Ditchling - Tour,tasting and lunch at Ridgeview is no longer available
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Ditchling - Tour,tasting and lunch at Ridgeview
Spend a sunny (hopefully!) summer’s day at Ridgeview Wine Estate, home of the Society’s Exhibition English Sparkling Wine, with a tour, tasting and lunch.
Maximum 4 tickets per member
Join us at Ridgeview Wine Estate, in their 30th anniversary year, for a tour, tasting and paired wine lunch to learn more about their history, vineyard management and winemaking approach in situ, as well as sampling some delicious wines of course!
Maximum 4 tickets per member
Itinerary for the day
10:00 Arrival* and welcome
10:30 Vineyard tour with legendary Viticulture Director Matt Strugnell
11:30 Winery and Cellar tour with Jack Mankin, Winemaker
12:30 Tasting Part 1 with Simon Roberts, Director of Winemaking
13:00 Paired wine lunch (Tasting Part 2) with Matthew Horsley, Society Buyer and Simon, Director of Winemaking
15:30 Depart*
*Members are to arrange their own travel to and from Ridgeview
The menu for lunch is detailed below – any allergies or dietary restrictions must be advised in advance of the event to tastings@thewinesociety.com by Thursday 24th July.
Getting to Ridgeview Wine Estate
The nearest railway station is Burgess Hill with regular direct trains from London and Brighton, serviced by Thameslink and Southern Rail. Once at Burgess Hill station, Ridgeview are around a 10-minute taxi-ride or 40-minute walk away. Taxis can be hailed from the station or pre-booked with Station Taxis.
Additional Information
- Ridgeview Wine Estate has dedicated disabled parking spaces and step-free access from the car park, across the entire estate. If you, or anyone in your party, have any additional access and mobility requirements, please let us know by email in advance, so we can support you in your requirements.
- Under 18s are not permitted to attend this event.
- The British weather can be fickle so please keep an eye on the forecast and dress appropriately for the weather on the day, so you are comfortable for your visit!
A vegetarian or vegan menu can be provided and must be requested to tastings@thewinesociety.com before Thursday 24th July
Selection of bread with South Downs salted butter, rapeseed oil & Ditchling verjus (veo)
Hand-picked Dorset crab salad, herring ‘caviar’
Avocado purée, Chardonnay & saffron sauce
Free range chicken, leek & green peppercorn terrine
Sweet tomato jam, Sussex black olive focaccia crostini
Bavette Steak
Crispy cavolo nero, brown sugar, garlic & chilli butter
Served with
Heritage tomato salad (ve)
Crispy potatoes, lemon & rosemary oil (ve)
Dessert
Seasonal summer fruit Pavlova
The South Downs of Sussex are found on the same geological formation (limestone on top of a sandstone bed) that continues through the east of France down to Champagne. It is no surprise therefore that the soils at The Ridgeview Estate are conducive to the production of grapes needed for premium quality sparkling wine. Just seven miles from the sea the winters here are mild too with the hills creating a rain shadow to keep the vineyards comparatively dry and sheltered.
Founded in 1994 by the late and sadly missed Mike Roberts with his wife Christine, the estate produces fine bubbly from the three Champagne grapes, chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, according to the méthode traditionnelle of secondary fermentation in bottle, and a period of maturation before disgorging. The Merret cuvées are named in honour of Christopher Merret, a 17th century doctor, scientist and glassmaker who in 1662 - over thirty years before Dom Pérignon - was the first to set down on paper the process of dosing wine with sugar provoke a secondary fermentation. Now fully certified as a B-Corp and accredited under the Wines GB Sustainability scheme, acting sustainably is at the heart of their operation.
Do you send physical tickets or is it all e-tickets?
We no longer send out physical tickets for our events. An email confirming registration will be sent to the member who has purchased the ticket(s) and this email can be used as confirmation upon arrival at the event.
Can I bring a non-member?
Yes. Tickets must be booked by a member, but you are welcome to bring non-member guests.
Do I need to know lots about wine to attend?
Absolutely not! Our events target a range of experience and knowledge levels, and we try to make this clear on our event pages. If you’re unsure if an event is for you, simply contact tastings@thewinesociety.com and we will try to help.
Do I get a discount on wines after events?
After our ‘in person’ events, we offer attendees a 10% discount on the wines we have shown, subject to availability. You will be provided with a private code after attending the event to redeem the discount
What is your cancellation policy?
Full details on our cancellation policy can be found here.
Can I join a waiting list for sold out events?
Yes. Please do feel free to join our waiting lists for sold out events. If tickets become available you will be contacted by email.
To ensure our tastings and events run smoothly and are enjoyed by all, we would ask members and guests to:
• Be respectful of others by moving away from the tables once a sample has been poured, unless talking with a producer or staff member
• Be aware of others waiting to try the wines when talking to producers and staff members
• Not wear perfume or aftershave as this can make it difficult for others to taste the wines
• Avoid crowding around the spittoons to keep them accessible to others
• Avoid bringing large bags into the room or wearing back packs, for the comfort of others
• Be mindful of your alcohol intake and make use of the spittoons and water provided.
Please note that:
• We operate a Challenge25 policy and you or your guest/s may therefore be asked to show ID to confirm being over 18. We reserve the right to refuse service should it be deemed necessary.
• We have a duty of care to Society, venue and agency staff, winemakers and producers in attendance, as well as to members and guests. Any inappropriate behaviour or harassment will therefore not be tolerated. Instances of inappropriate behaviour or harassment will be dealt with by the Events Manager or Head of Tastings & Events in attendance, and if it's deemed that the behaviour is harmful, the offender will be asked to leave the tasting, with further action to follow.
Catherine Housden
Catherine is our Tastings and Events Host at The Wine Society and joined the team in 2019 from Member Services where she was a valued Wine Adviser. Catherine hosts online and in person events across a range of themes and styles.