Highweald Wine Estate: Award-Winning English Sparkling & Still Wines from the Sussex High Weald
Highweald Wine Estate is one of the most dynamic young producers in the rapidly evolving English wine scene. Founded in 2016 on the rolling sun-trap ridges of the Sussex High Weald, the estate has risen from a bold planting of 120,000 vines to a multi-award-winning business whose bottles have been celebrated at the International Wine Challenge. Today, Highweald crafts both traditional-method sparkling wines and a small but carefully judged range of still wines, all grown, fermented and bottled on the estate, and all shaped by the same patient, low-intervention philosophy that has defined the project from the very first harvest.
The Story Behind Highweald
Highweald Wine Estate began in 2016 with a clear and uncompromising vision: to craft world-class English sparkling wines without compromise. The founders planted 120,000 vines across the rolling hills of the Sussex High Weald, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty that, in the estate's words, is "one of England's most compelling terroirs." It was a bold bet on the future of English wine, and the first vintage in 2018 made good on that vision almost immediately.
In its debut year of release, Highweald was awarded Best Wine in First Year of Production, alongside both the English Sparkling Trophy and the Non-Vintage English Sparkling Trophy at the 2022 International Wine Challenge. That trifecta of recognition, in a competition that sets the benchmark for fine wine globally, confirmed the quality that the team had set out to achieve from the very first row of vines.
The name "Highweald" itself is a nod to the High Weald, the ancient sandstone and clay landscape of Sussex, Kent and Surrey that sits at the heart of England's most exciting wine country. The estate is rooted in that sense of place, and every bottle is designed to express the chalk-influenced soils, cool nights, and long ripening window that define the region.
The People Behind the Bottles
Highweald is a small, characterful team whose personalities are stitched into the brand. Neil, the Managing Director, is the first to admit he is new to the world of making wine, but he is no stranger to the drinks trade. He spent decades leading large drinks brands before swapping the boardroom for a working vineyard, and his favourite bottle of Highweald is the Sparkling Rosé NV. He is also the one who keeps an eye on Tilly, the estate's four-legged director of mischief.
Eve, the Hospitality Manager, was born and raised in Sussex, trained as a sommelier, earned her WSET Level 3, and travelled Europe tasting her way through its vineyards. She leads the behind-the-scenes tours and tutored tastings, and her favourite Highweald wine is the Wild Ferment Chardonnay, which she describes as "England's answer to the Mâconnais."
Colm, the Winemaker, traded a chemistry degree for a life spent coaxing brilliance out of grapes. He has made wine in New Zealand, California, Australia and France, and brought that globetrotting expertise back to the UK. He is obsessed with new ideas in the winery, soils, and the kind of experimentation that turns a good wine into a great one. He is responsible for the elegant, slow-fermented character of the entire range.
Max, the Assistant Vineyard Manager, is an ex-art-school cigar smoker who is now happiest among the vines, the wildlife, and the occasional banana snack. He is a committed ornithologist who will tell you the Latin name of any bird you did not ask about, and is usually armed with the trail of banana skins that he claims not to be responsible for.
Gary, the Winery and Vineyard Operative, started as one of Highweald's delivery drivers before becoming an integral part of the production team. Outside of the estate, he runs his own mobile coffee bar, and inside the winery he is the one who fixes anything that needs fixing. Simon, the Business Development Manager, was born in Brighton, spent his twenties travelling the world backpacking, and worked vintages in New Zealand and Oregon before returning to Sussex to champion the wines of his homeland. And then there is Tilly, the unofficial boss of Highweald, a four-legged tornado of enthusiasm whose favourite activity is sneaking into photos like she owns the place.
The Sussex Vineyards
Highweald farms three distinct vineyard sites, each with its own character. Combined, the estate covers 63 acres of vines set in the heart of the stunning High Weald National Landscape. The differences between the sites are what allow the winemaking team to build complexity across the range, and they are worth understanding in a little detail.
