Blog
Ready to learn more about the world of English wine? Access expert guides, tasting tips, and in-depth articles on the winemaking process. You’ll also find the latest Estate news, exciting product releases, seasonal menus, and ideas for local Sussex things to do.
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How To Host The Best Christmas Dinner Party
Host the perfect Christmas dinner with tips on festive decorations, table settings, wine pairings, drinks at the right temperature, and fun entertainment ideas for a relaxed celebration.
8 Reasons To Choose An English Sparkling Wine Vs Prosecco
English sparkling wine or Prosecco? Compare flavour, fizz, sweetness, and food pairing, and see why English sparkling wine offers more complexity and elegance.
What Are The Best Glasses for Sparkling Wine? A Beginner’s Guide
Choosing the right sparkling wine glass affects bubbles, aroma, and flavour. Learn which flutes, tulips, or coupes suit different wines, occasions, and tasting at home for perfect enjoyment.
Winter, Christmas & NYE Events In West Sussex 2025–26
A roundup of the best winter and festive events, theatre shows, spas, and New Year activities in West Sussex. Plan Christmas outings, cosy retreats, and winter adventures.
How To Set Up A Home Wine Bar: The Complete Guide (Beginner-Friendly + Expert Tips)
Learn how to create a stylish home wine bar, select the right wines, and keep your collection organised for any occasion or budget.
12 Wines of Christmas: A Sussex Festive Wine Tasting Event
Join us in West Sussex for a festive wine tasting like no other! Discover the 12 Wines of Christmas in a relaxed, guided tasting, perfect for celebrating the season with friends or family.
English Sparkling Wine Stars In Bolney’s First National TV Ad
Bolney’s Classic Cuvée takes centre stage in a national TV ad, showcasing cinematic views of our Sussex vineyard and seasonal winemaking.
The Best Black Friday Wine Deals 2025
Shop Bolney Wine Estate’s 2025 Black Friday deals: £20 off Signature Gift Boxes, 15% off all wine and spirits online, and 15% off tours and tasting experiences this Cyber Monday.
Christmas 2025 At Bolney Estate: Unmissable Festive Events In Sussex
Celebrate Christmas 2025 at Bolney Estate with enchanting Christmas events in Sussex. Enjoy wine tastings, festive workshops, live music evenings, and gift shopping for a magical seasonal experience.
The Best Wine Bars In West Sussex
Find the best wine bars in West Sussex, from quaint country pubs to sleek city venues, offering carefully curated wine lists, tapas, and experiences for every wine enthusiast.
What To Drink On Bonfire Night: English Wine Pairings & Party Ideas
Plan a stylish Bonfire Night with festive entertaining tips, seasonal recipes, and perfect English wine pairings to create a cosy, memorable Guy Fawkes celebration.
A Guide To English Wine Harvest: Weather, Timing & Challenges
Ever wondered how English grapes thrive in a cool climate? This guide explores the harvest, from weather and grape ripeness to vineyard challenges and harvesting methods.
A Glass of Bolney Wine Awaits You At Historic Sussex Hotels
Bolney’s sparkling wine is now the exclusive pour at Historic Sussex Hotels. Discover where to sip our local fizz, plan a luxury stay, and visit the vineyard.
Grubbing Up: Why We’re Replanting 10,000 Vines
We’re uprooting our original vines to secure our future. Discover the two-year replanting plan, the classic grape varieties we’re choosing, and how to see this transformation in action.
Encore! Bolney Wine Returns To Glyndebourne Opera House For Autumn
Two Sussex icons unite! Bolney is the official Wine Partner for Glyndebourne Opera House. Find your perfect glass of local English sparkling and still wine across the entire spectacular estate.
Golden Days At Bolney: England’s Earliest Wine Harvest Yet
Bolney Estate celebrates a spectacular, early 2025 harvest! Uninterrupted sunshine and low humidity yielded exceptional fruit quality, promising bold, structured English wines in the future.
Unique Gift Ideas: An English Vineyard Tour They’ll Never Forget
Thinking of a unique present? Learn why a vineyard tour gift is the perfect choice, offering guided tastings, luxury English wines, and a memorable countryside experience.
