Stopham Vineyard and Winery

The South Downs produces some genuinely decent wine these days, and Stopham Vineyard near Pulborough is proof of that. You'll find rolling vines stretching across proper Sussex countryside - the kind of landscape that actually makes you understand why people plant grapes here. They grow their own and run the whole operation on-site, so you're not just tasting something made elsewhere and shipped in.

What you do here depends on when you visit. Tastings are the obvious draw - sampling their whites and reds in a setting that feels legitimate rather than gimmicky. It's the sort of place where you might spend an hour, maybe two if you're keen. Wine enthusiasts will get more from it than casual drinkers, though the staff seem relaxed enough about varying levels of interest.

The location works well as part of a South Downs Park holiday. Pulborough sits nearby with its own attractions - the RSPB Pulborough Brooks reserve is worth knowing about if you're combining activities. The glamping options scattered around the region, from Wakestone & Wild just down the road to Woodfire at Westerlands a few miles further, make decent bases for exploring both the vineyard and wider Sussex. It's worth checking ahead for opening hours and whether tastings need booking - these smaller operations can be variable with their schedules. Not a major detour if you're in the area, but genuinely interesting if wine production interests you.