Tour and tasting at Tinwood
A tour of a sparkling wine estate under the South Downs, with a tasting, in about an hour and a half. One of the best-value vineyard vouchers we know of.
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Vineyard guide · Halnaker
Visiting Tinwood Estate
Tinwood Estate is a family-run sparkling wine estate at Halnaker, just north of Chichester, on a former lettuce farm at the foot of the South Downs. It opens every day of the year, with tours, a walk-in Vineyard Kitchen and eight lodges among the vines.
Tinwood at a glance
| Founded | Family farm since 1983, first vines planted 2007 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Traditional method sparkling wine from its own vineyards |
| Grapes | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier |
| Open | Daily, 9am to 5.30pm, all year |
| Booking | Book tours and events online, the Vineyard Kitchen is walk-in only |
| Tours from | £21 |
| Food | Vineyard Kitchen, small sharing plates daily from 9am to 5.30pm |
| Dogs | Welcome on tours on a lead, in the Tasting Room, Vineyard Kitchen and lodges |
| Children | Welcome, with mocktails instead of wine on a child’s tour ticket |
| Stay | Eight lodges overlooking the vines, dogs allowed |
| By train | Chichester or Barnham, then a taxi, or bus 55 from Chichester to Halnaker crossroads |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in October 2026.
About Tinwood
Tinwood sits in the hamlet of Halnaker, about three miles from the coast at the foot of the South Downs. In 1983 Aad Tukker, who had come from the Netherlands, began growing salad on a former dairy farm on Tinwood Lane, and he became known for bringing iceberg lettuce to British growers. His son Art studied agriculture, then in 2005 went to Marlborough in New Zealand to work with Mike and Claire Allen at Huia Vineyards. He took over the farm in 2006, and in 2007 he pulled out the lettuces and planted the first 48,000 vines.
Art’s wife Jody opened the tasting room and ran the first vineyard tour in June 2012, and overnight stays followed in 2017. A further 12 hectares were planted in 2022, and the estate now has around 45 hectares of vines across four vineyards, named House, Oma’s, Ounces and van Diemen. The vines grow at about 35 metres on loam, gravel and flint over chalk, planted to 50% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir and 20% Pinot Meunier. Grapes are picked by hand, and no insecticides are used; wildflower meadows, hedgerows and bee hives have been added for wildlife.
The wines are made under contract by Ridgeview at Ditchling, as they have been from the start, and the estate has said it hopes to build its own winery one day. The Vineyard Kitchen, a restaurant and tasting room with a terrace over the vines, is the newest addition, and a wine club now sends members a mixed case each quarter. In 2022 the Blanc de Blancs was reported to have won gold medals at both the International Wine Challenge and the IWSC.
The wines
Tinwood makes only sparkling wine, by the traditional method, from its own Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The core range is a Blanc de Blancs from Chardonnay, a Brut from all three grapes and a Rosé, each around £33 to £35 a bottle for the 2023 vintage. There is also a limited-edition Blanc de Noir 2018 and a Blanc de Blancs 2018 in magnum. The Blanc de Noir is not poured by the glass. Wine club members receive six bottles each quarter and get a tour for two every six months. Where to buy them.