How To Send A Wine Gift (Packing, Posting & Delivery Tips)
Sending a wine gift the wrong way can lead to breakage and costly postage. Follow our top tips for sending wine yourself or using a delivery service.
Corporate Gift Guide: English Wine Edition
Looking for a luxury corporate wine gift that leaves an impression? From elegant English bottles to bespoke hampers and vineyard experiences, this guide shows how to give thoughtful, high-quality...
Why Is Wine So Romantic?
Explore why wine is so romantic, from ancient Egyptian rituals to modern date nights, and learn how it has inspired intimacy, celebration, and shared moments throughout history.
Why Is Cork Used For Wine Bottles?
Learn why cork is used for wine bottles, how modern cork technology prevents taint, supports wine ageing, and provides a sustainable closure for premium wines.
Valentine’s Wine Pairing Guide
Valentine’s Day calls for the perfect wine pairing. Learn how to match reds, whites, and sparkling wines with your meal, and enjoy a romantic tasting experience at Bolney Wine Estate.
The Ultimate Christmas Gift Guide For Wine Lovers
Find exquisite English wine gifts at Bolney Wine Estate, from sparkling wines and curated hampers to vineyard experiences — perfect for wine lovers this season.
Christmas Wine Pairings Made Easy
Serve up a feast to remember! Our Christmas wine pairings guide helps dinner hosts match every festive dish with the perfect wine.
Bolney Wine & Cheese Pairings: Expert Tips & Tasting Ideas
Pair Bolney Estate’s English wines with cheeses using practical tips and tasting notes. Learn why certain flavours work together and create balanced, delicious wine and cheese combinations.
Is Prosecco Sparkling Wine? All Your Questions Answered
There are key differences between Prosecco and English sparkling wine, which we explore here.
How Two Women Helped Shape English Wine
This International Women’s Day, we want to highlight an important story at the centre of English wine history.
Does Sparkling Wine Pop Like Champagne?
Sparkling wine does pop like Champagne when it’s opened. If you have a bottle of sparkling wine that you want to open with a flourish for a celebration, this guide will show you.
How To Open A Bottle Of Sparkling Wine
Learning how to open a bottle of sparkling wine the right way ensures you minimise spillage, spray, and wastage. Read our article to discover pro tips.
How Do You Store Sparkling Wine Properly?
How to store sparkling wine depends on many factors. here you can discover expert tips on how to store your bottles the right way.
How to Recork Sparkling Wine & Keep the Fizz Fresh
This guide takes you through the simple steps to recorking and provides alternative methods for storing opened sparkling wine if you don’t have the means to recork.
How Is Sparkling Wine Made? Methods & Regions
From the traditional method to the tank method, this guide explains how sparkling wine is made across Old & New World regions.
How To Choose The Right Sparkling Wine For You
This guide breaks down different types of sparkling wines and their flavours, so you are better equipped to make the best choice for you.
Is Chardonnay A Sparkling Wine?
Learn all about Chardonnay the wine and Chardonnay the grape variety in this guide, which also explains how Chardonnay grapes are essential for sparkling wine production.
How To Drink Sparkling Wine Like A Professional
This guide will teach you all the elements that go into drinking a sparkling wine like a sommelier, from opening a bottle properly to serving temperature, appropriate glasses, and proper tasting...
How To Taste Wine: A Guide to the 5 S’s
Learn how to taste wine like a pro with our 5-step beginner’s guide. Master the 5 S’s, key tasting terms, and serving tips.
What Does A Head Winemaker Do? A Conversation With Cara-Lee
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This week, we’ve spent some time in the winery to catch up with our Winery Product and Operations Manager, Cara-Lee.
Is Sparkling Wine Champagne?
There are many rules and regulations surrounding Champagne viticulture (which refers to the cultivation of grapevines), including pruning, degree of pressing, and how long the bottles must be aged....
What Is Cava? A Beginner’s Guide to Everything Cava
The method for Cava production is called the “traditional method” which is also the production method for Champagne. Learn all about it here.
