Mousehall Country Estate - Distillery and Winery

Tucked into a secluded valley on the northern edge of the medieval village of Mayfield in East Sussex, Mousehall Country Estate is one of the United Kingdom’s most singular wine and spirits destinations. A family-run, single-estate operation, Mousehall is home to Tidebrook Wines, Mousehall Spirits, a luxury oast-house retreat, and a packed programme of seasonal food and tasting events - all produced and hosted within a few hundred metres of one another in the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Welcome to Mousehall Country Estate

Mousehall brings together three things that are rarely found on one UK site: a working vineyard, a copper pot still, and genuine South African winemaking heritage. The result is a place where Sussex sparkling and still wines, juniper-driven gin, citrus-led vodka, barrel-aged and elderflower aperitifs are all crafted, tasted, sold, poured and paired with food under one roof. Visitors can drop in for a tasting, sign up for a guided tour, stay overnight in the oast house, hire the estate for a private event, or simply order a bottle online to be delivered to their door.

It is, in the language of the team, a place for the “spirited adventurer” - the curious traveller who wants to walk the vineyard in the morning, drink a hand-distilled G&T on the terrace in the afternoon, and learn how every part of the farm is connected to what ends up in the glass.

A Working Estate with a Thousand-Year Story

The Mousehall site has been a working piece of English countryside for almost a millennium. The property was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 and takes its name from one of its earliest traceable owners, James de Mouleshale - “James of Mousehall”. Since the Norman Conquest, the estate has passed through generations of farmers, hop growers and ironworkers, all of whom have left their mark on the landscape. The distinctive roundel of the oast house, for example, is a reminder of the parish’s hop-farming past, and the medieval barns that today house the winery and distillery have been quietly evolving for centuries.

From Domesday Book to Distillery

In 2017, after decades of neglect, the overgrown estate was discovered by Gary and Kathy Jordan, the owners of the celebrated Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, South Africa. Coming from a viticultural background, the Jordans saw potential in Mousehall’s south-facing slopes, well-draining soils, and historic buildings. They purchased the property as their “retirement plan” and, in 2021, converted an abandoned barn into what is now the Mousehall Distillery & Winery - one of the first combined distillery-in-a-winery operations in the UK.

Today, the estate is home to a vineyard of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, a 400-litre copper pot still named Amahle (“The Beautiful One”), nine beehives, 18 Dorper sheep, an orchard of more than 60 apple, pear and cherry trees, free-range ducks, and three working dogs: Cody, Charlie and Marmalade.

The Dawn Redwood and Other Living History

Mousehall’s story is not only agricultural. Walking the grounds reveals a living fossil: a Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides) planted by a former owner, Jocelyn “Jock” Gibb. The Dawn Redwood was known only as a fossil until 1944, when living specimens were discovered in a remote Chinese village. Today it is critically endangered in the wild, and the Mousehall specimen, framing the manor house, is one of the earliest planted in the United Kingdom and a focal point of the grounds.

The People Behind Mousehall

The Mousehall team is small, family-led, and brings together expertise from South Africa, the Netherlands and the UK. Together they are responsible for everything from cane-to-bottle spirit production to bottling, marketing, accommodation, and the wine tastings that take place on the lawn.

Gary Jordan - Winemaker & Viticulturist

Gary grew up in Durbanville, South Africa, and originally trained as a geologist at the University of Cape Town before completing an MSc in Viticulture and Enology and working as a winemaker in California. He and Kathy went on to build Jordan Wine Estate into one of South Africa’s most respected wine and hospitality brands. At Mousehall, Gary applies that same blend of innovation and patience to the Sussex terroir, working with cool-climate Pinot varieties and English-grown botanicals.

Kathy Jordan - Winemaker & Finance

Kathy grew up in Cape Town, studied Economics and Industrial Psychology at UCT, and later studied Enology at the University of California, Davis. She spent time in Sonoma before returning to South Africa to manage the build-out of Jordan Wine Estate alongside Gary. At Mousehall she splits her time between the winery floor, the distillery and the financials that keep the estate running.

Christy Jordan - Distiller & Marketing

Christy grew up on Jordan Wine Estate in Stellenbosch, trained as a photographer, then worked in hospitality on yachts and five-star lodges around the world before moving to England in 2019. She passed her distilling course in London, went on to learn the craft at a distillery in Ireland, and now leads Mousehall’s spirit production, export logistics, marketing and the running of the oast-house accommodation.

Nick Siersema - Sales & Events

Nick grew up in the Netherlands, studied Economics at the University of Amsterdam and completed a master’s in Rome before moving to London in 2020. After four years in IT sales, he joined Christy at Mousehall to look after sales, customer relations, tastings and events, and is the friendly voice on the end of the booking email for anyone attending the estate’s tasting evenings.

