Court Garden

Court Garden Vineyard & Winery: Award-Winning English Sparkling Wine in the Shadow of the South Downs

Court Garden is one of England's quietly confident family vineyards. Tucked into a south-facing slope in Ditchling, in the lee of the South Downs, the single-estate winery has spent the last two decades turning East Sussex chalk and a maritime climate into bottle-fermented, lees-aged sparkling wines that can stand shoulder to shoulder with the best from further south in Champagne. In 2015, the International Wine Challenge awarded the estate both its English Sparkling Trophy and its English Vintage Trophy for the 2010 Blanc de Blancs - a notable double that put Court Garden on the map for anyone tracking premium English fizz.

The Estate: Court Gardens Farm in Ditchling

The vineyards sit within the wider farm known as Court Gardens Farm on Orchard Lane, Ditchling (postcode BN6 8TH). The farm itself is much older than the vines. Court Garden records show that in Saxon times it was known as the Manor of Ditchling Garden; from the middle ages through to the Reformation it was held by the monks at the priory in Lewes. After a brief period under crown ownership it became known as Court Garden, and it even appears on one of the earliest surviving maps of Sussex - Yeakell and Gardner's map of 1778-1783 - just to the north of Ditchling village. The landscape around the farm, the team notes, has changed remarkably little since.

The vineyard itself was established in the spring of 2005 on a beautiful south-facing slope with the South Downs as a backdrop, and the family-run estate now extends to 17 acres. The bulk of the planting is the three classic Champagne varieties - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier - destined for bottle-fermented sparkling wine. Alongside these, Pinot Gris, Ortega, Rondo and Pinot Blanc provide fruit for still wines, and two rare old varieties, Arbanne and Petit Meslier, are grown as well.

Sussex shares similar geology with north-east France: the chalk of the Downs runs beneath the Channel into Champagne. East Sussex's more maritime climate, the estate explains, is well suited to sparkling wine production, and the team makes the most of the slope, aspect and chalky soils.

Our Vineyard Year

Court Garden publishes an unusually candid "Vineyard Year" diary that walks readers through each stage of the cycle from post-harvest through to the next vintage. Highlights include:

• Winter pruning (January - March): The team uses the Double Guyot cane replacement system. Almost all of last year's growth above the trunk is removed, leaving just two canes to tie down later. Pruning is described as "the biggest and most important job in the year".
• Frost protection (April - May): Buds swell through April and burst at the start of May. Vineyard temperatures are monitored overnight and frost candles are lit if the temperature dips below zero.
• Canopy management (June - July): Bud-rubbing removes unwanted shoots from the trunk. By late June the inflorescence should be expanding into flowering; warm, dry conditions help fruit set.
• Summer growth (August - September): Vines are tucked into wires and mechanically trimmed - sometimes four times in a season for the most vigorous plots. Veraison (the colour change in the grapes) typically begins in mid-August, signalling roughly six weeks to harvest. Sugar and acid levels are monitored closely in September, and resident kestrels and hawk kites are deployed to deter greedy starlings.
• Harvest and winery (October - December): Grapes are hand-picked by friends of Court Garden and taken immediately to the on-site winery. The fruit is gently pressed and, for the sparkling wines, begins its journey to bottle-fermented fizz using the traditional method.

An online weather station allows visitors to see what conditions are like on the slope in real time.

The Wines

All of Court Garden's sparkling wines are hand-crafted from estate-grown fruit using the traditional method, with long ageing on the lees adding complexity. The current range is sold through the online shop, with free UK mainland delivery on orders of £100 or more.

Classic Sparkling Cuvées

• Court Garden Classic Cuvée - £28.75. The flagship blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, made in the brut style. Pale silver-lime green with continuous small bubbles; toasty with under-ripe pineapple and greengage fruit; balanced with a creamy mousse and long finish. Recommended as an aperitif or with seafood. Six-bottle case: £166.50.
• Court Garden Rosé - £30.25. A warm-pink brut sparkling rosé made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Dried cranberry and autolytic notes, lively acidity balancing creamy mousse, with a savoury brioche finish. Six-bottle case: £175.50.
• Court Garden Blanc de Noirs - £32.25. An extra-dry Blanc de Noirs from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, made in the traditional method with long lees ageing. A versatile food wine as well as an aperitif. Six-bottle case: £187.50.
• Court Garden Blanc de Blancs - £32.85. 100% Chardonnay, brut. The IWC judges described the 2011 as "Gentle and elegant style. Sliced green apples and gala melon. Fine boned with persistent chalky length." Six-bottle case: £191.10.

