English Sparkling Wine from Sussex
Sussex has quickly become one of the most exciting regions for English sparkling wine. With its favourable climate and varied soils the county provides ideal conditions for producing elegant wines using the traditional method.
Why Sussex Works for Sparkling Wine
Southern England benefits from a gentle maritime climate influenced by the nearby English Channel. Long daylight hours during the growing season and relatively moderate temperatures allow grapes to ripen slowly while retaining the natural acidity that is essential for sparkling wine.
At Moralee Wines, our five-acre vineyard in West Chiltington sits on south-facing greensand soils. These free-draining soils warm quickly in spring and help regulate moisture throughout the growing season, encouraging balanced vine growth and expressive fruit.
The vineyard was planted in 2017 with classic sparkling wine varieties – Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – alongside Pinot Précoce, an early-ripening variety that is particularly well suited to the English climate. Together these varieties allow us to produce both traditional-method sparkling wines and a beautiful still rosé.
From the outset our focus has been on producing small-batch, vintage wines that reflect both the character of the vineyard and the individuality of each growing season. Much of the vineyard work is carried out by hand, with careful fruit selection at harvest and whole-bunch pressing to preserve purity and balance.
The Traditional Method
The finest English sparkling wines are produced using the traditional method – the same process used in Champagne. After the base wines are created, a second fermentation takes place in the bottle, naturally forming the fine bubbles that define high-quality sparkling wine.
Our early sparkling wines were made in collaboration with Dermot Sugrue, prior to the launch of Sugrue South Downs. The 2020 vintage wines were aged for three years on lees and a further two years on cork, allowing them to develop depth, texture and complexity while retaining the freshness that characterises English sparkling wine.
This slow maturation brings subtle layers of citrus, orchard fruit and brioche, supported by fine mousse and vibrant acidity.
Production remains deliberately small, allowing us to focus on careful vineyard management and wines that genuinely reflect site and season.
Looking Ahead
As the vineyard matures, our range continues to evolve. A Classic Cuvée 2021 and Sparkling Pinot Rosé 2022 will be released in the coming seasons, followed by a Blanc de Blancs 2022 scheduled for release ahead of Christmas 2026.
Explore our wines to discover the character of Sussex in every bottle.