Highweald Vineyard
The home vineyard sits across rolling Sussex ridgelines, where clay-rich soils, excellent natural drainage, and long, even sunlight provide ideal conditions for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to ripen slowly. The elevation and cooling breezes preserve acidity, giving the estate's sparkling wines their hallmark freshness, structure, and finesse. Sustainable vineyard practices and a thriving ecosystem of wildflowers, bees, birds and bats shape a site where fruit can mature cleanly and express its full character.
Lake Street (Lakestreet) Vineyard
Sheltered in the rain-shadow of Crowborough Hill, Lakestreet Vineyard's clay-loam and sandstone soils create an ideal environment for Chardonnay. The site has south-facing exposure and a slower ripening season, allowing nuanced flavours of stone fruit, blossom and subtle spice to emerge with clarity. The clay-loam soils coax a purity and tension in the fruit, and meticulous hand-tending and gentle, sustainable farming have given this vineyard its reputation for precision and elegance in Highweald's still wines. The high-altitude single-vineyard Lake Street Chardonnay is named directly after this site.
Alder Ridge Vineyard
Set on the chalky slopes of the North Wessex Downs, Alder Ridge Vineyard benefits from south-facing aspects, free-draining chalk soils and long, gentle sunlight. Here, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Pinot Précoce ripen slowly and develop clarity and elegance of flavour. The elevation and cool breezes help preserve acidity, giving the estate's sparkling wines their hallmark freshness and fine mineral character. It is surrounded by wildflowers, birds and thriving biodiversity, and the sustainable practices nurture fruit that matures cleanly and expresses the true character of this unique chalkland site.
Sustainability at the Core
Sustainability is not a marketing tag at Highweald; it is the operating principle of the estate. The team farms with a light touch, prioritising soil health, low-impact vineyard practices, and responsible stewardship of the land. Every decision, from canopy management to harvest timing, is made to protect the vineyard for future generations while elevating the purity of the wines. Highweald is a proud member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain, and the estate's conservation work - wildflower meadows, bat boxes, bird habitats, and flourishing hedgerows - supports a rich biodiversity that surrounds the vines and creates a balanced, thriving environment.
The Sparkling Wine Collection
The Highweald Sparkling Wine Collection is the heart of the range. Bottles are made using the traditional method, with slow-grown grapes from the cool Sussex slopes, small-batch fermentation, and patient lees ageing giving the wines their hallmark crispness, structure and elegance. As the estate puts it, the sparkling wines "capture the finesse and energy that define England's finest bubbles."
Highweald Brut Reserve NV
The flagship of the sparkling range, the Brut Reserve NV is a multi-vintage blend of estate-grown Chardonnay (56%), Pinot Noir (21%) and Pinot Meunier (20%). It is aged for 18 months on lees and is dry, with an ABV of 12%. On the nose, there are aromas of green apple, citrus zest, and subtle brioche, while the palate is crisp, refined and beautifully poised, with fine bubbles and bright acidity carrying through to a clean, persistent finish. It is currently on sale for £84.00, reduced from its regular price of £105.00.
According to winemaker Colm: "The character of this wine is driven entirely by our Sussex terroir - the chalk-influenced soils, cool nights, and long ripening window. Those conditions allow us to build precision in acidity, fine texture, and layered aromatics, which ultimately define the style of Highweald Brut Reserve NV."
Highweald Rosé NV
The Sparkling Rosé NV is a blended, multi-vintage bottling of estate-grown Chardonnay (59%), Pinot Noir (21%) and Pinot Meunier (20%), aged for 24 months on lees and bottled at 12% ABV. It is a celebration of the estate's most expressive red-fruit character, with lifted aromas of wild strawberry, redcurrant, and delicate rose petal, and a lively, finely balanced palate that is crisp, elegant, and effortlessly drinkable. The Highweald Rosé NV is priced at £38.00 per bottle.