Premium Blends

• Court Garden Ditchling Quartet - £55.00. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir Précoce, replacing the highly successful Ditchling Reserve. A large proportion is barrel-aged before bottling, and the wine spends longer on lees for a rich but still fruity balance. IWSC 2021 Gold; IWC 2021 Silver. Six-bottle case: £324.
• Court Garden Ditchling Solo - £37.45. A 100% Chardonnay partner to the Quartet. Barrel fermented for depth and mouthfeel, traditional method with long lees ageing, dry style with plenty of structure and ageing potential. Six-bottle case: £218.70.

Magnums

• Court Garden Classic Cuvée Magnum - £67.00. The classic blend in 1.5L format from the 2017 vintage.
• Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2015 Magnum - £130.00. The 2015 vintage in magnum - Decanter World Wine Awards 2020 Silver.
• Court Garden Blanc de Blancs 2014 Magnum - £150.00. The trophy-winning style in magnum.

Cases and Collections

• Court Garden Half-Bottle Case - £108.30. Six half-bottles of Classic Cuvée, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs or Blanc de Noirs, or mixed collections (3 Classic + 1 each of Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs; or 2 each of Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs). Classic Cuvée is also available in cases of twelve.
• Court Garden Classic Collection - £175.60. Six bottles: 3 × Classic Cuvée, 1 × Rosé, 1 × Blanc de Blancs, 1 × Blanc de Noirs. Free standard delivery.
• Court Garden Special Collection - £184.70. Six bottles of premium cuvées: 2 × Rosé, 2 × Blanc de Blancs, 2 × Blanc de Noirs. Free standard delivery.

English Still Wine: The Ditchling Range

Alongside its sparkling wines, Court Garden produces two still wines under the "Ditchling" label:

• Court Garden Ditchling Rosé - £16.95. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Rondo. Rondo is whole-bunch pressed and fermented in stainless steel to preserve rich berry fruit; Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are whole-bunch pressed and aged in French oak 225-litre barrels for structure and body. Citrus, mulberry, blackcurrant and strawberry aromas; medium-bodied and dry at 11% abv. Pair with grilled shellfish, salade niçoise, paella, charcuterie or sheep's cheese. Six-bottle case: £95.70.
• Court Garden Ditchling White - £16.95. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Gris and Ortega, fermented and aged in stainless steel to retain clean aromas. Apple, grapefruit, lime and stone fruit on the nose; tropical fruits on the palate with a clean fresh finish. Light-medium bodied and dry. Six-bottle case: £95.70.

Ditchling Vermouth

Court Garden also produces a single-vineyard estate vermouth, made from grapes grown on the estate and flavoured with botanicals that grow on the farm - including gorse flowers, rosemary, rose petals, lavender, bay and wormwood.

• Ditchling Vermouth Red - £25.00. 500ml, semi-sweet, 16% abv. Star anise on the nose, slightly smoky palate with clove and a bittersweet orange finish. Serve on ice.
• Ditchling Vermouth Rosé - £25.00. 500ml, dry, 15.5% abv. Fresh rosemary, subtle floral and melon on the nose; sweet honey on the palate finishing dry and slightly bitter with floral and bay notes. Serve with tonic, orange slice, a green olive and ice.
• Ditchling Vermouth Red & Rosé - £45.00. One of each in a 500ml pair, saving £5 over single bottles.

The Wine Library: Older Vintages

Court Garden keeps back a few cases from each vintage for vertical tastings in the cellar. The Wine Library opens limited stocks of older vintages to the public. The library list, with the team's tasting notes on each vintage's growing season, currently includes:

• 2010 Vintage: A landmark year - Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2010, Blanc de Blancs 2010, Blanc de Noirs 2010 and Ditchling Reserve 2010, all at £105.00 each. The team recall a frost on the last day of harvest in October that crisped the leaves by the following morning, and a vintage that yielded a great crop of gold medals.
• 2011 Vintage: Modest quantity, nice quality. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2011 and Blanc de Blancs 2011 at £95.00 each.
• 2012 Vintage: A difficult year - too much rain and not enough sunshine. The estate vinified a tiny crop and blended it into the following year; no library releases from 2012 are currently listed.
• 2013 Vintage: A worthwhile quality crop with unspectacular yields. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2013, Blanc de Blancs 2013 and Blanc de Noirs 2013 at £85.00 each.
• 2014 Vintage: A record harvest with great quality across all varieties. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2014, Blanc de Blancs 2014 and Blanc de Noirs Extra Dry 2014 at £75.00 each.
• 2015 Vintage: A perfect spring set abundant fruit, but a challenging summer required a green harvest. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2015 and Blanc de Noirs 2015 at £65.00 each.
• 2016 Vintage: Late frosts and a wet winter redeemed themselves with above-average temperatures. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2016 at £55.00.
• 2017 Vintage: The "Beast from the East" damaged buds at burst, but kind summer weather produced good fruit. Court Garden Classic Cuvée 2017 and Blanc de Blancs 2017 at £55.00 each.

Library wines are released in very limited quantities, and the team stresses that what is available today may not be tomorrow.

