Signature experience — Brighton
Sussex sparkling wine estates
Duration
Full day
Price
From €690
Mercedes
Dedicated vehicle & chauffeur
Glasses clink on Ridgeview’s terrace, the chalk smells fresh after a shower, and the South Downs roll away in soft folds. Just 12 km from Brighton’s seafront, these chalk and flint slopes grow Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that have taken Decanter and IWC medals; Ridgeview’s first vintage was 1996. The flinty soils, sea-breeze nights, and steady acidity give a Champagne-like tension—without mimicking its style.
From there, the pace stays easy: your driver meets you at your Brighton hotel, Mercedes on standby, and takes the A27 for a 25‑minute hop to Ridgeview for a tour of the cellar and disgorging room. After tasting, it’s on to Rathfinny in Alfriston, about 30 minutes over rolling lanes; you sit down to lunch at the Tasting Room while parking and bookings are handled. The afternoon brings a vineyard walk and a stop at the Cellar Door, then a flexible return via Ditchling or Rottingdean; around Brighton with a dedicated chauffeur, you taste while someone else handles the driving.
Your itinerary
- I
09:30 — Pick-up at your Brighton hotel and depart via the A27 to Ditchling.
- II
10:00–12:00 — Guided tour and tasting at Ridgeview Wine Estate, terrace overlooking the Downs.
- III
12:45–14:30 — Lunch at Rathfinny’s Tasting Room in Alfriston, seasonal menu with sparkling pairings.
- IV
15:00–16:30 — Vineyard stroll, Cellar Door stop, then return to Brighton (30–40 min depending on traffic).
What’s included
- ✓ Dedicated chauffeur for the day
- ✓ Mercedes E or V-Class
- ✓ Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- ✓ Waiting time and inter-estate transfers
Your chauffeur’s tip
For Saturdays, book tours at least three weeks ahead and request a window table at Rathfinny’s Tasting Room to catch the Cuckmere Valley in crisp midday light.
Book this experience
Confirmed within 30 minutes · Fixed price quoted in advance