Bryan & Ashleigh Lawrence - Farm & Winery

Bryan grew up on a South African farm and now manages Mousehall’s land, from planting and pruning the fruit trees to looking after the Dorper sheep, ducks, and vineyard. Ashleigh joined the team in late 2022, working alongside Kathy and Christy on labelling, packaging, order processing and the smooth running of the oast house.

Setting and Location

Mousehall lies within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) in a secluded valley between the medieval villages of Mayfield and Wadhurst in East Sussex. The Tidebrook, which gives the wine range its name, rises in the valley and flows through the estate before joining the River Rother, and eventually the sea at Rye.

The village of Mayfield is a short stroll away, while Wadhurst - declared by The Times as “the best place to live in the UK” - is a few minutes’ drive. The estate is only about an hour from London by train, making it an achievable weekend escape, and the wider 1066 Country region offers castles, gardens and coastlines within easy reach.

The what3words reference for Mousehall’s main entrance is ///cape.presses.tailwind, which the team recommends for accurate, gate-level navigation.

Tidebrook Wines

The Tidebrook range is Mousehall’s Sussex wine label, bottled under the protected Sussex PDO. The Mousehall vineyard is planted with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - the classic trio of cool-climate sparkling and still winemaking. The 2022 maiden vintage was released in 2024 and included a still Rosé, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; new vintages follow annually, and a Sparkling Wine is in the pipeline. Each wine takes its name from a detail of the estate’s medieval history.

Six Petals Rosé

The medieval buildings at Mousehall are peppered with six-petal apotropaic marks - hexafoils or “daisy wheels” - carved into the stonework as good-luck symbols to ward off evil. The 2023 rosé is named after them. Made from Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, it is a dry, fresh style with hedgerow-fruit aromas, a brioche character from longer lees contact in tank, and a creamy texture. ABV 12.5%, 750ml, £25.00.

Staddle Stone Chardonnay

Staddle stones - the mushroom-shaped medieval markers that delineate the boundary of the Chardonnay block - give the Mousehall white its name. Whole grape clusters are gently pressed, the juice is naturally settled, and the wine is fermented and aged in 228-litre French oak barrels for ten months, with a small proportion of tank-fermented wine blended in to lift the fresh citrus notes. ABV 12.5%, 750ml, £36.00.

Medieval Monk Pinot Gris

Pinot Gris - the “Grey Monk” - is an ancient pink-grey mutation of Pinot Noir that was spread across Europe by Cistercian monks in the Middle Ages. The Mousehall version is a precise, food-friendly 12.5% white with citrus, apple, pear and white-peach flavours, a creamy lees-driven texture and a zesty finish. ABV 12.5%, 750ml, £29.00.

The Tipping Point Pinot Noir

The 2024 Pinot Noir is named after the climate-driven “tipping point” that now allows England to produce cool-climate red wine. Grapes are hand-harvested, partially destemmed and fermented in open top tanks with daily punch-downs to extract colour and flavour, then aged for ten months in 228-litre French oak barrels. Expect ripe hedgerow fruit, brambly Christmas-pudding character, balanced acidity, toasty oak and a dry, tannic finish. ABV 11%, 750ml, £36.00.

A Sparkling Wine is currently in production and will be released in due course.

Mousehall Spirits

Mousehall’s spirits are produced and bottled on the estate in a traditional 400-litre copper pot still called Amahle, meaning “The Beautiful One” in Zulu. The range is built around a hand-distilled gin and vodka that combine English and South African botanicals, and continues to expand with seasonal aperitifs and aged releases.

Mousehall Sussex Dry Gin

Launched in June 2022, the signature Sussex Dry Gin is distilled from a blend of grape and grain neutral spirit with thirteen botanicals. It is firmly juniper-forward in the London Dry style, layered with fresh citrus, cardamom, and a South African flourish: Rooibos (Redbush tea), which adds a floral, slightly sweet note. The result is a versatile, award-winning gin that works in a classic G&T, a Martini or a Negroni. 43.2% ABV, 700ml, £46.00.

Mousehall Triple Distilled Fresh Citrus Vodka

Launched in June 2023, this vodka is made by triple-distilling grain spirit and steeping it with freshly chopped seasonal oranges, limes, grapefruit and lemons twice during the distillation cycle. The bottling smells, according to the team, “incredible” on the way through the still. The mouthfeel is silky smooth, with a burst of real citrus rather than artificial flavourings. 43% ABV, 700ml, £46.00.

Mousehall Barrel-Aged Gin

The Barrel-Aged Gin is the Sussex Dry Gin matured in 228-litre French oak barrels for 18 months. The extra time in wood adds a complex, rich aroma of fruit cake, allspice, toasted hazelnut and citrus blossom. Best enjoyed neat or on the rocks. 42% ABV, 500ml, £39.00.

