Kinsbrook Vineyard: A Progressive West Sussex Estate Run by the UK's Youngest Winemakers
Kinsbrook Vineyard is one of the most talked-about young estates in English wine. Set among the rolling fields of Thakeham in the heart of West Sussex, it is run by Joe Beckett and Rebecca Dancer, who are widely regarded as among the UK's youngest vineyard owners. Their progressive, sustainability-led estate has rapidly earned a reputation for award-winning wines, a destination hospitality offering, and a refreshingly inclusive welcome. The vineyard, restaurant, café deli, farm shop, outdoor Pink Bar, touring programme, overnight camping and year-round events schedule are all gathered around Kinsbrook Farmhouse, a purpose-built cellar door that the couple opened in 2021.
Location and How to Find Us
Kinsbrook sits on West Chiltington Road in Thakeham, West Sussex, with the full address Kinsbrook Vineyard, West Chiltington Road, Thakeham, West Sussex, RH20 2LU. The team specifically ask visitors to enter "Kinsbrook" or "Kinsbrook Vineyard, Restaurant, Deli and Shop" into Waze or Google Maps, as older sat-navs may not pick up the address correctly. The vineyard is located at the corner of Coolham Road and West Chiltington Road.
For those travelling by rail, the nearest station is Billingshurst, around an hour from London, with Pulborough and Horsham stations also within reach. The estate is just over an hour from London and roughly 30 minutes from Brighton, sitting at the heart of West Sussex wine country. Free parking is available on site, the building is wheelchair friendly with a lift to the upstairs eatery, and dogs are welcomed throughout the restaurant and vineyard grounds.
The Story Behind Kinsbrook
Joe Beckett is the third generation of his family to work the West Sussex land that now surrounds Kinsbrook. He and Rebecca met on the school bus and have built the project together from a young age, taking on their first site, The Orchard (planted in 2017), and steadily expanding the range and the hospitality offering around it. The couple has been profiled as some of the country's youngest vineyard owners by national press including The Independent, Good Housekeeping, The Evening Standard, Sussex Modern, Vineyard Magazine and Great British Life.
Kinsbrook stands for sustainability and inclusiveness. The team are candid that they try to be as holistic as possible with their approach to grape-growing and winemaking, favouring sustainable and regenerative practices. They deliberately avoid French terminology on their wine labels - not as a snub to their cross-Channel neighbours, but because they believe England should carve out its own individual identity within the global wine industry. Hence the playful labels: "White from White" instead of Blanc de Blancs, "One" and "Two" in place of cuvée names, and "Chough au vin" riffing on the famously French beef dish.
The Wines
Kinsbrook's wine list is split across a flagship KIN range, the limited-edition and library releases, and a newer Kith range described as "the funky, cool, mischievous younger sister" of KIN. Grape varieties grown and vinified include Bacchus, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Gris, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir Précoce, Rondo, Reich, Ortega, Schönburger and Huxelrebe, with field blends and skin-contact styles appearing in tougher vintages.
The KIN Sparkling Range
The flagship KIN Sparkling White 2020 (£38.00) is a traditional-method blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier harvested during the long, quiet lockdown vintage of 2020. It spent a minimum of four years on lees, giving a balance of crisp orchard fruit with warm, buttered bread, a fine mousse and a dry finish. KIN Sparkling Rosé 2021 (£40.00) blends Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier and is positioned as a versatile food-friendly fizz. The Sparkling White 2019 (£40.00), bottled from the very first harvest at The Orchard site, is 70% Chardonnay with 30% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, classed as dry with crisp apple and freshly baked bread on the palate.
The newest sparkling addition is "White from White" 2020 (£39.00), Kinsbrook's first 100% Chardonnay traditional-method sparkling - a direct, minimalist translation of Blanc de Blancs. For lovers of bone-dry fizz, "0." (pronounced "zero", £40.00) is a no-dosage 2019 sparkling white; the ABV is still 12% and the wine is not alcohol-free, but the absence of added sugar gives a stunningly crisp, dry glass. Two library sparklings also remain in the cellar: the Vintage Cuvée 2014 (£70.00), aged on lees since July 2015 and showing orchard fruit, toasted brioche and honeyed almonds, and Beckett's Rosé 2016 (£70.00), a 12% ABV sparkling rosé named after the Thomas à Becket rose bushes at the ends of the vineyard rows, with strawberries and cream and redcurrant sherbet on the nose.
