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How To Spend English Wine Week 2026 In West Sussex
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English wine is no longer a niche interest. Production across England hit record levels in 2025, with over 10 million bottles produced — and a dedicated national week to celebrate it. English Wine Week 2026 runs from 20 to 28 June, and Bolney Wine Estate in West Sussex has a full programme of events planned. This guide covers what the week is, why it matters, and how to make the most of it at one of England’s longest-standing vineyards.
Contents
- What Is English Wine Week?
- When Is English Wine Week 2026?
- Why Celebrate English Wine Week?
- What’s Happening During English Wine Week?
- Where to Spend English Wine Week
- What’s On at Bolney for English Wine Week 2026
- Make a Day of It
- How to Take Part
- Father’s Day at Bolney
- Can’t Visit? Shop English Wine Online
What Is English Wine Week?
English Wine Week is an annual national celebration of wine made in England, organised by WineGB — the trade body that represents English and Welsh wine producers. It brings together vineyards across the country for a week of events, tastings, tours, and experiences designed to connect people with English wine in a direct, hands-on way.
For visitors, it’s one of the best excuses of the year to explore a working vineyard, meet the people behind the bottles, and try wines you wouldn’t normally pick up. Many estates run English Wine Week events that aren’t available at any other point in the year.
When Is English Wine Week 2026?
English Wine Week 2026 runs from Saturday 20 June to Sunday 28 June. That’s nine days to visit a vineyard, book a wine experience, or pick up something from a producer you haven’t tried before. It also coincides with Father’s Day on Sunday 21 June, which makes it a practical as well as enjoyable weekend to plan around.
Why Celebrate English Wine Week?
The English wine industry has grown significantly over the past two decades. According to the ICAEW’s vineyard and winery industry profile, the number of licensed vineyards in England and Wales has more than doubled since 2010. Forbes has described English Wine Week as a genuine moment in the wine calendar for wine lovers, noting that English sparkling wine, in particular, has raised the country’s profile internationally.
The reasons to pay attention to English wine right now include:
- UK wine production hit a record high in 2025, with over 10 million bottles produced across England and Wales
- English sparkling wine has won international awards and drawn comparisons with Champagne
- The south of England now has a thriving cluster of established estates, many open to visitors year-round
- English Wine Week gives you direct access to winemakers, vineyard tours, and exclusive tastings that aren’t available at other times of the year
What’s Happening During English Wine Week?
English Wine Week events run across the country, but the south of England is where most of the action is. Vineyards across West Sussex, East Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire are running a wide range of experiences throughout the week, including:
- Guided vineyard tours
- Wine tastings and food pairings
- Meet-the-winemaker sessions
- Live music and picnics among the vines
- Hands-on blending and winemaking masterclasses
- Chef’s dinners with matched wine courses
Many events are family-friendly and set in countryside locations that make for a good day out in their own right. For a broader view of what’s on across Sussex for English Wine Week 2026, Visit Brighton has a useful roundup. You can also find the full national calendar of English Wine Week events at WineGB.
Where to Spend English Wine Week
The majority of England’s vineyards are concentrated in the south, particularly across Sussex, Kent, Surrey, and Hampshire. The South Downs provides the kind of gentle, well-drained slopes that suit viticulture, and the cooler maritime climate has proved particularly well suited to sparkling wine production. For visitors based in London, this makes the south of England the obvious destination for an English Wine Week day trip.
West Sussex is a strong choice. It has more than 140 established estates, and good rail connections mean you can reach the county from London in under an hour. Sussex Modern has a guide to English Wine Week events in the county if you want to explore further.
Bolney Wine Estate is one of West Sussex’s longest-running vineyards, founded in 1972 and based near Haywards Heath — around an hour from London Victoria or London Bridge. It’s one of the more accessible vineyard tours near London in the south of England, and has a full programme of English Wine Week 2026 events.
See the full English Wine Week programme at Bolney →
What’s On at Bolney for English Wine Week 2026
Bolney’s programme covers the full range of what English Wine Week events can offer — from a formal chef’s dinner to an informal afternoon among the vines. Here’s what’s on.
Chef’s Dining Experience
Friday 19 June · 6.30pm – 9.30pm
Six courses from the estate’s Executive Chef, using produce from local farms and the kitchen garden on-site. Each course is matched to one of Bolney’s wines. Spaces are limited, and it’s one of the more sought-after evenings in the programme, so early booking is recommended.
Book the Chef’s Dining Experience →
Summer Sunsets
Saturday 20 June · 6.30pm – 9.30pm
The opening evening of English Wine Week at Bolney: live acoustic music, seasonal small plates, and estate wines. Tickets include a welcome drink of Bolney Bubbly or Bubbly Rosé.
Vineyard Picnics
Sunday 21 June – Sunday 28 June · Pick up at 12pm, 1pm or 2pm
Available every day throughout the week: a hamper for two to take out among the vines. Sandwiches and sweet treats in the style of an afternoon tea, with the option to add a bottle of Bolney Bubbly. One of the more relaxed ways to spend a June afternoon in West Sussex.
Blending Experience
Saturday 27 June · 2pm – 3.30pm
A hands-on session in which you taste a selection of base wines and build your own blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Gris with the Bolney team. You’ll come away with a clearer understanding of how grape varieties and blending decisions shape what ends up in your glass — and a bottle of your own to take home.
Book the Blending Experience →
Make a Day of It
Prefer to keep things flexible? Bolney’s guided vineyard tour and café are available throughout English Wine Week without the need to book a specific event.
Guided Vineyard Tours
Walk the estate with one of the Bolney team, see how the wines are made from vine to bottle, and finish with a tasting. As vineyard tours near London go, Bolney is one of the most straightforward — around an hour by train from Victoria or London Bridge, then a short taxi or bus from Haywards Heath.
Lunch at the Café
No booking required. A seasonal lunch menu, wines by the glass, and a terrace looking out over 18 acres of vines. Dogs are welcome on the terrace.
How to Take Part in English Wine Week 2026
To find English Wine Week events near you, the official WineGB English Wine Week page lists participating vineyards and events across the country. Most tours, tastings, and dinners require advance booking, so it’s worth planning ahead. Wineware also has a guide to English Wine Week 2026 with tips on how to get involved.
For Bolney’s full programme of English Wine Week events, visit the estate’s dedicated English Wine Week page →
Father’s Day at Bolney
Father’s Day on Sunday 21 June lands in the first full day of English Wine Week. A vineyard tour, a picnic among the vines, or a bottle from the online shop all make for a more considered alternative to the usual. Choose a wine experience for Dad →
Can’t Visit? Shop English Wine Online
Not able to get to West Sussex for English Wine Week this year? Bolney’s online shop carries English red, white, and sparkling wines with delivery across the UK.