Mousehall Elderflower Aperitif

Made from elderflowers that are hand-harvested on the estate, this lightly filtered natural aperitif is bottled at 20% ABV. It is the team’s preferred base for a Hugo Spritz or an Elderflower 75, and is delicious simply served neat over ice. 20% ABV, 500ml, £31.00.

Gift Packs and Curation

For those who want to try more than one expression, Mousehall offers a Vesper Martini Pack combining 500ml bottles of the Sussex Dry Gin and the Fresh Citrus Vodka for the perfect Vesper, at £72.00. The new Mousehall Spirit Starter Pack at £95.00 brings together a curated selection across the range. Two presentation gift boxes - Gin in a Box and Vodka in a Box, each at £48.00 - wrap a full bottle in Mousehall tissue paper and an FSC-certified, 100% recyclable gift box, sealed with an Oast sticker.

Cocktail Recipes

Mousehall offers a library of cocktail recipes, with bartender tips from Christy on how to get the best from each bottle. The current collection includes gin classics such as the Gin & Tonic, Gin Martini, Negroni, Red Snapper and the playful house Wine Wash; vodka serves including the Bloody Mary, Elderflower Spritz, Vodka Martini, Vodka Tonic and Espresso Martini; and crossover serves like the Long Island Rooibos Iced Tea and the Vesper Martini.

Guided Tours & Tastings

Mousehall offers three guided tasting experiences, all of which begin with a welcome drink on arrival, a walk through the botanical garden and vineyard, and a structured tasting. They can be booked online and are also available as a gift voucher.

Tidebrook Wine Experience

Designed for wine lovers, this experience introduces the four Tidebrook wines alongside the estate’s winemaking philosophy and production methods. From £30.00 per person, approximately 90 minutes.

Mousehall Spirits Experience

A 90-minute deep dive into the distillation side, with a guided tasting of four Mousehall spirits and a focus on the botanicals, the still and the production process. £30.00 per person, approximately 90 minutes.

The Full Mousehall Experience

The complete Mousehall tasting, combining both the Tidebrook Wine Experience and the Mousehall Spirits Experience into a single two-hour session for a more thorough exploration of both sides of the estate. £40.00 per person, approximately two hours.

Gift Vouchers

Two physical gift-card vouchers make it easy to give the experience as a present. The Guided Tour & Tasting Experience for 2 admits two guests to either the Spirits or Wine Experience and is priced at £62.00. The Full Mousehall Experience for 2 admits two guests to the full two-hour experience and is priced at £82.00. Both are wrapped in Mousehall tissue paper, sealed with an Oast sticker, posted in a standard postcard-size envelope, and are valid for one year from purchase.

Bookings are required for all experiences; for last-minute enquiries the team recommends calling directly to see what can be arranged.

Stay at Mousehall Oast

For visitors who want to immerse themselves in the estate, Mousehall Oast is a recently renovated 18th-century traditional oast house that sleeps six and offers an authentic slice of luxury Sussex countryside. The oast sits only an hour by train from London, surrounded by ancient woodlands, hedgerows, and Mousehall’s vineyards, within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Bedrooms

Three south-facing, individually decorated en-suite bedrooms are spread across the roundel and the main house:

• The Kiln - a ground-floor room in the roundel with twin beds pushed together to make a super-king, an en-suite shower room, and a garden view.
• The Roundel - a first-floor room at the top of the stairs with both south- and north-facing windows overlooking the gardens, woodlands and vineyards, a king-sized bed and an en-suite shower room.
• The Hop Press - the largest bedroom, with a super-king bed, walk-in shower, a beautifully appointed copper bath, a large vanity unit, separate toilet and plenty of cupboard space. Original beams revealed during renovation give the room extra height.

All linen is 400TC white Egyptian cotton. Each bedroom also has its own yoga mat, weights and resistance bands. The oast accepts guests aged 12 and over; no pets. Minimum stay is three nights.

Living Spaces & Outdoor Area

The open-plan dining area and sitting room features a wood-burning stove and a fully equipped kitchen with a bar counter, plus a laundry/boot room and ground-floor cloakroom. A large south-facing outdoor terrace with BBQ facilities is designed for al-fresco dining, and a wood-fired hot tub is available for guests to use at their leisure.

Rates include bean-to-cup coffee, an eco AGA-style cooker, air fryer, microwave, kettle, dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer, fridge-freezer, filtered water tap, smart TV, essential toiletries, essential cooking ingredients, gym equipment and free Wi-Fi. Not included: transfers, laundry, additional wood for the stove and hot tub, the honesty bar, and tour & tastings - although oast guests receive 10% off tours and tastings booked in advance.

