2025 Sussex Vintage Review
2025 delivered a fantastic summer and has had winemakers and wine lovers excited at the prospect of tasting the wines produced this year. We were intrigued to find out from the growers themselves how they feel now that this year’s harvest is in the tank. We reached out to some of our favorite local producers with a few pressing questions on how they view this year’s vintage.
Roebuck Estates near Petworth
Where does 2025 sit as a vintage for you? One of the best, above average, average, could be better or diabolical?
Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates: Of my eight harvests at Roebuck, 2025 sits right at the top in terms of ripeness levels, fruit quality, and character. The grapes have shown exceptional balance and depth this year, while yields have been around average. Overall, it’s shaping up to be one of our best vintages to date.
Callum Edge, Marketing Director at Sugrue South Downs: 2025 is a 'unicorn' vintage: we've seen excellent fruit across the board from our vineyards on the South Downs, as well as with the growers that we work with in the Crouch Valley in Essex. Although quantities have been a little lower than anticipated, the quality is exceptional – among the best we've seen in over two decades of making wine in England.
Hugo Corney, Head Winemaker at Court Garden Vineyards: The 2025 harvest saw the highest levels of natural sugar in the grapes. The yield was up on last year but a modest quantity compared to bumper years such as 2018.
Simon Roberts, Head Winemaker at Ridgeview: 2025 vintage maybe not one of the best ever but certainly up there. It was super early due to the hot Summer as we have finished before we usually start. The grapes are coming in with really good ripeness and almost no chaptalizing. Acids are a little on the low side but tasting the tanks that have finished fermenting are tasting so rich and complex.
Alison Nightingale, Owner of Albourne Estate: It was a good growing season, no late frosts, lots sunny dry and warm weather...just what vines love. So low disease pressure.
Mark Driver, Owner of Rathfinny Estate: The 2025 harvest was excellent. The quality of the fruit was very high, with great natural sugar levels and perfect acidity for our sparkling wines, and due to the hot summer, we picked our fruit two weeks earlier than normal. However, it was a smaller than normal harvest due partly to the poor weather in 2024, so consequently we chose to put out less buds on the canes, but also the vines self-regulate the size of bunches they put out the following year.
Dermot and Ana at Sugrue South Downs in Wivelsfield Green
What challenges has the 2025 vintage brought?
Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates: Spring and summer were notably dry, which had a slight negative impact on our younger vines as they continue to establish themselves. In addition, Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) pressure required careful management throughout the season to ensure it didn’t affect the quality of our Pinot Noirs. Thanks to vigilant monitoring and timely interventions, we were able to maintain excellent fruit integrity.
Callum Edge, Marketing Director at Sugrue South Downs: No vintage is easy, but 2025 has thankfully been free from the headaches that we saw in years like 2021 and 2024. On the whole, there was minimal frost risk and disease pressure, and the vines thrived in the summer heat. It's been very similar to a hybrid of 2020 and 2022 – luminous, warm, and dry. Our deep-rooted, 20-year-old vineyards did not face the same stresses that other producers' younger vines might have done. Rains in September got the pulse quickening, but we harvested at just the right time.
Hugo Corney, Head Winemaker at Court Garden Vineyards: The year has been a good year overall. The later part of the season saw some heavy rain but the canopy management allowed the unusually windy conditions to dry the vines well and avoid mould pressures.
Simon Roberts, Head Winemaker at Ridgeview: Being so early was a bonus and a challenge, its always nice to work harvest in shorts a t-shirts! Everyone is just that more happier when the weather is good, harvest can be so tiring but sunshine in harvest makes it better. Growers coming in over forecasted yield is always a challenge, but this year in particular when tank space was so tight. Having such an amazing summer resulted in everyone being ready to pick at the same time which is always a challenge in logistics and resource.
Alison Nightingale, Owner of Albourne Estate: End of season wasn't perfect....started getting a bit wet.
Mark Driver, Owner of Rathfinny Estate: The hot summer bought its own problems as it was quite humid, so disease pressure was high and the rains in September increased that pressure.
Court Garden Vineyards in Ditchling
Which vines have produced the most exciting/best quality grapes this year?
Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates: This was our first harvest from our Chalkhill Blue vineyard, and the vines really delivered, producing beautifully elegant Chardonnay that benefited from the long, warm summer and the deep chalky soils. Our Roman Villa and Roebuck vineyards also performed superbly, as they consistently do, yielding ripe and flavoursome Pinot Noir and Chardonnay respectively.
