Harvest 2026 at Oxney Estate: Grape expectations for Sussex wine

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Sussex now has around 140 commercially producing vineyards, writes Nick Mosley.

That number still amazes me. Back in 2005, when I first became involved in the local food and drink industry, there were around 40. Many were newly planted by passionate, wine-loving visionaries – or crazy fools with too much money, depending on your perspective.

Fast-forward two decades and across East and West Sussex we now have an astonishing 4,800 hectares under vine, with that growth showing little sign of slowing.

Sussex produces around a quarter of all UK-grown wine and, while the county’s output is still dominated by the classic trio of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier used for traditional-method sparkling wines, there are an increasing number of producers making still wines, including some rather good reds.

Last week I headed to Oxney Estate near Rye to celebrate my mother’s birthday. We’d booked The Vineyard House – one of several accommodation options on the estate – for a weekend of family scoffing and quaffing. Little did I know when we made the booking that it would coincide with the first weekend of Oxney’s 2026 harvest.

Now I’m – ahem – never one to shy away from rolling up my sleeves and getting stuck in.

So, on Sunday, September 20, following a suitably fortifying bacon roll and a glass of Oxney Organic Blanc de Blancs 2022 (okay, two), I headed into the vines to join the picking crew. The team was made up of local, wine-loving volunteers, carefully selecting the very best grapes under the watchful eye of Oxney’s Paul.

I’ve long been an admirer of Oxney Estate’s sparkling and still wines. Not simply because owners Kristin and Paul are so passionate about being custodians of the land they farm – the estate is certified organic by the Soil Association – but because they make some bloody fantastic wines.

I managed to prise Kristin away from her forklift truck for a few minutes to get the lowdown on this year’s harvest.

“Here at Oxney we were hit by spring frost this year, so we’ve a reduced yield,” she told me. “But the quality this year is – after this incredible summer – outstanding. Delicious, ripe grapes which are fantastic for our low-intervention approach to winemaking.”

And if you fancy seeing where some of this Sussex wine comes from, Oxney is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 4pm, for drop-in cellar-door tastings and retail.

The estate is also working with some of its neighbouring vineyards on escorted bus tours every Sunday, collectively known as the Rother Wine Triangle. Depending on the itinerary, the bus collects guests from either Rye or Robertsbridge station before visiting three vineyards, with a tour and tasting of four wines at each, followed by a lunch of cheese and charcuterie. And at £130 per person for a full day out, I reckon that’s pretty good value.

The bad news is that this year’s Rother Wine Triangle tours finish on Sunday, October 25. The good news? A little birdie tells me they’ll be back – bigger and better – in spring 2027.

The general feeling among Sussex vineyards is that 2026 is shaping up to be a great vintage.

Although, sadly, you’ll have to wait a little while before you can pop the cork on the traditional method sparkling wines made from this year’s harvest.

For more information about Sussex vineyards and wineries, visit www.sussexwinelands.com.