Pricing

Rates start from £850 for three nights off-peak (Jan - Feb, Nov - early Dec, excluding bank holidays), £1,060 mid-peak (March, April, October, excluding bank holidays) and £1,320 peak (May - September, bank holidays, Easter week, school holidays, Christmas and New Year). Discounts may apply for longer stays of three nights or more. Pricing was last updated on 1 February 2026. To book direct, contact christy@mousehall.com.

What’s On at Mousehall

Throughout the year Mousehall hosts a programme of seasonal suppers, tasting evenings and producer collaborations designed to bring people together around great food, wine and spirits. The current and upcoming public events include:

• Wood-Fired Pizza at Mousehall - Friday 14th, 21st & 28th August 2026, 5.00pm - 8pm. A relaxed summer evening of freshly made wood-fired pizzas, Tidebrook wines and Mousehall cocktails. Bookings essential, limited spaces - email christy@mousehall.com.
• Sussex Meets Stellenbosch - Saturday 8 August 2026, 2.30pm - 4.30pm. Fully booked - new dates to be announced. An intimate tasting of four Tidebrook wines and four Jordan wines from Stellenbosch, paired with South African-inspired sharing boards. £55 per person.
• The Mousehall Table - Saturday 12 September 2026, 1.00pm. The first of Mousehall’s intimate communal dining experiences, with Kathy and Nick preparing a generous three-course sharing lunch of the best Sussex-season ingredients, paired with Tidebrook wines. Just 12 guests, £65 per person.
• Harvest Experience & Braai - coming October 2026. A hands-on vineyard experience during harvest, followed by a South African-style braai celebrating the season’s vintage. Register interest by emailing nick@mousehall.com.

Private hire enquiries can be made by emailing christy@mousehall.com. The estate routinely hosts birthdays, anniversaries, family gatherings and corporate events, and can tailor private wine and spirit tastings, vineyard and distillery tours, drinks receptions and exclusive venue hire.

Sustainability

Mousehall frames everything it does inside a regenerative farming and low-impact production philosophy. Spirits are bottled in recycled glass; wine bottles are light-weight; labels are biodegradable; and the tamper seal on spirits is biodegradable. Gift boxes are bespoke-made from FSC-approved cardboard, contain no glue and no magnets, and are intended to be re-used, re-gifted or recycled. Wine closures are agglomerated cork - cork granules from the waste of natural cork production - preventing cork taint and reducing wine waste.

The distillery and winery roof is fitted with 76 solar panels, which generate enough electricity to power the still and feed surplus back into the grid on sunny days. Used botanicals from distillation are composted on the farm and returned to the gin garden and surrounding beds. The team has planted juniper and angelica on the estate and uses locally grown English coriander seed as a core botanical in the Sussex Dry Gin.

The 18 Dorper sheep - a hardy South African breed - play a central role in the regenerative farming plan, improving soil conditions in the fields and vineyard. The estate’s nine beehives are managed ethically; surplus wildflower honey is harvested only when the bees have set aside enough stores to survive the winter, and the resulting Mousehall Wildflower Honey (330g, £9.50) was awarded a Great Taste 1-star award.

Other Estate Produce

Alongside wine and spirits, Mousehall sells a small range of estate-grown produce:

• Sussex Saffron - 0.2g net, hand-harvested Mousehall saffron crocus blossoms, sustainably produced, £7.50.
• Mousehall Wildflower Honey - 330g, raw and natural, Great Taste 1-star, £9.50 (currently sold out).
• Gem Squash - organic Mousehall-grown Gem Squash, a round South African favourite, sold in 4kg boxes of 12 - 14 squash, £16.00 (available from September; collections available by emailing christy@mousehall.com).
• Mousehall Caps - seven-colour unisex organic-cotton caps, made sustainably with eco thread, £20.00.

Where Else to Buy Mousehall

Mousehall runs its own online shop with UK shipping and local collection options (oast guests can also help themselves to the honesty bar). The Mousehall Sussex Dry Gin is additionally listed at specialist retailers Master of Malt, The Whisky Exchange and Pull The Cork; gin-cured salmon pairings are available from The Pished Fish; and European customers can order from Weingood in Germany.

Visiting Mousehall

The estate is open by appointment for guided tastings, private events and accommodation. The full address is Mousehall Distillery & Winery, Tidebrook, Wadhurst, East Sussex, TN5 6PG. General enquiries should be directed to christy@mousehall.com; bookings for tasting evenings and events should go to nick@mousehall.com.

For those who want to keep up with new releases, seasonal events and Mousehall news, the team encourages following the estate on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and joining the mailing list.