Mountfield Winery, East Sussex: English Sparkling Wine, Tours & Tastings
Tucked into the rolling High Weald of East Sussex, between the historic towns of Battle and Robertsbridge, Mountfield Winery is a quietly ambitious, family-run English sparkling wine estate that has, over little more than a decade, become one of the most respected small producers in the South East. The team farms five thousand vines on a single south-facing slope, makes its wines on site in a converted dairy, and welcomes visitors into a beautifully restored stable-block tasting room - the setting for vineyard tours, summer picnics, bluebell walks and a growing calendar of estate experiences.
A Family-Run Estate in the High Weald
Mountfield Winery sits within the parkland of Mountfield Court, a private estate of ancient woodland and grazing pasture in East Sussex. The project has developed gradually over the last fourteen years, driven by Simon - the visionary whose long search for the right site led to the original 2012 planting - together with Lucinda, who brings the estate's guest experience to life from the tasting room, and winemaker Ulrich, who turns hand-picked Sussex grapes into traditional-method sparkling wines of real finesse.
Theirs is an operation that has resisted the temptation to scale up. With just 5,000 vines across the estate, every plant can be looked after individually throughout the season, and the small batch sizes in the winery give the team the freedom to work slowly, blending and ageing with care. The result is a tight, coherent range of three traditional-method wines that together capture both the character of this particular corner of Sussex and the potential of English sparkling wine as a category.
The estate is open through the summer for drop-in tastings and shop visits on Fridays and Saturdays, and year-round for booked tours, private events, group visits and stays in The Kennels, the newly converted cabin on the edge of the parkland.
Terroir: Greensand, Clay and a South-Facing Slope
Before any vine went into the ground, the family evaluated several different sites across the Mountfield Court estate for their suitability for traditional-method sparkling wine. The chosen parcel sits between 50 and 85 metres in altitude on a south-facing slope, with good protection from the prevailing winds and a benign microclimate that minimises the risk of late spring frosts. The soil is a mixture of greensand and clay over a sandstone bedrock - a combination that encourages both vine vigour and the kind of fruit concentration that high-quality English sparkling wine demands.
It is, in many respects, a textbook site for the three classic Champagne varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Because the winery sits immediately adjacent to the vineyard, fruit is pressed within minutes of being picked, preserving the natural acidity and delicate aromatics that define the Mountfield house style.
The Mountfield Way: From Vine to Glass
The team's aim is to produce low quantities of first-class sparkling wines in an artisan way. Canopy management - shoot positioning, leaf removal and yield control - is the principal tool for quality fruit production, and although it is labour-intensive, it is also what underwrites the consistency of the wines year after year.
Inside the winery, fermentation takes place in a combination of stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, with the latter contributing a subtle extra dimension of texture and complexity to the final blends. Reserve wines from previous vintages are held back and added in small proportions to each non-vintage cuvée, and base wines are aged on their lees for an extended period. The intention, over time, is to build up a small library of mature reserve wines capable of adding depth and richness to the entire range.
The Wines
Mountfield's range is intentionally compact - three traditional-method English sparkling wines, all made entirely from estate-grown fruit and aged on the lees in the winery next to the vineyard. Each wine is available to purchase through the online shop, either as a two-bottle pack, a case of six, or as a magnum.
Classic Cuvée NV
The flagship blend of the estate, the Classic Cuvée NV is built principally around the 2017 vintage: 26 per cent Pinot Noir, 29 per cent Pinot Meunier and 42 per cent Chardonnay, balanced by a 3 per cent addition of reserve wine from the 2016 and 2015 harvests. Disgorged in December 2023, it is a generous, fruit-forward traditional-method sparkling with a soft, rounded mousse - the perfect introduction to the Mountfield house style and the wine that most guests taste first on a tour.
Rosé Reserve NV
An elegant sparkling rosé with delicate red fruit, a lifted aromatic profile and a fine, persistent mousse, the Rosé Reserve NV is drawn mainly from the 2020 vintage with a small proportion of reserve wine added for depth and colour stability. Pale, gently savoury and exceptionally food-friendly, it works equally well as an aperitif in the garden and as an accompaniment to a summer lunch.