Blanc de Noir 2022
Highly rated and a one-off vintage release, the Blanc de Noir 2022 is a precise blend of Pinot Noir (77%) and Pinot Meunier (23%), grown from hand-selected fruit on Highweald's Sussex vineyards. Whole-bunch pressed with minimal colour pickup, the wine is fermented partly in tank and partly in a small portion of neutral barrel, with 18 months on lees giving subtle brioche notes beneath the youthful, vibrant fruit. Aromas of redcurrant, citrus and soft brioche lead to a silky, vibrant palate with a crisp, refined mousse and a long, tense finish. At 12% ABV, the wine is priced at £42.00.
Colm describes it as a wine that is "both youthful and seriously refined," with the 2022 vintage offering particular purity and tension.
The Still Wine Collection
The Highweald Still Wine Collection showcases the purity and precision that come from an exceptional vineyard. Slow-ripened fruit, hand-tended vines, and a cool English climate come together to create wines with natural elegance, freshness, and depth. As the estate notes, the range is "completely unpretentious, the Highweald Still Wine Collection reflects quality that begins in the vineyard and carries through every sip."
Ghyll Valley White - Multi Vintage
A bespoke blend drawn from the best parcels across seasons, Ghyll Valley White is built around estate-grown Bacchus (72%), Chardonnay (18%) and Pinot Gris (10%). It is crisp, dry and 11.5% ABV, with aromas of greengage, white peach and elderflower, and a palate that combines crisp citrus and orchard-fruit freshness with a smooth, gently textured mid-palate and a clean, refreshing finish. Ghyll Valley White is priced at £18.00 per bottle.
Lake Street Chardonnay 2022
A single-vineyard Chardonnay from the clay-loam ridge of Lakestreet Vineyard, sheltered in the rain-shadow of Crowborough Hill. The slow-ripened fruit delivers aromas of peach, apricot, lime blossom, and a gentle hint of cedar. The wine is medium dry at 11.5% ABV, smooth, fresh, and beautifully balanced, and has been matured for 12 months in seasoned French barriques and bottled unfined and unfiltered. It is priced at £18.00.
Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2023
A limited-edition, low-intervention Chardonnay made from Dijon clones 76 and 95 grown on Highweald's West Sussex vineyards. The juice is left to ferment naturally on wild yeasts and aged for twelve months in neutral barriques before bottling unfined and unfiltered. It is generous on the nose with white peach, green papaya, acacia and subtle cedar spice, and the palate balances bright russet-apple acidity with a creamy, textured depth. At 13% ABV, the Wild Ferment Chardonnay is priced at £25.00 and is a favourite of Hospitality Manager Eve.
Hickstead Rosé 2023
A still rosé crafted from Pinot Noir, including Pinot Précose, grown on the Sussex estate. Whole-bunch pressing preserves delicate aromatics of soft berry fruit and citrus lift, while cool fermentation keeps the white-flower character bright. On the palate, the wine is supple, fruity and mineral, with flavours of red berries, peach and apricot, and a crisp, light, refreshing finish. Lightly off-dry at 11% ABV, the Hickstead Rosé retails at £18.00. It is currently sold out.
The White Collection Case
For visitors and customers who want to taste the breadth of Highweald's still wines in a single sitting, the White Collection Case offers two bottles each of three distinct Sussex whites: Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2023, Lake Street Chardonnay 2022 and Ghyll Valley White. The case is priced at a sale price of £91.50, reduced from the regular price of £122.00, and represents a saving of 25%, equivalent to just £15.25 per bottle.
Gifting and Celebration Range
For moments that deserve something a little extra, Highweald offers a full Gifting and Celebration Collection. Each wine is available in a luxurious gift box, making it ready to present at birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, corporate occasions or simply as a thoughtful thank-you. The current range of gift-boxed wines includes:
- Highweald Brut Reserve NV Gift Box - £40.00
- Highweald Rosé NV Gift Box - £42.00
- Blanc de Noir 2022 Gift Box - £47.00
- Wild Ferment Chardonnay 2023 Gift Box - £30.00
- Hickstead Rosé 2023 Gift Box - £23.00 (currently sold out)
- Ghyll Valley White - Multi Vintage Gift Box - £23.00
- Lake Street Chardonnay 2022 Gift Box - £23.00
Customers can also build their own mixed case of 6, 12 or 24 bottles online, mixing still and sparkling wines from across the range. The 12-bottle case offers a 10% saving, and the 24-bottle case offers 20% off.