KIN Still Wines
Bacchus is the white variety Kinsbrook singles out every vintage. The current release, Bacchus 2023 (£26.00), is bright, light and dry, packed with elderflower and citrus aromatics. Back vintages in the cellar include Bacchus 2022 (£32.00), Bacchus 2020 (£40.00) and the library Bacchus 2019 (£50.00), all from single-variety, minimal-intervention winemaking designed to preserve the grape's natural floral expression.
Chardonnay is the second still pillar. Chardonnay 2023 (£26.00) is unoaked and underwent malolactic fermentation in tank, lending a rounded, creamy finish reminiscent of pineapple lassi. Chardonnay 2022 (£30.00) was originally intended for sparkling production but ripened so well in the summer heatwave that it was made as a still. The 'ABC' Oaked Chardonnay (£32.00) is a 100% Chardonnay aged for 13 months in new oak barrels, delivering toasted buttery popcorn, subtle vanilla and tonka bean - Kinsbrook's playful answer to the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) club.
Pinot Gris is a particular point of pride. The Pinot Gris 2020 (£40.00) was Kinsbrook's first vintage of the variety and sold out in six months, while the library Pinot Gris 2019 (£60.00) is a richer, mouth-coating expression that pairs with roast chicken or spicier dishes. New for 2023 is a Pinot Gris / Pinot Blanc blend (£26.00), aromatic and floral with a super-light citrusy palate.
The Pinot Rosé 2023 (£26.00) is a dry rosé made from Pinot Noir Précoce, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, fermented in stainless steel for 10 months after a three-hour cold-soak maceration. The Pinot Noir Rosé 2022 (£32.00), a more delicate, floral library release, hints at honeysuckle and balanced acidity.
The 2024 Series
The 2024 vintage was the second-most challenging farming year on record, with biblical rain and high humidity pushing most of the crop into sparkling production. Kinsbrook responded with a standalone series of three still wines, each showcasing a different winemaking technique. 'One' (£26.00) combines 70% unoaked with 30% oaked Chardonnay for toasted-nut richness and golden kiwi lift. 'Two' (£26.00) is a peachy, orange skin-contact rosé of Pinot Meunier and Pinot Noir, extended on fine lees for body and richness. '23' (£29.00) is the infamous "field blend", mixing Bacchus, Reich, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Gris and Pinot Blanc into a single wine designed to reflect the year, its challenges and its triumphs.
The Kith Range
Kith is Kinsbrook's experimental younger sibling to the flagship KIN wines. The first release is Chough au vin (£32.00), a red made from Rondo grapes harvested in October 2022 and vinified using carbonic maceration in a Beaujolais nouveau style - juicy, bold and packed with personality. The follow-up is 'NIMBY' (£29.00), a multi-vintage still red blending 50% Rondo with 50% Pinot Noir that spent 13 months in a mix of new and reconditioned French oak, bursting with cherry and cassis and billed as proof of the great potential of English red wine.
Limited and Library Releases
The Limited collection gathers Kinsbrook's rarest back vintages and special bottlings: Bacchus 2022, Chardonnay 2022, Pinot Noir Rosé 2022, Chough au vin, Bacchus 2020, Bacchus 2019, Pinot Gris 2020, Pinot Gris 2019, Vintage Cuvée 2014 and Sparkling White 2019. Two micro-blends also live in the same range - '21' (£32.00), born from a frost-bitten 2021 that yielded too little for single-varietal wines, and '22' (£30.00), a blend of still grape varieties designed for food and friendship.
How to Buy
All of the above can be ordered through the Kinsbrook shop. Single bottles incur a £10 shipping charge, which is waived when six or more bottles are purchased; case buyers also benefit from free shipping. Standard delivery within the UK takes 5 - 7 working days. Visitors can build a dream case by mixing individual bottles. Vouchers for the shop, deli or restaurant and for tours and tastings can also be purchased online.
