Six vineyards located in the most easterly part of East Sussex have together launched a new English wine region called Rother River Wine (@rotherriver.wine). Located within the Rother River catchment the region encompasses the River Rother and its tributaries the Tillingham and the Brede.
The wine region is right in the area of the UK that receives the most sunshine hours, has low-lying vineyards with warm, rich soils of clay, silt and sandstone that retain heat, ideal south facing slopes – and a unique microclimate that helps deflect rain clouds.
Rother River Wine Region vineyards are: Charles Palmer, Mountfield Winery, Seddlescombe, Tillingham, Oastbrook and Oxney. 60 minutes by train from London, the area has long benefited from wine tourism from domestic as well as international visitors. On Sunday June 28th the participating
vineyards, who already work together on a tourism initiative called Rother Wine Triangle (@rotherwinetriangle), are launching a weekly Rother Wine Triangle Sunday bus route around the vineyards.
Visitors can book their trip on https://sussexwinelands.com/ or on the individual vineyards’ web sites. The bus route will take 22 wine enthusiasts on a day visiting the vineyards. This is the first wine trail in the UK offering a transport option and has been funded by Rother District Council.
The Rother Triangle Bus Route itinerary will encompass three vineyards every Sunday between May and October and will start and end at a train station in the region – Rye or Robertsbridge. The Bus Route will include a specific itinerary for each Sunday
- Pick up at one of the train stations, transport between the vineyards and ending up at the same train station at the end of the day
- Charcuterie and cheese lunch (vegetarian/vegan options available)
- Free delivery of wine purchased (from six bottles) to a home address.
The day-long itinerary cost £130.
Oxney: www.oxneyestate.com / hello@oxneyestate.com / 01797 260 137
Oxney is an organic vineyard and winery on the edge of the Rother River, north of Rye.
The 14 Ha vineyard was planted from 2012 by Kristin Syltevik and Paul Dobson who
work with the vines and the wines. Oxney’s focus is on traditional method sparkling
wine as well as some still wines – the low intervention approach has produced wines
which have all been well received by critics and wine enthusiasts around the world. A
recent highlight was winning a Gold medal in the 2025 Decanter Awards. Oxney is an
organic farm as well as a vineyard and has a number of huts, barns and houses that
sleep up to 28 people. Visitors are welcome at the vineyard through the week for tours
and wine flights (check web site for opening times).
Oastbrook: www.oastbrook.com / 07496727014
Oastbrook is an award-winning, family-owned vineyard and winery in the picturesque
Rother Valley, on the Kent–Sussex border near Bodiam Castle. Founded by Nick and
America Brewer, Oastbrook produces a distinctive range of premium still and sparkling
English wines, with a strong focus on sustainability, innovation and quality. Visitor
experiencse include immersive vineyard and winery tours, guided wine tastings,
seasonal events, luxury accommodation – including a storybook-themed house, a
Scandinavian waterside lodge and glamping. Recognised as one of England’s leading
boutique wineries, Oastbrook combines traditional craftsmanship with a regenerative
approach to viticulture. The estate is planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot
Meunier, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc producing 13 wines that reflect the exceptional
terroir of the region including two renowned still blanc de noirs, mineral-driven
Chardonnays, a full-bodied Pinot Noir and Alsace-style Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc.
Tillingham: www.tillingham.com/ 01797 208 226
Tillingham is a 25 acre biodynamic vineyard and winery planted with a host of 21
varieties including classics such as Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay but also
less familiar varieties found in this country like Pineau d’Aunis, Trousseau and Chenin
Blanc as well as a cohort of Germanic hybrids – Müller Thurgau, Siegerrebe and Ortega
to name a few. The focus of the winemaking at Tillingham is on still wines, supported by
our rich clay soils and warm site. The approach in the winery is best described as low
intervention – wild ferments with additions, fining and filtration are kept to a minimum
and a variety of vessels are used – steel, oak, concrete and clay. Tillingham has a 11
room hotel, a restaurant as well as a bar, wood-fired pizza barn, tours and events and
hosts wedding receptions.
Mountfield Winery: www.mountfieldwinery.com / info@mountfieldwinery.com
Mountfield Winery, owned by Lucinda and Simon Fraser, is a family-run boutique estate,
just outside Robertsbridge in East Sussex. The family has lived on the estate since 1860,
with their home featured on the label, reflecting a strong sense of place. Working with
classic Champagne grape varieties, Mountfield ages all wines for a minimum of five
years on the lees, producing wines of finesse, balance and depth. From June to
September, the estate hosts vineyard tours, tastings, BBQs and picnics (see website for
details).
Charles Palmer: www.charlespalmer-vineyards.co.uk / vineyard@charlespalmer
vineyards.co.uk / 07869148935
Charles Palmer is a family-run, single-estate vineyard in the ancient Cinque Port of
Winchelsea, East Sussex, with 40 acres of vines set on a south-facing slope just one mile
from the sea. Originally a mixed farm taken on by the Palmer family in 1998, the estate began
its transition to viticulture in 2006 with the planting of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, followed
more recently by Sauvignac. Some of its lowest vines sit just one metre above sea level,
helping to shape the freshness and minerality that define our wines. The focus is on creating a
characterful, high-quality range of still and sparkling wines, including long lees-aged vintage
sparkling wines and mineral-driven, un-oaked Chardonnays that reflect our coastal terroir.
Alongside the vineyard, the estate continue to keep a flock of 70 breeding ewes, maintaining
our farming roots. Today, a small team of six – four family members and two neighbours –
offers a warm and relaxed introduction to winemaking. From vine to bottle, guests can
experience the full process through tours and tastings, visit the cosy cellar door with views
over the Brede Valley, or stay at Wickham Manor, the onsite 16th-century accommodation.