Hidden Spring Vines Cross Bacchus & Reichensteiner 2015 Sussex, England 75cl

Hidden Spring Vineyard sits in the High Weald of East Sussex, an area of outstanding natural beauty, between the villages of Horam and Vines Cross. The site was first planted in 1986 and ran as a commercial vineyard for over twenty years before it lay fallow, until David McNally and Chris Phipps replanted it in 2015 with thirteen acres of new vines and brought the vineyard back to life. An on-site winery followed in 2018, combining temperature-controlled steel tanks with traditional barrel fermentation.

Vines Cross is the estate’s still white blend, named after the neighbouring village and pairing aromatic Bacchus with Reichensteiner, two varieties well suited to England’s cool climate. Together they give a fresh, floral, gently fruity wine that speaks clearly of its Sussex roots.

The 2015 comes from the early days of the replanted vineyard, and time in bottle has settled it into a mellow, easy-drinking style while keeping its bright, cool-climate acidity.

Alongside this blend the estate also grows Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier across its thirteen acres, working both steel and barrel to shape its wines. In the glass this one is light and aromatic, with elderflower, apple and citrus and a crisp, dry finish. Serve it well chilled, around eight degrees, as an aperitif, or alongside salads, soft goat’s cheese or lighter fish.

A characterful piece of small-scale English winemaking from a revived Weald vineyard, and a rewarding find for anyone keen to explore beyond the big estates and taste what a smaller Sussex grower can do.