Visit: Eat, Drink and Stay
The Kinsbrook hospitality offering has grown hand in hand with the wines, and the estate now operates a full week of food and drink experiences around Kinsbrook Farmhouse.
The Restaurant
The first-floor restaurant is open seven days a week with a thoughtfully curated, seasonally driven menu of modern plates using sustainably sourced local produce. Service shifts through the week: on Monday and Tuesday the space operates as a relaxed café and wine bar (10am - 2:30pm, walk-ins welcome, counter service); from Wednesday to Sunday it becomes a full restaurant (bookings strongly recommended), with breakfast from 10am (9am on weekends), lunch from 12pm, and dinner on Friday and Saturday evenings from 6pm to 8pm. The restaurant is unable to cater for extreme coeliac allergies, owing to the small open kitchen. Sample menus for weekday breakfast, lunch and dinner, and Sunday brunch are all available as PDFs.
The Café Deli and Farm Shop
The ground-floor Café Deli and Farm Shop is open 9am to 5pm every day of the week, no booking required. Order a takeaway coffee, grab a glass of Kinsbrook wine by the glass or bottle, browse a deli counter stacked with antipasti, Sussex cheese and charcuterie, or shop carefully curated homewares, gifts, freshly baked bread and a selection of fine wines and spirits from other local producers.
The Pink Bar
Set just outside Kinsbrook Farmhouse, the Pink Bar is Kinsbrook's laid-back outdoor pizza and wine bar, firing up the ovens from 12pm every Saturday and Sunday. Tuck into a rotating menu of homemade pizzas, a glass of Kinsbrook fizz by the bottle, or a craft beer, with live music on Sundays. There's plenty of seating overlooking the vines and no need to book - just turn up.
Tours and Tastings
Kinsbrook tours and tastings are described as personal, engaging and informative experiences lasting up to two hours. The visit begins with a glass from the range of award-winning wines on arrival, followed by a guided walking tour of the vineyard and winery, a behind-the-scenes look at the winemaking process, the story of Kinsbrook, a guided tasting of three further wines and a seasonal small plate designed to complement the wines.
Private tours and tastings can be arranged at any time, on any day of the week, at £40 per person, with larger parties and corporate groups also catered for. Enquiries go to bookings@kinsbrookvineyard.com or via the phone line 01403 907800. Public tours and tastings can be booked online, and guests are encouraged to follow their tour with lunch in the restaurant.
The Wine Chatter - Wine Club
Kinsbrook's wine club, named "The Wine Chatter" after the collective noun for a group of choughs, runs a tiered membership system collected via GoCardless Direct Debit every four months. There are three tiers:
- Bronze - The Picketty Package: three bottles of still Kinsbrook wine three times a year, 5% off online Kinsbrook wine, 5% off single bottles or 10% off a case at Kinsbrook Farmhouse. £85 every four months.
- Silver - The Leon Package: six bottles of still and sparkling Kinsbrook wine three times a year, 10% off online Kinsbrook wine, 10% off single bottles or 15% off a case at Kinsbrook Farmhouse, plus a complimentary vineyard tour and tasting for two once a year. £170 every four months.
- Gold - The Winemaker's Package: twelve bottles of still and sparkling Kinsbrook wine three times a year, 15% off online Kinsbrook wine, 15% off single bottles or 20% off a case at Kinsbrook Farmhouse, a complimentary tour and tasting for four once a year, a free ticket to a Kinsbrook wine masterclass once a year, and 5% off any goods at the Kinsbrook Farm Shop. £330 every four months.
All tiers carry a one-year minimum commitment. Sign-up is via the Wine Chatter page.