Blanc de Blancs NV
The purest expression of the estate's Chardonnay, the Blanc de Blancs NV is a 100 per cent Chardonnay blend: principally 2016 wine with a five per cent reserve element drawn from 2015. Disgorged in February 2024, it is described by the team as expressive, layered and beautifully balanced - the wine that has captured the attention of the wine press and that visitors consistently rate as their favourite.
Recognition: A Top Score at the 2026 Decanter Panel Tasting
In 2026, Decanter magazine awarded Mountfield's NV Blanc de Blancs the top score in its UK sparkling wine panel tasting, placing it among the very best examples of the style currently being produced in the country. The judging note praised the wine as "expressive, [with] honeyed biscuit aromas, beautifully balanced with layers and layers of flavour. What a wine!"
For a small, family-run estate in the heart of Sussex, the recognition is a measure of more than a decade of patient work - from the careful site selection of the original plantings to the meticulous blending and ageing work carried out in the winery. It joins earlier acknowledgements of the estate's quality:
- Top score, 2026 Decanter UK Sparkling Wine Panel Tasting (Blanc de Blancs NV)
- Silver, 2019 Decanter World Wine Awards
- Silver, 2022 Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships
Vineyard Tours and Wine Tastings
The estate welcomes visitors year-round for vineyard tours and tastings, with the restored stable-block tasting room serving as the natural finishing point of every visit. The tour format is designed to be relaxed rather than rushed: guests wander the vines at their own pace, learn how the wines are made, and finish with a served tasting of the full range.
What to Expect on a Tour
A typical visit begins with a self-guided walk through the south-facing vineyard, with informative stops that follow the vines through the growing year - from bud burst in spring to the tension of harvest in late summer and early autumn. Guests then move on into the working winery, where pressing, fermentation and riddling equipment sits just metres from the vines, before finishing the experience in the tasting room. Restored with timber interiors, a modern kitchen and ample wine storage, the tasting room is a generous, welcoming space with views out across the parkland.
Across the tasting flight, guests work through the full Mountfield range: the Classic Cuvée NV, the Rosé Reserve NV and the Blanc de Blancs NV. Each wine is presented in turn, in the traditional method, blended and aged on its lees before disgorging, with plenty of time for questions and conversation.
Tour FAQs
- How long does a vineyard tour and tasting last? Allow around one-and-a-half to two hours: a self-guided walk through the vines and the working winery, followed by a served tasting in the Tasting Room.
- Where is the winery? Mountfield Court, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JP - a short drive from Battle, Hastings, Tunbridge Wells and Heathfield, and within easy reach of Robertsbridge station on the line from London Charing Cross.
- Do I need to book in advance? On open days you are free to wander the vines and enjoy a served tasting without booking. Picnics and other special experiences are best booked in advance through the events calendar.
- What wines will I taste? The Classic Cuvée, the Rosé Reserve and the Blanc de Blancs - all made in the traditional method and aged on the lees.
- Can I buy wine after the tour? Yes - bottles can be purchased on the day, and the full range is also available through the online shop for delivery or local collection.
- Are tours suitable for groups and gifts? Yes - tours suit couples, friends and small groups, and make a popular gift. Vouchers are valid for twelve months.
- When is the best time to visit? Late spring to early autumn shows the vineyard at its best, with tours and seasonal experiences running through most of the year.
Events and Experiences Through the Year
Alongside the regular tours and tastings, the estate runs a full calendar of seasonal events and experiences. Many of the more intimate experiences sell out well in advance, and the team recommends booking early where possible.
Taste & Shop
For visitors who would simply like to drop in, taste the sparkling wines in the tasting room and perhaps take a bottle home, the Taste & Shop experience runs every Friday and Saturday from 11am to 3pm, between 5 June and 6 September. No booking is required. Gift vouchers are also available for those who would like to give the experience to someone else, to be redeemed on a future visit within twelve months.
