Q&A with Kristin Syltevik of Oxney Estate vineyard

Oxney Estate champion organic wines

With our 140 commercially producing vineyards, Sussex can rightly claim to be at the heart of the English wine industry. He talks to Kristin Syltevik of Oxney Estate in East Sussex about her journey to wine making and focus on organic production.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I started the vineyard in 2012 with my partner Paul who is an organic farmer.

Before putting the spade in the ground I had spent a career in public relations specialising in the tech space. Having worked for a few agencies I set up on my own with a colleague in 2000. We expanded across Europe and the US and eventually the agency was snapped up by a large marketing services firm.

So, then, what to do? It seemed sensible to think about growing and making something… leveraging the organic farm land we had. Farmers talk a lot about diversification and this is the ultimate diversification project!

Unlike the vast majority of English vineyards, Oxney is a champion of organic wines with Soil Association accreditation. Can you explain more about that?

The very first thought, having decided to take the plunge and start a vineyard, running it organically was a number one priority. As a family we only bought organic food, we had a smallholding which we ran organically (uncertified), the arable farm we had started to put together in 2009 was already organic… it made sense.

We made the decision predominantly because we saw the damage a lot of conventional farming make to the soil, the environment, to wildlife, to water… If you take a walk in the countryside in the UK it is not hard to spot.

There is an active movement for many people to eat healthier, to make sure they eat locally, and to eat organic. The Soil Association report growing figures which I am sure can’t be said about every food & drinks sector in the UK.

To be organic, the vineyard has to be run according to strict rules – no herbicide, no pesticides – and a very limited tool box of products to deal with mildews and similar that do hit vineyards hard especially in this climate.

We make our own compost, we make many of our own herbal sprays. In the winery, we have a very low intervention approach and critical to that approach is the limit on fining and sulphites which is very strict compared to conventional wine.

Paul Dobson and Kristin Syltevik of Oxney Estate - credit Wild Weddings

What makes your specific terroir in East Sussex particularly unique for wine grapes?

We are in the Rother River Wine region which is a new and exciting wine region here in East Sussex. Located within the Rother River catchment, the region encompasses the River Rother and its tributaries the Tillingham and the Brede.

The wine region is right in the area of the UK that receives the most sunshine hours, has low-lying vineyards with warm, rich soils of clay, silt and sandstone that retain heat, ideal south facing slopes – and a unique microclimate that helps deflect rain clouds.

Our vineyard is very low lying at 17m above sea level, 10km from the sea and three fields away from the River Rother and surrounded by giant oak trees. We didn’t know at the time but we have been so lucky finding this gorgeous spot.

Oxney Estate offers accommodation options for overnight guests

So far, do you think this year will be strong for wines in our corner of England?

This year has been tricky! And we are reminded that this is farming and that the weather can throw some curveballs.

One of the challenges you face is spring frost and this year we have been hit unfortunately. But if you have a vineyard in the UK you have to factor in the odd frost year in your planning.

We make traditional method sparkling wines, plus a small quantity of stills, and so the odd year with frost isn’t an issue for us. Still a bit devestating though!

How can wine lovers experience Oxney?

The nicest part of growing grapes and making wine is you meet so many nice people. People who love wine are it seems super nice.

We welcome visitors from Tuesday to Sunday in the summer – slightly less opening hours in the winter – for wine flights, a wine chat, a light lunch. On Saturdays we are open for tours and tastings. We also have converted barns, an old farmhouse and two shepherd’s huts in the vineyard so visitors can stay with us.

Oxney Estate shop and tasting room

Where can people buy Oxney wines in Sussex and further afield?

Oxney wines are available throughout Sussex, in London and the South East and across the UK. As well as internationally; we export to Germany, Norway, South Korea and more. In Brighton, we have long standing partnerships with Terre à Terre and Quaff.

What do you think the English wine industry will look like in five years time?

It is a really interesting space and reminds me of the industry developments I saw first hand in the tech space – lots of enthusiastic entrepreneurs who will not all make it and the eventual consolidation.

Growing grapes, making wine and selling wine is not for the fainthearted. Like other sectors where the product spectrum range from artisanal, organic and world class to cheaper more conventional mass produced there is room for all kinds and sizes. Consumers will ultimately decide and we are so happy to see that many opt for our organic wines.

Visit www.oxneyestate.com for more information on tours, tastings and accommodation packages.