Vineyard Tours and Tastings

Vineyard tours offer the chance to go behind the scenes at Court Garden. There is a calendar of upcoming tours and tastings with places available, and visitors can choose morning or afternoon slots.

Autumn & Winter Winery Experience

A special seasonal tour of the winery covering all the processes involved in winemaking, plus a tasting of a range of Court Garden sparkling wine and a complementary vermouth spritz cocktail. £27.50 per person. This experience returns in the autumn.

Vineyard and Sparkling Wine Tour

The standard vineyard tour, with a thorough discussion of winemaking followed by a tasting of four blends of Court Garden sparkling wine. From £27.50 per person. Available as a Morning Tour or Afternoon Tour.

Wines & Cheese Vineyard Tour

A tasting of two sparkling and two still award-winning wines, paired with four cheeses. From £37.50 per person. Available as a Morning Tour or Afternoon Tour.

Picnic Lunch

Homemade picnic lunches can be booked for the 1:00 - 2:00pm slot on Saturdays - ideal either after a morning tour or before an afternoon tour.

Self-guided and Picnic Tours

For a more relaxed visit, Court Garden offers a Self-guided Vineyard Tour and a Self-guided Picnic Tour for Two, the latter including a half-bottle of sparkling wine to enjoy in the vineyard.

Gift Vouchers for Tours

Tour experiences can also be given as gifts:

• Gift Voucher: Vineyard and Sparkling Wine Tour - £27.50.
• Gift Voucher: Taste award-winning wines and cheese - £37.50.
• Gift Voucher: Picnic Lunch - £19.75.

Making a Day of It

Visitors often combine a tour with a wider day, or weekend, in Ditchling. Local options include walks on the Downs and the award-winning Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft. Plenty of parking is available on site. For those arriving by train, the team suggests Burgess Hill (with a 10-minute taxi ride to the vineyard) or Hassocks (a 40-minute walk, with a shortcut available - call ahead to find out).

Sparkling Gifts from Court Garden

Court Garden offers branded single, double and magnum gift boxes. Single bottles are designed to be light enough to send by Royal Mail at first or second class.

• Court Garden Sparkling Wine Gift Box - £37.25.
• Double Court Garden Sparkling Wines Gift Box - £69.00.
• Court Garden Sparkling Wine Gift Box with two glasses - £53.75.
• Court Garden Magnum Gift Box - £87.00.

Awards

Court Garden has built an impressive track record of medals over the years. Standout trophies include the 2015 IWC Trophy for Best English Sparkling Wine (awarded to the 2010 Blanc de Blancs), the IWC English Vintage Trophy, and a place in the 50 Great Sparkling Wines of the World. Trophies and golds from the International Wine Challenge, International Wine & Spirit Competition, UK Vineyards Association and Sommelier Wine Awards appear regularly across vintages from 2009 through 2017, covering the Classic Cuvée, Rosé, Blanc de Noirs, Blanc de Blancs, Ditchling Reserve, Ditchling Quartet, Ditchling Rosé, Ditchling Red and Ditchling White.

Press Coverage

Press coverage includes features in The Guardian, the New York Times, Wine Pleasures, Decanter, The Times, Tageblatt, Hannoversche Allgemeine Zeitung, Südkurier, Weser Kurier, and notes from Greg Sherwood MW (online review of the Ditchling White 2016), as well as photographs by Pieter May, Hugh Threlfall and Jerry Webb.

Ordering Online and Delivery

Court Garden sells directly to UK mainland customers through its online shop. Single bottles are sent by Royal Mail (2nd class £7.50, 1st class £10.00) - with the exception of Ditchling Rosé still wine, which ships at 2nd class £5.00 / 1st class £7.50 - and two or more bottles are sent by courier at £10.95 standard or £12.95 next-day. Orders of £100 or more qualify for free standard delivery.

Next-day delivery is available at checkout if orders are placed by 10:30am; orders placed by 10:30am on a Friday are delivered on Monday. Parcelforce will text the recipient with a delivery window. Court Garden is unable to ship outside the UK mainland.

Local pick-up is also available from the winery by arrangement - call 01273 844 479 or email wine@courtgarden.com to set this up.

Contact

• Address: Court Garden Vineyard & Winery, Court Gardens Farm, Orchard Lane, Ditchling, East Sussex BN6 8TH.
• Telephone: 01273 844 479.
• Email: wine@courtgarden.com.
• Social: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Final Thoughts

Court Garden is a small estate with a substantial trophy cabinet. The combination of a chalky, south-facing Sussex slope, the classic Champagne varieties, traditional-method winemaking and lengthy lees ageing produces sparkling wines that hold their own against much larger English producers - and the team's willingness to release older library vintages makes it an especially interesting stop for collectors. With cellar tours, an online shop, gift boxes and the Wine Library of older releases all on offer, Court Garden delivers a clear and consistent take on what English sparkling wine can be at its best.