Sussex

Sussex wine is built on chalk — the same soils that drive high acidity and a lean, focused style in the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier planted here since leading producers first established Champagne varieties in the ground in 1988. Those three grapes now make up 68 per cent of all plantings across England and Wales, and Sussex is where they have their deepest roots. There are good reasons why this region earned its own protected status — read on.

Why choose Sussex wine?

Sussex is the only English wine region with its own dedicated PDO, awarded in June 2022 — a formal, legally recognised distinction that sets it apart from every other county in England and Wales, including neighbouring Kent. That PDO is a concrete buying signal: when you see Sussex Sparkling Wine PDO on a label, you know the wine meets a defined regional standard, not just a national one. The style suits anyone who enjoys fine sparkling wine at the table — the lean, chalk-driven profile of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir makes it a natural match for oysters and smoked fish. It is equally at home as a celebratory bottle for someone who wants English fizz with genuine regional credentials rather than a generic England label. If you want sparkling wine with its own PDO and chalk-driven character from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, our Sussex selection starts here →

How is Sussex Sparkling Wine PDO made?

Sussex Sparkling Wine PDO must be produced by the traditional method — the same bottle-fermented process used in Champagne — giving the wines fine bubbles and bready complexity.

Is sparkling wine the main style in Sussex?

Yes. Sparkling wine accounts for 76 per cent of production across England and Wales, and Sussex, dominated by Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, sits at the heart of that output.