Brighton, and a taxi from there takes about 12 to 15 minutes. Burgess Hill, one stop up the line, has more taxis and is about 20 minutes away.
Most visitors drive. The estate’s what3words is affair.blogs.gossiping. If you walk or cycle, wine bought on the day can be delivered to your home for free.
Make a day of it
Hurstpierpoint is the nearest village, and Brighton is about eight miles to the south. Ridgeview, near Burgess Hill, is the obvious second visit for sparkling wine.
See every vineyard you can visit in our Sussex directory. Our other Sussex vineyard guides: Rathfinny, Court Garden, Bolney, Wiston, Nyetimber, Henners, Artelium, Ashling Park, Tinwood, Sedlescombe Organic, Roebuck, Ridgeview, Bluebell Vineyard, Breaky Bottom, Kingscote, Tillingham, Oxney Organic, Leonardslee Family Vineyards, Wildwood, Birchden Vineyards.
Questions people ask
Can I visit in winter?
Not on an open day. The Tasting Room closes at the end of September, but private tours and tastings can be arranged all year by phone or email.
Do I need to book the Tasting Room?
No, you can drop in during opening hours. Groups of more than six should contact the estate to reserve a table.
Can children come?
Yes, to the Tasting Room and outdoor areas, with an adult keeping an eye on them, as there is open water on the estate. Tours are over-18s only.