It’s time to raise a glass to Sussex, home to the exquisite Tinwood Estate, as it has been appointed as a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) for wine by the Environment Secretary. This prestigious status guarantees quality and geographical provenance, and puts Sussex on a par with wine regions in Europe such as Champagne and Margaux. Finally, Sussex has been recognised as an appellation for producing high-quality wine, putting the county firmly on the wine map with protected status.

In addition to this news, it’s been a fantastic month at the vineyard, and as they celebrate 15 years of Tinwood Estate. The vines are coming to an age where the quality of grapes and wine is exceptional, and Tinwood’s Blanc de Blancs has scooped up not one but two extremely prestigious Gold awards at the International Wine Challenge and The International Wine & Spirits Challenge. Not only did they win gold, but went on to win an additional two silver awards, which is a fabulous achievement and a testament to the quality of wine produced at the estate.

Of Tinwood’s latest achievements, owner Art Tukker says – “When we planted our vines here on the family farm 15 years, we never dreamt that we would be winning Gold medals in the world’s largest wine competitions, not just once but twice in the same Month (IWSC; International Wine & Spirit Competition, and IWC; International Wine Challenge). It proves the soil and location here in Sussex allows us to grow world class quality wines. As our vines mature and our thirst for knowledge increases, we can’t wait for what the next 15 years will bring”.

The quality of soil near the South Downs and close to the Sea enables Tinwood to produce fresh lively wines of a superb quality so with all these exciting achievements, what better way to celebrate with Tinwood than to enjoy a tour of the picturesque vineyard followed by a tasting of their three delicious wines. Or why not order online to enjoy a deliciously crisp glass of Tinwood’s award-winning 2019 vintage al fresco this summer.