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Tours and tastings at Tinwood
The estate is open every day from 9am to 5.30pm, all year. The Vineyard Kitchen serves breakfast, coffee, lunch and afternoon drinks as modern British small plates for sharing, with Tinwood wines by the glass at £8 or a flight of three for £22. It takes no table reservations: walk in, or book a tour to have a table held for you. Groups of six or more can pre-order sharing boards with five days’ notice. Arrive 15 minutes before a booked tour. Tours go ahead in the rain, with umbrellas provided, and you can sit at a picnic bench by the tour area throughout. Only food and drink bought at Tinwood may be eaten on site. Bookings can be moved by email with 48 hours’ notice; after that they cannot be changed or refunded. There is a high chair and baby changing.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vineyard Tours and Wine Tasting A guided walk in the vineyard and a tasting of three sparkling wines, with notes on flavours and food matches. Non-drinkers and children with a ticket get three mocktails instead. Your table is kept for 2.5 hours, so you can order food from the Vineyard Kitchen afterwards. There is little walking and the tour is wheelchair friendly. | £21 per person | 1.5 hours | Daily, all year, with times shown on the booking calendar |
| Sparkling Afternoon Tea A guided vineyard tour, a tutored tasting of three sparkling wines, then afternoon tea with refillable tea and coffee in the Tasting Room. Gluten-free and vegetarian versions need 48 hours’ notice; vegan and dairy-free are not offered. | £49 per person | 3pm to 4.30pm | Wednesdays 25 November and 16 December 2026, then selected Fridays from February to April 2027 and Wednesdays from May to September 2027 |
| Sunday Lunch A roast served as a sharing board, followed by a dessert platter. Tinwood wines are bought separately. Pre-Christmas Sundays sell out early, but there is more space from late December into the spring. | £38 per person | 1.5 hours, at 12pm or 3pm | Every Sunday through the winter, from October to April |
| Christmas Dinner Series A five-course seasonal tasting menu with still and sparkling wines paired to each course, at candlelit tables looking over the vineyard. Booking is essential. | £120 per person | 7pm to 10.30pm | Selected evenings from 10 to 19 December 2026, with most dates already sold out |
Book these on the Tinwood website.
Give a visit as a present
What’s on
Coming up at the vineyard, from its own website. All vineyard events.
Food and wine
Sparkling afternoon tea
A guided vineyard tour and a tasting of three sparkling wines, followed by afternoon tea in the tasting room.
Wednesday 25 November and 16 December 2026; Fridays 12 and 26 February, 12 and 26 March, and 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30 April 2027 · 3pm to 4.30pm · £49 a head · Book ahead
Food and wine
Christmas dinner series
A five-course seasonal tasting menu with still and sparkling wine pairings, at candlelit tables overlooking the vineyard.
Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 and Thursday 17 to Saturday 19 December 2026; all but 10 December sold out · 7pm to 10.30pm · £120 a head · Book ahead
Buy Tinwood 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.
Getting there
The nearest stations are Chichester and Barnham, with taxis from both; the estate suggests booking ahead with local firms. Bus 55 runs from Chichester town centre to Halnaker crossroads in about 10 minutes, followed by a walk of 10 to 15 minutes along Tinwood Lane. By car, come in through Halnaker village rather than from the A27, as the A27 entrance is for deliveries only. You can leave your car in the car park overnight after a tour.
Make a day of it
Tinwood is a few minutes from the Goodwood estate and about ten minutes north of Chichester, with its cathedral and Festival Theatre. Halnaker Windmill sits on the hill above the estate and makes a short walk, and the South Downs Way is a little further north. For a second vineyard near Chichester, Ashling Park Estate at West Ashling makes sparkling wine and gin.
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, Sedlescombe Organic, Roebuck.
Questions people ask
Do you need to book at Tinwood Estate?
Yes for tours, afternoon teas, Sunday lunch and dinners, which are booked online. The Vineyard Kitchen does not take reservations and is walk-in only.
How much is a tour at Tinwood Estate?
The Vineyard Tours and Wine Tasting is £21 per person for about 1.5 hours, including three glasses of sparkling wine. Tours run daily all year.
Can children go on the Tinwood tour?
Yes. Children are welcome on the estate, and with a ticket they get three mocktails instead of the wine. There is a high chair and baby changing.
Is Tinwood Estate dog friendly?
Yes. Well-behaved dogs can join the tour on a lead and are welcome in the Tasting Room, Vineyard Kitchen and lodges. The estate has its own Labradors.
How do you get to Tinwood Estate without a car?
Take a train to Chichester or Barnham and a taxi from there. Or take bus 55 from Chichester to Halnaker crossroads, then walk 10 to 15 minutes along Tinwood Lane.
Can you stay at Tinwood Estate?
Yes, in one of eight raised lodges facing west over the vines, priced from £265 depending on the date. Check-in is from 2pm and check-out is 10am. A continental breakfast hamper is delivered each morning, and a three-course dinner hamper for two can be pre-ordered for £85. There are no cooking facilities, dogs are welcome, and guests get 20% off tours.