Camp Kinsbrook
Brand new for Summer 2026, Camp Kinsbrook brings overnight stays to the vineyard. Pitches are available on Fridays and Saturdays throughout June, July and August (excluding the Summer Festival weekend and 6 June); one pitch equals one tent and tents are not provided. The recommended itinerary is to arrive from 2pm, check in, enjoy a tour and tasting, settle in for dinner in the restaurant, sleep under clear countryside skies, wake to birdsong, take breakfast on site, and walk through the gardens and vines. Camping must be booked alongside a restaurant reservation, bookings are non-refundable but can be transferred to a new date, and cancellations within 24 hours of booking are permitted. There is a separate Campervan site, and no outside food, alcohol, fires or cooking are permitted, with no minors or pets at this stage. Book via the campsite widget, by emailing bookings@kinsbrookvineyard.com, or by calling 01403 907800.
Events Calendar
Kinsbrook runs a varied programme of seasonal events, all listed on the events page:
- Chef's Table I - Thursday 27 August 2026, 5pm - 10pm. A twilight tour of the vineyard and gardens led by founder Joe Beckett, canapés in the garden with Head Chef Martin Price, and an exclusive five-course winery dinner cooked entirely al fresco, paired with a tasting straight from barrel and tank. Just 12 seats at the table. Book a seat.
- Harvest Festival - Saturday 5 September 2026, 11am - 6pm. A family day out with harvest-themed games, live music, food, wine and plenty more for all ages. Earlybird tickets available. Buy tickets.
- Christmas Market - Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 December 2026. A gathering of Kinsbrook's favourite local brands and suppliers celebrating all things Christmas. Free entry.
- Summer Festival - Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 July 2027. Two days of music, food and fun, returning bigger than ever. Early bird tickets coming soon.
Beyond the headline ticketed events, the Pink Bar runs pizza and wine service every Saturday and Sunday from 12pm (live music on Sundays), and the Wine Chatter hosts an annual Wine Masterclass available free to Gold members.
Weddings and Private Hire
Kinsbrook hosts weddings of all sizes, from small, heartfelt ceremonies to larger celebrations, with catering styles and local produce sourced from the best suppliers in the area. For couples wanting private exclusive hire, the team can shape the restaurant, decking or both around the day. (Note that Kinsbrook cannot host legally binding marriage ceremonies at present.) The estate also takes private hire enquiries for birthdays, anniversaries, hen and stag parties, corporate events and wellness sessions, with two flexible spaces: the restaurant indoors and the decking overlooking the vines.
In the Press and Recognition
Kinsbrook's wines and hospitality have been featured widely in the UK press. Good Housekeeping praised the "sensational" Sparkling White; Vineyard Magazine profiled the limited-edition '21' release; The Independent included Kinsbrook among the eight best UK vineyards to visit during harvest; Absolutely Sussex covered the launch of the new farm shop and eatery; Sussex Express listed Kinsbrook among the five best vineyards to visit in West Sussex; The Evening Standard featured the wines in its round-up of the best English white wines; Sussex Modern sat down with Joe and Rebecca for a "Wine People" feature; Great British Life profiled Joe as one of the UK's youngest winemakers; and Vineyard Magazine covered the launch of Chough au vin, Kinsbrook's first red wine.
Visiting the Region
Kinsbrook sits in one of the densest concentrations of vineyards in the UK, with more than 50 wineries within West Sussex. From Kinsbrook, Nyetimber Estate is nine minutes away, Nutbourne Vineyard seven minutes, Stopham Estate 15 minutes, Wiston Estate 11 minutes, Bolney Estate 20 minutes, Highdown Vineyard 20 minutes, Albourne Estate 25 minutes and Tinwood Estate 30 minutes. A curated selection of places to stay in West Sussex ranges from minimalist digital-detox cabins within walking distance to the Elizabethan Manor at Pulborough, Willow Lakeside Retreat, Zephyr Domes, The Welldiggers Arms, the Chequers Hotel and South Lodge Hotel & Spa.
Plan Your Visit
Kinsbrook is open every day of the week. Bookings are recommended for the restaurant Wednesday to Sunday, while the café deli, farm shop and Pink Bar are walk-in friendly. Private tours and tastings (£40 per person) are arranged on request, and public tours are bookable online. Camp Kinsbrook opens for the 2026 summer. The team can be followed on Instagram for new releases, harvests, events and supper clubs, and reached at bookings@kinsbrookvineyard.com.