Winery Picnics
The Winery Picnics return throughout the summer months, offering a relaxed way to spend an afternoon on the estate. Guests arrive, settle in among the vines, and enjoy a curated picnic paired with Mountfield's traditional-method sparkling wines. Numbers are intentionally limited and advance booking is essential.
Estate Walk & Ploughman's Lunch
New for 2026, the Estate Walk & Ploughman's Lunch is the team's most food-led experience of the season. Guests wander through the woods and vineyard paths at their own pace before finishing back at the winery with a traditional ploughman's lunch and a guided tasting of the wines.
Bluebell & Rhododendron Walks
Each spring, the team opens up the ancient woodlands of Mountfield Court for guided bluebell and rhododendron walks. The walks run for a short season in late April and May, alongside the first Cellar Door and BBQ of the year.
Private Events and Exclusive Estate Hire
For larger groups, celebrations, business away days and special occasions, the estate offers exclusive hire of the buildings and grounds. Guests can be hosted on the lawns with the stunning backdrop of Mountfield Court, gather in the tasting rooms within the former stables, or explore the wider grounds at their leisure. Packages can be tailored to almost any brief - from casual lunches and sharing platters, through to guided tastings and fully plated dinners. Private-hire enquiries are welcomed by email.
The Rother Wine Triangle
Visitors who would like to broaden their exploration of Sussex wine can do so via the Rother Wine Triangle, a guided minibus tour that visits three vineyards across the Rother Valley, with pick-up from either Rye or Robertsbridge station and lunch included. Tours run from May to October and are priced at £130 per person, making the Triangle a particularly natural way to combine a visit to Mountfield with two of its nearest neighbour estates in a single, well-organised day out.
Stay at The Kennels
For those who would like to extend their visit into a longer break, The Kennels is a newly converted cabin on the edge of the Mountfield Court estate. Sleeping two and complete with a fully equipped kitchen, the cabin is an ideal rural idyll for couples, with a generous outside seating area looking out across the parkland and extensive footpaths leading directly from the door.
From The Kennels it is a short drive to the bustling towns of Hastings and St Leonards, the medieval streets of Rye, the historic town of Battle and the spa town of Tunbridge Wells, with access to beautiful nearby beaches, stately homes, castles and market towns. Stays are for a minimum of two nights, and the cabin is conveniently placed to attend any of the winery's seasonal events. All bookings are managed through Airbnb.
Buying Mountfield Wines Online
The full Mountfield range can be purchased directly from the estate via the online shop. Wines are offered in three formats - a two-bottle pack, a case of six, and a magnum - so customers can choose the format that best suits the occasion, whether that is a quiet dinner for two at home or a larger celebration. Delivery is charged at £7.50 on cases of six, two-bottle packs and magnums, and a local collection option is available at checkout for customers based nearby.
All prices are shown in pounds sterling and include VAT where applicable. Payment is processed securely via Stripe - card details are never stored on the winery's own systems - and customers must be aged 18 or over to place an order. Under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, customers have the right to cancel an order within 14 days of receipt, provided the wine is unopened and in its original packaging.
Plan Your Visit
Mountfield Winery is set within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the surrounding landscape of ancient woodland, hop gardens and pasture is one of the most quietly beautiful in southern England. A visit can comfortably be combined with a day at the coast, a walk along the 1066 country trails, or an afternoon in one of the historic towns of Battle, Rye or Hastings. Robertsbridge station, on the line from London Charing Cross, is the nearest rail connection, and a number of country pubs and restaurants in the surrounding villages serve as natural lunch stops.
Contact and Practical Information
- Address: Mountfield Court, Robertsbridge, East Sussex TN32 5JP
- Email: info@mountfieldwinery.com
- Tasting Room & Shop opening hours: every Friday and Saturday, 11am - 3pm, 5 June - 6 September (private tours and experiences available year-round on request)
- How to buy wine: online via the shop, with local collection from the estate for nearby customers
- How to book: events calendar for tours, tastings and experiences; email for private hire enquiries
- Follow: @mountfieldwinery on Instagram for the latest updates from the vineyard and winery