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Vineyard guide · Eridge
Visiting Wildwood Vineyard
Wildwood is a small family vineyard in a field and a strip of ancient woodland just outside Eridge, south-west of Tunbridge Wells. It runs off-grid, the owners take every tour themselves, and it is a 12-minute walk from Eridge station. It only opens on summer weekends, so this is one to plan for between May and September.
Seasonal note: Closed for the winter. It opens most weekends from May to September, and the 2027 dates are not out yet.
Wildwood at a glance
| Founded | Land bought in 2014, vines planted in 2016, first harvest in 2018 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Bacchus, Pinot Noir rosé and Regent, plus traditional method sparkling wine |
| Awards | Silver medals at the WineGB Awards in 2023, 2024 and 2026, and the Food and Drink award at the Tunbridge Wells Business Awards 2025 |
| Grapes | Bacchus, Pinot Noir, Regent and Pinot Meunier |
| Open | 10am to 5pm on most weekends and some bank holidays from May to September. Closed for the winter, and the 2027 dates are not out yet |
| Booking | Tours and tastings are booked online once dates are released. Check the vineyard’s social media, or phone, before you go |
| Tours from | £20 |
| Food | An East Sussex cheese plate to pre-order, and you can bring your own picnic |
| Dogs | Welcome on a lead |
| Children | Welcome, with a nature trail through the woods and a high chair |
| By train | Eridge, a 12-minute walk, with Southern trains from London Bridge and steam trains on the Spa Valley Railway |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in November 2026.
About Wildwood
Wildwood belongs to three generations of two families, Paul and Andrea Olding, Paul’s mum Enid Olding, and Andrea’s parents Carol and Vic Greenway. In 2014 they bought a bare field of grassland with a shaw of ancient woodland beside it, and spent two years getting the soil into shape before anything was planted.
The first vines went in in 2016, Bacchus, two clones of Pinot Noir and Regent, and the first grapes were picked in 2018. In 2023 the vineyard spread into the neighbouring field, with more vines including Pinot Meunier.
Paul runs the vineyard. He trained at Plumpton College, has taught viticulture there, and during the week works as a television writer and director. The vines are tended by hand and the wine is made under contract by Defined Wine in Canterbury.
The wood gives the vineyard its name. It is oak and ash over hazel coppice, with a stream running through, and the family say roe deer, badgers, buzzards, kites and a barn owl all live on the land. Visitors are welcome to walk in it.
The wines
The whites are Bacchus. Bishop Odo is the barrel-aged Bacchus, and there is a Barrel Aged Bacchus Reserve as well. Eagle Ridge Rosé is a sparkling rosé, Saxonbury is a still Pinot Noir rosé and Thieving Badger is the red, made from Regent.
The traditional method sparkling Blanc de Noirs is the top bottle, though the 2021 has sold out. There is also a pink vermouth. The online shop takes 20% off most wines when you buy three or more. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at Wildwood
There is nothing to book until the 2027 dates come out, and the vineyard is shut until May. When it is open, the tour is the thing to do. It is good value at £20, it is led by the people who planted the vines, and the cheese plate is worth adding.
Everything is outdoors, so bring a coat and sensible shoes. Outside tour times you can turn up during opening hours for a glass or a bottle, and bring a picnic to eat among the vines or in the wood. Children have their own nature trail, and dogs on leads are welcome. The vineyard takes cards, bank transfer or cash.
Opening can change with the weather, so check its Facebook, Instagram or X page, or ring, before you set off.
In 2026 the programme included a bluebell day in April, open-air theatre at midsummer, a concert in July and Saturday evening openings in August. Over the winter the family sell their wine at markets in East Sussex and Kent, including Tonbridge, Aylesford and Crowborough.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tour and Guided Tasting A walk round the vines and the wood with the owner and vineyard manager, then a guided tasting of three still wines. Up to 22 people. It all happens outside, so dress for the weather. | £20 per person | – | Most Saturdays and Sundays from May to September, at 12pm and 2pm. 2027 dates to be confirmed |
| Sussex Cheese Pairing Plate Four cheeses from the Traditional Cheese Dairy, Burwash Rose, Olde Sussex, Lord of the Hundreds and Goodweald Smoked, chosen to go with the wines. Book it with the tour. | £12 per person | – | Added to a tour booking |
| Guided Tasting of the New Vintage For people who have done the tour before. Ask for it when you book. | On request | – | Tour days, if there is room |
| Private tour and tasting Arranged directly with the vineyard, depending on numbers and availability. | On request | – | By arrangement |
Book these on the Wildwood website.
Buy Wildwood 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
Eridge station is a 12-minute walk away. Southern trains reach it from London Bridge in about 56 minutes, and the Spa Valley Railway’s heritage trains run there from Tunbridge Wells West. In 2026 the vineyard suggested the 11.15am steam train for the noon tour and the 12.45pm train for the 2pm tour.
By car it is about six minutes from Tunbridge Wells. Do not put the postcode in a sat nav, which can send you some way off. Search for Wildwood Vineyard on Google Maps, or use the what3words address conceals.lavender.dentures.
Park in the public layby off the A26 at the top of the hill, opposite the turning to the Forstal, then walk 400 metres down the bridle path. The vineyard is on the left. The layby has potholes, so go carefully.
Make a day of it
Birchden Vineyards is a few minutes away near Groombridge, one stop along the Spa Valley Railway, and Busi Jacobsohn is at Eridge Green. Groombridge Place and Tunbridge Wells are both close by.
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, Albourne, Leonardslee Family Vineyards, Birchden Vineyards.
Questions people ask
Can I visit in winter?
No. The vineyard is closed from October to April and opens on most weekends from May to September. You can buy the wine online or at the winter markets it attends.
Can I get there without a car?
Yes. It is a 12-minute walk from Eridge station, which has Southern trains from London Bridge and heritage trains on the Spa Valley Railway from Tunbridge Wells West.
Are dogs and children welcome?
Yes. Dogs on leads are welcome, and children have a nature trail through the woods. There is a high chair.
Can I bring a picnic?
Yes, during opening hours you can eat your own picnic in the vineyard or the wood, and buy wine by the glass or bottle to go with it.