Callum Edge, Marketing Director at Sugrue South Downs: That's a hard call, just because it's all been so fantastic. 2025 has certainly been an outstanding year for Meunier in the South Downs, particularly from our 'Grand Cru' site at Mount Harry near Lewes. Equally, Chardonnay is showing enormous potential now it's in tank and barrel. We've just received the first crop of Pinot Noir from the Crouch Valley (usually a few weeks behind Sussex), which we're always excited to work with – all the more so this year.
Hugo Corney, Head Winemaker at Court Garden Vineyards: The early Pinot Noir which we use for our Ditchling Red 100% Pinot Noir. The natural sugar levels exceeded 13% ABV, which is a first for Court Garden.
Simon Roberts, Head Winemaker at Ridgeview: Across the three, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier they all produced some amazing fruit. Maybe the Chardonnay tipped the other two slightly, lots of tropical fruit and honey.
Alison Nightingale, Owner of Albourne Estate: I sold my grapes this year so have little to really comment on apart from… …the price of grapes was falling like a stone with lots of growers struggling to sell grapes. Over supply is here……
Mark Driver, Owner of Rathfinny Estate: Interesting I’d say that the Pinot Noir is looking the best we’ve seen for a few years. We might even make a little red wine with some of the Pinot.
Ridgeview Vineyards in Ditchling
What wine styles do you think will benefit the most from this vintage?
Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates: Given the outstanding quality of our Pinot Noir from our Roman Villa vineyard, the 2025 Blanc de Noirs looks particularly promising. The ripeness, concentration, and purity of the fruit suggest it will be a truly exceptional expression of this style.
Callum Edge, Marketing Director at Sugrue South Downs: It's hard to say at this very early stage, but the sparkling wines should be generous and fruity at an earlier stage, much like the 2020s that we released earlier this year – they're so joyful and easy to drink now, although they'll undoubtedly benefit from more time in the cellar. I expect the 2025s will perform in a similar fashion. It will also be another year to watch for our Crouch Valley still wines, of which we'll be making more than ever before in 2025.
Hugo Corney, Head Winemaker at Court Garden Vineyards: The still wines, as the increased ripeness has extended the flavour range normal enjoyed.
Simon Roberts, Head Winemaker at Ridgeview: The wines we make are always very fruit driven, so the amazing summer we have had, and the depth and complexity in the juice will make this year very easy for winemaking. I think still wines should be exceptional this year.
Alison Nightingale, Owner of Albourne Estate: I suspect a good year for making still wines as the ripeness levels should have got there!
Mark Driver, Owner of Rathfinny Estate: We should be able to make a great Blanc de Noirs and our house style ‘Classic Cuvée’ will be rich and textured with Pinot Noir.
Albourne Estate in Albourne
What are you looking forward to now that the harvest is in, and the wine is in the tanks?
Jake Wicks, Head of Viticulture at Roebuck Estates: With the grapes safely in and fermentation underway, the vineyard team is turning its attention to several exciting habitat projects across the estate. We’re eager to expand our woodland biodiversity through new habitat creation and to establish wildflower zones along headlands and unplanted areas. Most exciting of all is the completion of our wildlife pond and wetland area at Little Brockhurst vineyard in Ludgershall. Over time, this will become a thriving habitat for insects such as dragonflies and water skaters, amphibians like frogs and newts, and a variety of water-associated birds including ducks and herons.
Callum Edge, Marketing Director at Sugrue South Downs: Once fermentations are underway, we can all breathe a bit easier. We have a busy November and December with tastings and events, and visits to our export markets. And then it all starts over again...
Hugo Corney, Head Winemaker at Court Garden Vineyards: Promoting our new winery experience tour which is designed to add a little cheer to a Saturday as we look forward to the Spring season.
Simon Roberts, Head Winemaker at Ridgeview: Getting to taste all the finished ferments and think about the different blends to make. And not having to get up at 5am every morning!!
Mark Driver, Owner of Rathfinny Estate: Clearing up the vineyard and getting the vines ready for winter pruning.
Rathfinny Estate in Alfriston
All of the producers we spoke to have been very happy with the 2025 vintage. As you have heard there is a little variation across the county as to the particulars of the vintage for each vineyard but the bigger picture was of a fantastic vintage that we should all be excited for, regardless of whether you prefer white or red still wines or sparkling, 2025 will be remembered as a top Sussex vintage. Here at South Downs Cellars we are all looking forward to tasting the fruits of our local winemakers labor as soon as the wines are ready to hit the shelves. Until then you can find wines from all of these producers in our store or on our website.