Your wedding toast is one of the moments everyone remembers. Glasses are raised, the speeches end, and the whole room drinks to you at once. So it is worth thinking about what is in those glasses.
More and more couples are choosing English sparkling wine over Champagne, and in Sussex it makes complete sense. The county is home to some of the most celebrated vineyards in the country. At Selden Barns, the wine is even closer to home than that: our sister estate, Selden Vineyard, sits right here at the foot of the South Downs.
Introducing Selden Vineyard
Selden Vineyard is owned by the same family as Selden Barns and Selden Bed & Breakfast at Old Selden Farm. The vines are planted on the slopes around Patching, inside the South Downs National Park, just a short walk from the barns where you will say your vows.
The vineyard grows Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Cabernet Noir, and its focus is sparkling white wine.
That gives our couples something no other Sussex venue can offer: the chance to toast their marriage with wine grown on the same estate where they were married. Your guests will be drinking the landscape they can see through the barn doors.
Why Sussex Is Perfect for Sparkling Wine
Sussex has the largest cluster of vineyards in the UK, with well over a hundred vineyards across the county. There are good reasons for that.
- The soil. Much of Sussex sits on chalk, greensand and clay. The chalk of the South Downs is closely related to the chalk found in the Champagne region of France.
- The climate. Warm summer days and cool sea breezes in the evening help the grapes keep their natural acidity. That freshness is exactly what you want in a good sparkling wine.
- The protected name. Since 2022, “Sussex” has been a Protected Designation of Origin. Wine sold as Sussex wine must be made in Sussex from grapes grown in Sussex, to agreed quality standards.
The result is sparkling wine that is now rated alongside some of the best Champagnes, made a few miles from your wedding venue rather than a few hundred.
Why Choose Local Wine for Your Wedding?
It tells your story
Your wedding is about where you are as much as who you are with. Serving wine from the vineyard next door ties the day to the place, and it gives guests something to talk about.
It is a lower-mileage choice
Wine that travels from the estate to your glass has a far smaller journey than bottles shipped from overseas. For couples who care about the footprint of their day, that is an easy win.
It is a lovely detail for guests
Many guests will be trying English sparkling wine for the first time. Hearing that it was grown on the hillside outside is the kind of detail people remember long after the day.
It supports the local area
Choosing Sussex wine keeps your spend within the local community and supports the growers who look after this part of the South Downs.
Ways to Serve Selden Wine on Your Wedding Day
Here are a few ideas for where it fits best.
- The drinks reception. A glass of chilled Sussex fizz as guests step out of the ceremony barn and onto the lawn sets the tone for the rest of the day.
- The toast. Save it for the speeches, so the whole room raises a glass of estate-grown wine together. Our guide to wedding speeches covers when the toasts usually happen.
- On the tables. Pair it with your wedding breakfast. Sparkling wine works beautifully with lighter starters, fish and seasonal Sussex produce. See our wedding catering guide for menu ideas.
- Wedding favours. Miniature bottles or a single bottle per table make a thoughtful favour that guests will actually use.
- The morning after. If you are staying at Selden Bed & Breakfast, a bottle waiting in your room is a very good way to begin married life.
Other Sussex Vineyards Worth Knowing
If you are planning a weekend around your wedding, or want a day out with your bridal party, West Sussex has plenty of vineyards close by. Several offer tours and tastings, especially between spring and early autumn:
- Wiston Estate, near Pulborough, for tours and tastings at the foot of the Downs.
- Kinsbrook Vineyard, Thakeham, with daily tours and tastings in summer.
- Nutbourne Vineyards, near Pulborough, with guided tours at weekends and a self-guided trail during the week.
- Tinwood Estate and Ashling Park Estate, both near Chichester.
- Nyetimber, West Chiltington, one of the best-known names in English sparkling wine, which opens to the public on selected open days.
Opening times and tour dates change from season to season, so it is always worth checking with each vineyard before you visit.
A Toast Worth Remembering
Whether you serve it at the drinks reception, raise it during the speeches or send guests home with a bottle, wine from Selden Vineyard brings the estate into every part of your day. It is grown here, poured here and enjoyed here, a few steps from where you said “I do”.