Who Invented Sparkling Wine? How England Paved the Way
Contrary to popular belief, sparkling wine was invented in England. Learn all about our fabulous history here.
What Is Champagne? All Your Questions Answered
Champagne is a type of sparkling wine which is produced in a specific region in the northeast of France, called the Champagne wine region. Learn everything you need to know here.
What Is Cuvée Wine? A Winemaker’s Guide
What is cuvée in wine? What does this fancy-sounding word mean? All the questions you wanted are answered here.
Does Sparkling Wine Go Off? The Complete Guide
Does sparkling wine go off? Learn how to tell if your bottle has expired and how long an unopened bottle of sparkling wine lasts with this simple guide.
What Is Sparkling Wine? A Sommelier’s Definitive Guide
What is sparkling wine? This simple guide explains everything you need to know, from the difference between dry & sweet sparkling wine to how it’s made.
How Long Does Wine Last Unopened?
How long unopened wine lasts by type, from red, white, sparkling and port, plus how to store bottles well and spot wine that has gone bad.
Things To Do In Sussex In Spring
As mornings get brighter and daffodils decorate the woodlands, spring has truly sprung here in Sussex. Warmer temperatures are very much welcomed as we head out into the sunshine and enjoy the...
Top 5 Father’s Day Activities In Sussex
Celebrate the men who raised us —our role models and best friends —with our list of the top 5 Father’s Day activities for 2022 to truly show them how much they mean to you.
Women In Wine: The Roles, Skills & Realities Of Working In A Vineyard
When Sam Linter, Bolney MD and Head Winemaker, first took the reins of Bolney back in 1995, she was determined to make a change. For Sam, it wasn’t just about pushing boundaries when it came to...
Bolney Wine Estate Celebrates 50th Anniversary
Bolney Wine Estate, the Sussex based vineyard producing award-winning still and sparkling English wines, is proud to be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Fifty years ago, English wine was...
Mother’s Day Ideas She’ll Love
She treats you throughout the year and is always there when you need her, so how do you show her, or that special someone, just how much they mean to you? Whether it’s quality time together, a...
Vines At Rest, Hands At Work: A January Vineyard Story
Clear blue skies, winter sunshine and glistening frost decorating the vines, visiting our Estate in the winter is just as breathtaking as it is in the summer.
Unique Valentine’s Day Ideas
Whether you love the buzz or loathe the sea of red and pink everywhere you look, there’s no hiding from the plethora of hearts, cheesy cards, and luxury chocolate boxes as we approach 14th...
Freixenet Copestick Acquires Bolney Estate
Freixenet Copestick strengthens its position as the leading sparkling wine supplier in England with the acquisition of the renowned English sparkling wine and wine cellar Bolney. The transaction took...
The Best Vegan Wines For Veganuary
It’s no secret that the vegan movement is gaining momentum year on year, and with new products launching daily and restaurants boasting plant-powered menus, it’s an exciting time to take the...
Wedding Wine Guide: What To Serve And When
Whichever part of your wedding day you are thinking about, there is one thing that will feature in almost every moment of your celebrations…the wedding wine. Here at Bolney, we (naturally) know a...
A Look Back At Bolney 2021
As 2021 draws to a close, we’re taking a look back at a year of Bolney. It’s been another unprecedented year with it’s fair share of challenges, but we’ve also had lots to celebrate. Much of...
Which Sparkling Wine Should You Choose For New Year’s Eve?
The presents may have been opened, but the festivities are far from over. If you’re looking for the best champagne alternative for New Year’s, why not try premium English sparkling wine?
Why Choose A Magnum? Your Guide To Magnum Wine
What’s better than one bottle of English wine? The answer may be two, but that’s not the only reason why magnums grow more popular year on year. Whether it’s as a showstopper at a dinner party...
The Best Wine & Food Pairings For Christmas Day
The gifts have been wrapped, the stockings filled, and the Christmas dinner is gently sizzling in the oven; all that’s left now is to pop open the wine! Read on to discover the best Christmas wines...