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Vineyard guide · Tillington
Visiting Roebuck Estates
Roebuck Estates makes vintage-only traditional method sparkling wine from six vineyards across Sussex and Kent, with its cellar door at the home vineyard at Upperton Farm, just outside Petworth. Call in for a free tasting, or come in summer for a vineyard tour, a Friday evening in the tipi or a glass at the weekend wine bar.
Roebuck at a glance
| Founded | Founded 2013, first release 2019, oldest vines at the home vineyard planted 2006 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Vintage-only traditional method sparkling wine |
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier |
| Open | Cellar door Monday to Saturday 10am to 5pm, Sunday 10am to 4pm |
| Booking | Tours and Sunset Sipping must be booked, no drop-ins; the summer wine bar and cellar door need no booking |
| Tours from | 2027 tour price not yet listed |
| Food | Pizza at Sunset Sipping evenings in summer; no restaurant, and no outside food or wine |
| Dogs | Welcome on tours and at Sunset Sipping, on a lead at all times |
| Children | Not allowed on vineyard tours; soft drinks available at The View for under-18s |
| By train | Pulborough or Haslemere, each about 15 minutes by taxi |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in October 2026.
About Roebuck
Roebuck Estates was started by two friends who shared a love of fine wine, and who bought their first parcel of land in West Sussex in 2013. The name comes from the wild roe deer seen on the land around the vineyards. The aim from the start was to make vintage sparkling wine every year, and the first wines were released in 2019.
The home vineyard at Tillington, on greensand soils near Petworth, has the oldest vines, planted in 2006. Five more sites followed: Roman Villa at Bignor, a Pinot Noir vineyard planted in 2007; Little Brockhurst at Lurgashall, planted in 2014; Waterlands at Slinfold, planted in 2017; Hazelhurst at Ticehurst in East Sussex, just over 40 acres on sandstone; and Chalkhill Blue at Bilting in Kent, 35 acres on chalk and not yet cropping for sparkling wine. The six sites are split into 70 blocks, each with clones and rootstocks chosen for its soil.
Grapes are picked by hand and whole-bunch pressed, and each block is made into wine separately before blending, with a small share fermented in older Burgundian oak barrels. The wines are vintage only and spend at least three years on lees, then a long time on cork before release. The Classic Cuvée 2020 won a Gold medal with 95 points at the International Wine Challenge 2026. Roebuck is the English sparkling wine partner of Brighton & Hove Museums for 2026, and in summer 2026 opened a seasonal sparkling wine bar at the Royal Pavilion Rooms in Brighton.
The wines
Roebuck makes only vintage traditional method sparkling wine, all suitable for vegetarians and vegans. The core range is Classic Cuvée 2020 (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, at least 48 months on lees, £38), Rosé de Noirs 2020 (£42), Blanc de Blancs 2019 (100% Chardonnay, at least 62 months on lees, £50) and Blanc de Noirs 2018 (£50). There are also magnums, older limited vintages and a Rare Expressions range, and bottles can be personalised. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at Roebuck
The cellar door is among the vines at Upperton Farm, just outside Petworth, and opens Monday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 10am to 4pm. You can taste the Classic range free of charge or take a tutored flight of three vintage sparkling wines, and gift wrapping is available. Online orders can be collected free. Tours, tastings and Sunset Sipping are held at The View, the tasting area a short walk from the free car park, and run from May to September. They must be booked ahead and go ahead in bad weather, with covered space. Wear outdoor clothes and comfortable shoes. Because the ground at the vineyard and The View is uneven, the estate says it cannot accommodate guests with mobility issues, so contact the team before booking if this applies. Outside food and wine are not allowed. Coaches cannot park, but cyclists are welcome.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineyard Tour & Tasting A guided walk through the Roebuck vineyard covering the grape varieties, the work of the vineyard through the seasons and sustainable growing, then a tutored tasting in the tipi of four wines: Classic Cuvée 2020, Rosé de Noirs 2020, Blanc de Noirs 2018 and Blanc de Blancs 2019. Over-18s only, minimum four guests, and dogs on leads are welcome. | Not yet listed for 2027 | About 2 hours, 11am to 1pm | Selected Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 10 September 2027 |
| Sunset Sipping An evening in an open-sided tipi among the vines looking towards the South Downs. Packages include either a glass of Classic Cuvée or two soft drinks, plus a 10-inch pizza, and the bar sells Roebuck wines by the glass or bottle all evening. Dogs on leads are welcome. | Package price not listed; bottles can be pre-ordered from £30 | 3 hours, 5.30pm to 8.30pm | Fridays from 7 May to 10 September 2027 |
| Sparkling Wine Bar at the vineyard A drop-in bar among the vines serving Roebuck’s vintage sparkling wines by the glass or bottle, with a wine flight of the cuvées. No booking is needed, but tables can be reserved. | Not listed | Tables held for 2.5 hours if booked | Saturdays 1pm to 6pm and Sundays 1pm to 5pm, 1 May to 11 September 2027 |
Book these on the Roebuck website.
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Buy Roebuck wines
3 bottles in stock with our wine partners this week. Prices are for a single 75cl bottle.
Sparkling
Roebuck Classic Cuvée 2017
A vintage traditional method sparkling wine from hand-harvested, estate-grown classic varieties near Petworth in West Sussex.
£39.95at WinebuyersBuySparkling
Roebuck Blanc de Noirs 2018
A white sparkling wine made from Pinot Noir by the traditional method, given several years on the lees.
£49at The Great Wine Co.BuySparkling rosé
Roebuck Rosé de Noirs 2020
A pale sparkling rosé from black grapes, with wild strawberry and peach and a toasty richness from bottle age.
£47at The Great Wine Co.Buy
Getting there
Pulborough and Haslemere stations are each about 15 minutes away by taxi, with frequent trains from London Victoria or London Waterloo. Book a taxi in advance, especially at weekends. By car, leave Petworth on the A272 towards Midhurst and go through Tillington; the vineyard is on the right, marked by a large Roebuck Estates sign. Follow the drive up the hill, turn right at the next Roebuck sign and follow the track to the top. Parking is free.
Make a day of it
The market town of Petworth is just down the road, so a visit pairs easily with lunch or a walk around the town. The tasting area looks out to the South Downs, and the estate’s Roman Villa vineyard is at Bignor, on the edge of the Downs. In Brighton, Roebuck runs a seasonal sparkling wine bar at the Royal Pavilion Rooms beside the Royal Pavilion.
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.
Questions people ask
Do you need to book at Roebuck Estates?
Not for the cellar door, which is open every day, or the summer weekend wine bar. Vineyard tours and Sunset Sipping evenings must be booked ahead, and drop-ins are not accepted for those.
When do Roebuck vineyard tours run?
In 2027 they run on selected Fridays and Saturdays from 1 May to 10 September, from 11am to 1pm, ending with a tasting of four wines in the tipi. A minimum of four guests is needed for a tour to go ahead.
Can you take children to Roebuck Estates?
Children are not allowed on vineyard tours, which are for over-18s. Soft drinks are available at The View for drivers and under-18s.
Is Roebuck Estates dog friendly?
Yes. Dogs are welcome on tours and at Sunset Sipping, but must be kept on a lead at all times and owners must clean up after them.
How do you get to Roebuck Estates by train?
Take a train from London Victoria to Pulborough or from London Waterloo to Haslemere, then a taxi of about 15 minutes. Book the taxi in advance, especially at weekends.
Is Roebuck Estates accessible?
The vineyard and The View tasting area are on uneven ground, and the estate says it cannot accommodate guests with mobility issues there. Contact the team in advance to discuss any needs.