Redfold Vineyards (Ambriel)

Tucked into the rolling hills of West Sussex, overlooking the South Downs, Redfold Vineyards is the home of Ambriel - a single estate English Sparkling wine producer whose tagline, "May Your Wine, Like Your Wit, Be Sparkling," captures both the effervescence in the bottle and the personality of the family behind it.

A Single Estate Winery at Redfold

Some people go to great lengths to make their wines. Ambriel doesn't. Their grapes are grown a mere hop, skip and a jump from where they are pressed and fermented. From grape to glass, every step of the journey takes place on the same estate, and the wines' first time away from home is when they leave with the customer.

The winery is the legal entity of Redfold Vineyards LLP, run by the husband-and-wife team of Charles and Wendy Outhwaite. The vineyard sits on warm, free-draining greensand rock - a rare soil type that lends the wines elegance, expressiveness and what the team describes as an "ebulliently English" character.

Meet the Founders

"A banker and a barrister walked into a bar…" - so begins Charles and Wendy's story. Their first careers weren't the most conventional winemaking training, but their attention to detail, curiosity, capacity for hard graft and dogged pursuit of excellence have served them well. Both are hands-on and hands-in. As self-confessed control freaks, they take charge of every aspect from grape to glass. Wendy grows the grapes; Charles ferments them. Blending - appropriately - is done together, with much sipping and slurping along the way.

Viticulture

Ambriel's Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines thrive in what the team calls a "Goldilocks climate" - not too hot, not too cold - perfect for ripening the classic Champagne varieties that underpin traditional method sparkling wine. The vines are tended and harvested entirely by hand, with the focus firmly on quality over yield.

The vineyard's south-facing slopes and rare greensand soils give the wines their signature freshness and minerality, while the surrounding South Downs landscape provides shelter and biodiversity that the team actively encourages as part of their sustainability programme.

Winemaking: Grapes, Blending, Patience

Great English Sparkling wine needs GBP - not just Great British Pounds, but Grapes, Blending and Patience.

Grapes

Using only their own hand-picked grapes, the team presses them gently in the winery before fermenting each clone separately in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks or aged oak barrels.

Blending

When the wines are ready, they are tasted, tasted and tasted again before being blended blind. For Charles and Wendy, it's all about quality: palate, not wallet. The wines are then bottled and begin their secondary fermentation.

Patience

The difficult bit. The team lets its "sleeping beauties" lie on their lees undisturbed for years until they are ready to emerge. The wines are made with care, and best drunk the same way.

Visit Ambriel HQ: Tastings, Tours & Experiences

Reservations are required for all visits to Redfold Vineyards, Nutbourne Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2HS. A warm welcome and a chilled glass awaits every guest. Three bookable experiences are available, all of which include a 10% cellar door discount on wine purchases. Bookings are taken through the Visit page.

Tasting - £20 per person

Sip four of Ambriel's Sparkling Wines in the historic tasting barn, or on the garden terrace when the weather permits. A focused 30-minute experience that gives a clear introduction to the range.

Tour & Tasting - £30 per person

Explore the Sussex vineyard and winery before sitting down to taste four Sparkling wines in the tasting barn. A one-hour experience that combines the story of the place with the story of the wines.

Private Tour & Tasting - £40 per person

The bespoke option. A private tour of the vineyard and winery hosted by the owners or the winemaker, finishing with a tasting of various Ambriel Sparkling Wines in the historic tasting barn. The 1 hour 30 minute experience takes in the spectacular views of the South Downs, discusses what makes the vines, terroir and climate so special, and shares the secrets of Sparkling winemaking - including the history of fizz (spoiler: it doesn't start with Dom Pérignon). The tour is tailored to you; special requests such as sabrage, surprise picnics or popping the question with a cork are happily accommodated.

Anyone running late is asked to email hello@ambrielsparkling.com or call +44 7776 180033. Cancellations within 24 hours are non-refundable. Children under 18 cannot taste wine but are welcome on Private Tours and Tastings if notified in advance; dogs are welcome on Private Tours and Tastings too.

Host a Private Event

The Sussex vineyard, winery and tasting barn are available for private hire - whether it's a picnic, a banquet, a corporate away day or a charitable occasion. Bookings and enquiries go to hello@ambrielsparkling.com.