Tours and Tastings
Highweald is open for visits during the 2026 season, and the team is welcoming bookings through the FareHarbor platform. The Garden Bar and Cellar Door is open Friday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm, with free secure parking on site. The setting, in the heart of the High Weald National Landscape, offers uninterrupted views across the Sussex countryside and a warm welcome for both seasoned wine fans and curious first-timers. The estate is also dog-friendly.
Tour and Tasting - £25 per person
A 90-minute guided experience hosted by one of Highweald's wine-expert tour guides. The tour begins in the Garden Bar, then heads out into the vines for a guided walk through the life cycle of a vine, before heading into the winery for a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process, including the intricate Traditional Method of sparkling wine production. The experience concludes with a tutored tasting of four award-winning wines in the picturesque garden bar overlooking the vineyard. The tour is priced at £25 per person.
Meet The Maker - £35 per person
A 120-minute deep-dive hosted by Head Winemaker Colm. The experience moves into the winery for a detailed walkthrough of production methods, with particular focus on the traditional method used for English sparkling wine. Topics include pressing regimes, fermentation choices, blending decisions, lees ageing and disgorgement, alongside the reasoning behind the estate's stylistic and technical choices. The tasting is paired with a selection of locally sourced cheeses chosen to complement the wines, and there is plenty of opportunity for questions in a relaxed setting. The Meet The Maker experience is priced at £35 per person.
Both experiences are unsuitable for children under 18, and comfortable shoes are recommended for the uneven vineyard terrain.
Private Events and Corporate Hospitality
For celebrations that call for somewhere special, Highweald offers exclusive use of its Garden Bar, inside and out, with the Sussex countryside as the backdrop and the Highweald wines flowing throughout. From milestone birthdays to intimate gatherings, the venue is designed to host parties and corporate events surrounded by working vines. The corporate packages can include guided vineyard and winery tours with expertly led tastings, private hire of the garden bar for relaxed corporate gatherings, and award-winning English wines for corporate gifting.
Visiting Highweald Wine Estate
Highweald is located at Deak's Lane, Ansty, Haywards Heath, RH17 5JB, in West Sussex. From Haywards Heath Train Station, the estate is a short taxi ride away, with trains running every 10 to 15 minutes. The estate recommends booking a taxi in advance, especially for weekend visits, and provides a list of recommended local taxi providers.
Free secure parking is available on site, although the estate does not have facilities for coach parking. The vineyard is a short walk from the parking area to the tasting room, and the Garden Bar and Cellar Door can be visited without a tour booking, with the full range available by the glass or bottle. Wines can be ordered online, with delivery direct to the door.
For wine orders, tour and tasting bookings, private events, corporate enquiries, or general questions, the team can be contacted by email at info@highwealdwine.com. The full collection of wines, gift boxes and curated cases can be browsed and purchased online through the Highweald shop, and bookings for tours and tastings can be made through the FareHarbor booking page. The estate is also active on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, where it regularly shares news, vintage updates and moments from the vineyard.
Why Highweald Stands Out
Highweald is more than a young English wine estate. It is an expression of a slow-burning vision: to craft world-class sparkling wines from the rolling Sussex ridges using traditional methods, low-intervention viticulture, and an obsession with the detail of every bottle. From the chalk-influenced, cool-climate vineyards to the meticulous hand-tending of every vine, and from the multi-vintage blending of the Brut Reserve NV to the wild-ferment Chardonnay aged in neutral French barriques, every bottle is a portrait of place. The result is a range that is elegant, expressive, balanced, and unmistakably Highweald - a benchmark for what modern English wine can be.