Downsview Vineyard - A Boutique English Winery Tucked Into the East Sussex Countryside
Downsview Vineyard is a small, independently run English vineyard nestled into the High Weald landscape near Crowborough in East Sussex. Set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) and surrounded by woodland, the vineyard embraces the classic spirit of England's growing wine industry: a place where handcrafted bottles are made in modest quantities, visitors are welcomed warmly, and the focus is squarely on quality, place, and people.
Location and Setting
The vineyard sits on Hadlow Down Road, just outside the village of Crowborough, with the postcode TN6 3RG. The location places Downsview squarely within the Weald, a historically important stretch of English countryside that has become one of the most exciting wine-producing regions in the country. Tucked just south of the Ashdown Forest, the site benefits from free-draining sandstone soils and a gentle south-facing aspect, exactly the kind of terroir that growers across Sussex and Kent have learned to take advantage of in recent decades.
The AONB designation is more than a backdrop. It informs everything about how Downsview operates, from the way the vines are managed to the slow pace of the visitor experience. Anyone approaching the vineyard for the first time is likely to travel down narrow country lanes, past hedgerows and traditional Wealden farm buildings, before the vines come into view.
The Wines
Downsview produces a tightly focused range of handcrafted still and sparkling wines, all made in small batches from estate-grown fruit. The current lineup includes a white, a rosé, a red, and a sparkling wine, alongside a traditional cider made on site. The portfolio has been built around varieties suited to the English climate, allowing the vineyard to express the cool, continental style that has made English wine, and East Sussex wine in particular, internationally respected.
White Wine
The estate white is a fresh, aromatic number with the kind of crisp acidity that pairs naturally with the foods on offer at the vineyard itself. Like most English still whites, it is intended to be drunk young and at its liveliest, ideally in the kind of relaxed, sun-drenched setting for which it is made.
Rosé Wine
Downsview's rosé is grown and produced on site, offering the pale, dry style that has come to define the best examples of English rosé. Expect a delicate hue, red-fruit aromatics, and a finish that makes it a versatile option for everything from a charcuterie board to a light summer lunch.
Red Wine
English red wine is still something of a curiosity in many parts of the country, but Downsview joins a growing band of producers demonstrating that, in the right vintages and on the right sites, the south-east of England can produce genuinely appealing cool-climate reds. Bottles are released in limited quantities and tend to sell quickly.
Sparkling Wine
Sparkling wine is the style for which English vineyards have become internationally famous, and Downsview's offering is no exception. Produced in the traditional method from estate-grown fruit, it is a bottle worth seeking out, both for its own sake and as an introduction to what this quiet corner of East Sussex can achieve.
Traditional Cider
As well as the four wines, Downsview produces a traditional cider, made using the same care and small-batch approach. For visitors who prefer cider to wine, it provides a way into the estate's range that fits the relaxed atmosphere of the vineyard.
Visiting the Vineyard
During the spring and summer months, Downsview opens its gates to visitors, serving wine, wood-fired pizza, charcuterie boards, and other light bites. The team describes the atmosphere as friendly, relaxed, and intimate, set among the vines in a beautiful corner of the Sussex countryside. The food menu has been designed with the wines in mind, making a visit feel less like a tour of a working winery and more like an afternoon spent at a friend's house, a friend who happens to make very good wine.
Tables can be booked through the vineyard's Resos booking page, which is the easiest way to guarantee a spot during the busy summer weekends.
Wine Tasting and Tour
For those who want to understand more about what happens in the vineyard and the winery, Downsview offers a Wine Tasting and Tour experience. The session typically takes in the vines themselves, the winemaking process, and a guided tasting of the estate's wines. It is a useful entry point for visitors who are considering buying a case to take home, or who simply want to know more about how English wine is made. Full details, including availability and current pricing, are available on the Wine Tasting and Tour product page.
Glamping Among the Vines
One of the more unusual features at Downsview is its bell-tent glamping offer, which lets visitors stay overnight among the vines. Billed as a luxurious way to extend a visit, the glamping pitch is listed through Hipcamp, the platform that curates private campsites and unusual places to stay across the UK. Sleeping among the vines, with the soft Wealden landscape on one side and a working vineyard on the other, is a particularly memorable way to round off a tasting tour. Bookings can be made through Hipcamp.
Shop and Online Sales
Bottles from the current release can be ordered through the online store. Because production runs are limited and the wines are very much sold as estate-grown, small-batch products, allocations can move quickly, particularly for the sparkling wine and the rosé. Postal orders are processed from the Crowborough address.
Finding the Vineyard
The full address for sat-navs and online maps is:
Downsview Vineyard
Hadlow Down Road
Crowborough
TN6 3RG
The vineyard can also be located on Google Maps. Crowborough is well placed for visitors coming from Tunbridge Wells, Uckfield, or the coast at Eastbourne, all of which sit within a comfortable drive along the A26 and surrounding lanes.
Getting in Touch
- Email: katy@downsviewvineyard.co.uk
- Telephone: 07488 311 314
- Address: Downsview Vineyard, Hadlow Down Road, Crowborough, TN6 3RG
Email tends to be the most reliable method, particularly during the busy summer months when the team is often out in the vineyard or working on a tasting session.
Why Downsview Is Worth a Visit
English wine has grown from a niche curiosity into one of the country's most exciting food and drink categories, and the experience of visiting a small, working vineyard like Downsview is the best way to understand why. The combination of a beautiful AONB setting, a focused range of wines and cider, an unpretentious food offering, the option to stay overnight in a bell tent among the vines, and a genuinely welcoming team all add up to a destination that captures what is best about the new wave of English wine. Whether you come for an afternoon glass of sparkling on the lawn, a tasting flight, or an overnight stay in the vines, Downsview is a quietly confident example of English wine country at its best.