The Wine Club

Ambriel runs two wine clubs designed to suit different levels of enthusiasm for English Sparkling wine. There's no joining fee and members can cancel at any time. Members join via the Wine Club page.

Sipster Club

For those curious to taste the wines without a huge commitment. Members receive one bottle as often as they choose - twice a year, every three months or monthly.

• 10% membership discount off the price of all wines
• Food pairing suggestions and seasonal recipes
• 2 complimentary tickets to a Tasting at Ambriel HQ
• First dibs at any new wine releases
• No joining fee, cancel any time

To join, visit the Sipster Club.

Fizzicist Club

For aficionados who want to explore different wines more deeply. Members receive a case of 6 bottles as often as they choose - twice a year, every three months or monthly.

• 10% membership discount off the price of all wines
• Food pairing suggestions and seasonal recipes
• Free delivery
• 4 complimentary tickets to a Tour and Tasting
• First dibs at any new wine releases
• Access to Library wine tastings when available
• No joining fee, cancel any time

An average case of 6 bottles (including discount) is approximately £170. Members are only charged for the wines they actually receive. Bottles are normally delivered in Spring (March) and late Summer (September) unless members specify otherwise, and the team will deliver to anywhere on the UK mainland - perfect for gifting. To join, visit the Fizzicist Club.

Gifting

Ambriel offers both personal and corporate gifting options. The team is happy to help with corporate orders in any format - simply send the details to hello@ambrielsparkling.com. Whether it's to thank a team, celebrate a new arrival, mark a promotion or commiserate with a setback, English Sparkling wine is, as the team puts it, "a practical gift guaranteed not to gather dust (unless consciously laid down in a cellar)." Its pop will even help office parties go with a bang. The full gifting range covers every occasion.

Sustainability

Ambriel is proudly carbon neutral, with sustainability at the heart of everything they do in the vineyard, the winery and the sales process. Highlights include:

• No insecticides; wide grass and clover-rich alleys between vine rows
• Wildflower margins, fruit trees, hedges and a wooded area that hosts foxes, badgers, rabbits, ducks and frogs
• Winter sheep grazing that conditions the soil without fossil fuels
• No irrigation; vine prunings mulched back into the ground
• Biological pest control and yeast-based fungal competition
• Solar-powered winery in well-insulated, naturally temperature-stable buildings
• Green roof on the concreted yard for biodiversity and water regulation
• Steam and UV cleaning - no harsh chemicals
• All processing on-site, minimising transport
• Reusable, recyclable packaging with eco-friendly vegetable inks

Shopping & Delivery

Bottles can be ordered from the online shop. Delivery is free on orders of six bottles or more to GB mainland addresses; otherwise a £5 charge applies. Orders are typically delivered Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, and any damaged bottles reported within 48 hours are collected and replaced or refunded.

Practical Information

Getting There

The address is Redfold Vineyards, Nutbourne Lane, Pulborough, West Sussex RH20 2HS. The estate is equidistant between Billingshurst and Pulborough stations - around a 10-minute taxi ride from each. Trains from London Victoria to Billingshurst run every 30 minutes and take around 1 hour 15 minutes. Pre-book a taxi in advance (South Downs Taxis 01798 874111 or Pulborough Taxis). Cyclists are welcome - the vineyard is on a hill, so save some puff for the climb. The what3words address for the winery door is perfectly.classic.grace.

Where to Eat & Stay Nearby

Recommended pubs include The Swan Inn at Fittleworth, The Black Horse at Amberley, The Rising Sun at Nutbourne and The Horseguards at Tillington. Restaurants include THE PIG - in the South Downs, Amberley Castle and Gravetye Manor. Nearby places to stay include The Swan Inn, The Black Horse, THE PIG and Nest Stay at Pulborough.

Contact

• Phone: +44 7776 180033
• Email (general, visits, gifting): hello@ambrielsparkling.com
• Email (sales): sales@ambrielsparkling.com
• Follow on Instagram and Facebook

Whether you're popping a cork at home, booking a private tasting with the owners, or walking the vineyard rows on a sunny Sussex afternoon, Ambriel at Redfold offers a hand-crafted, single estate English Sparkling experience that starts and finishes on the same patch of greensand.