Photo: Will Hearle
Nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park, Stopham Estate is home to 21,000 vines, which enjoy sunny, south-facing slopes in the medieval hamlet of Stopham, near Pulborough.
As specialists in crafting aromatic still white wines from Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Bacchus and classic method sparkling wine, Stopham pride themselves on their sustainable approach to winemaking. The vineyard, planted in 2007 by winemaker Simon Woodhead, boasts sandy, free-draining soil and some of the best views in the county – which make far happy vines and happy winemakers at this beautiful, 15 acre estate.
Visitors to the estate can enjoy vineyard, winery and wine tasting tours with the winemaker on Saturdays at 11am or 2pm between April and October. The tours include an in-depth tour of both the vineyard and the winery, offering a deep insight into the winemaking process, from soil to bottle.
The estate’s clean, crisp aromatic styles have won many industry awards (IEWA, Wine GB, Decanter WWA to name a few – and pair very well with fish, seafood and spicy dishes.
Photo: Will Hearle
Photo: Will Hearle
© Stopham Vineyard Ltd
Photo: Will Hearle
Winemaker tours run every Saturday from April to October at 11am and 2pm, and can be booked via Stopham’s website.
Winemaker tours can be booked via Stopham’s website. Or for a private tour, contact the winery directly. Add lunch by the river Arun for even more of a memorable and enjoyable day out.
Not directly on the estate, but the Pig Hotel in Madehurst (near Arundel) is nearby, and offers excellent accommodation and delicious food. Cowdray Estate in nearby Midhurst has holiday cottages to rent in their beautiful grounds, and their farm shop is well worth a visit.
Landscape  
Cissbury Ring, in the South Downs National Park, is the largest hill fort in Sussex and has a history dating back over 5,000 years. Set high up on a chalk promontory, on a clear day you can see forever, with views across to the chalk cliffs beyond Brighton and as far as the Isle of Wight.
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