This Rother Wine Triangle comprises six outstanding Sussex vineyards all within a short distance of each other, making it an accessible and must-visit destination for wine lovers.
Centred around the High Weald National Landscape countryside and ancient 1066 Country, where the rolling Sussex hills of south east England meet the sea, this super six cluster of vineyards forms one of the most exciting new wine destinations in the UK.
This Sussex Winelands trail is brimming with distinctive and diverse wines, enthusiastic winemakers, and vineyard stays interspersed with historical attractions – here’s how to visit them in 48 hours.
What is the Rother Wine Triangle?
Launched in 2025, the Rother Wine Triangle connects six award-winning vineyards between the towns of Hastings, Rye, and Flimwell.
The vineyards in the Rother Valley Wine Triangle are: Charles Palmer Vineyards, Tillingham, Oxney Organic, Oastbrook Estate Vineyard, Sedlescombe Organic Vineyard, and Mountfield Winery.
Why is the Rother Wine Triangle special?
Sussex’s Rother Valley benefits from one of the UK’s warmest microclimates and highest sunshine hours, combined with a rich terroir for grape growing, resulting in world-class wine.
Day one: Charles Palmer Vineyards and Tillingham
Breeze into the weekend at a vineyard connected to an ancient wine trading port town, and a progressive winemaking farmstead.
Begin your wonderful wine weekend in the historic coastal town of Rye. From here, it’s a 10-minute drive to Charles Palmer Vineyards through historic gates once part of the Cinque Port of Winchelsea, providing an impressive entryway for your vineyard voyage.
Charles Palmer is set within the 120-acre Wickham Manor Estate, which has many connections with the ancient wine trading port town of Winchelsea, including its network of old cellars that runs beneath the town.
The cellar door is open for drop-ins to try and buy, or pre-bookable wine tastings, from Wednesday to Sunday, and for those who like to explore further, Winchelsea is a 20-minute walk via the 1066 footpath.
From here, head to the nearby Tillingham Estate Vineyard to spend the rest of the day languishing in its extensive farmland filled with lovingly cared-for vineyards, fruit trees, ancient woodland, and a thoughtfully renovated farmstead.
Savour a tour of the Tillingham winery and vineyard, followed by dinner either at the Michelin Green Star restaurant featuring pasture-raised meat from Tillingham and daily catches from Rye Harbour, or in the beautiful Dutch Barn for more casual feasting on oysters, seasonal snacks, and pizza.
Stay: Tillingham’s renovated hop barn has eleven double bedrooms and, in warmer months, there are two bell tents for glamping.
The 16th-century Wickham Manor at Charles Palmer Vineyards has two separate wings available as accommodation with sea views.
Also see: Explore more of 1066 Country, including the famous historic site of the Battle of Hastings, from where the area gets its name. The full 1066 Country walk is a 31-mile route from Rye to Pevensey Castle, taking in medieval Winchelsea and the historic 1066 Battle Abbey and Battlefield.
Day two: Oxney Organic and Oastbrook Estate Vineyard
Enjoy organic wine in a tranquil setting and visit a bubbly, characterful estate.
Savour a slow start to day two as the next vineyard, Oxney Organic, is a tranquil wine producer just a 10-minute drive away.
Oxney is the largest single-estate producer of English organic wine, whose understated approach is fully focused on nurturing its grapes and transforming them into outstanding English sparkling and still wine.
You can visit Oxney from Tuesday to Friday throughout the year for a tasting, a glass of wine and a charcuterie and cheese board on the gorgeous terrace (or inside the cosy tasting rooms in the winter). Tours run on Saturdays from May to October.
A 20-minute drive away, Oastbrook Estate Vineyard has a more lively feel, centred around celebration, from the interactive tours by the owners America and Nick Brewers – including one for kids during the summer holidays delivered by their daughter – to its bubbly events and quirky accommodation.
Vineyard tours and tastings can be booked on weekends from April to October (plus Thursdays and Fridays from July to September) and winery tours and tastings on Saturdays from November to March.
Stay: Stay in Vineyard Hollow, Oastbrook’s burrow-like hideaway, Avalon Waterside Lodge overlooking the Oastbrook pond, each sleeping four people, plus luxury bell tents for glamping.
Oxney Organic has two shepherd’s huts and Vineyard House – a gorgeous farmhouse cottage with five bedrooms. A short drive away, The Oxney Barns sleep up to 14 in three converted barns.
Also see: A walk across the fields from Oastbrook, Bodiam Castle is well worth a visit. Now cared for by the National Trust, this 14th-century moated castle is one of Britain's most picture-perfect ancient monuments.
Located between Oastbrook and Oxney, Great Dixter House & Gardens, originally home to the great gardener and garden writer Christopher Lloyd, is now a beautiful garden open to visitors.
Day three: Sedlescombe and Mountfield
Visit England’s oldest organic wine estate and a distinctive family winery.
From Oastbrook, the fifth vineyard on the trail is just a seven-minute drive away.
Sedlescombe, England’s oldest organic wine estate, is surrounded by lush woodland and countryside centred around its gorgeous glass-fronted wine shop and tasting room. The café is open for walk-ins from Thursday to Sunday, with tours and tastings available to book from Fridays to Sundays.
From here it’s just seven minutes further by car to Mountfield Winery, a pretty 10-acre vineyard on a family estate with a handsome 18th-century manor, a winery in a converted dairy unit, and a vaulted timber-beamed tasting room in the stables next to the estate house. a classic and characterful English vineyard experience. The winery is open for various events during the year, so be sure to check directly before your visit.
From Mountfield, it’s a short hop back to the train at Robertsbridge, just five minutes away.
Stay: If you’ve got time to stay a little longer, an overnight stay on this leg of the trail is also possible with the cabin at Mountfield Winery that sleeps two, or The Nest at Sedlescombe, a three-bedroom detached house that sleeps six.
How to get to the Rother Valley Wine Triangle
The Rother Valley Wine Triangle is easily accessible from London, London Gatwick Airport, ferry terminals at Dover, and the Eurotunnel at Folkestone, making it a great destination for visitors from the capital, overseas, and Europe.
By train
The Rother Valley Wine Triangle is connected directly to Central London and other major UK stations. The main train stations are:
Rye (1 hour 6 minutes from London St Pancras)
Hastings (1 hour 30 minutes from London St Pancras)
Robertsbridge (50 minutes from London Victoria)
By car
From Central London (2 hours)
From London Gatwick (1 hour 10 minutes)
From Dover ferry terminals (50 minutes)
From Folkestone Eurotunnel terminal (50 minutes)
