TILLINGHAM WINE TOUR: AN HONEST TAKE ON THIS TRENDSETTING ENGLISH VINEYARD IN EAST SUSSEX.
Tillingham has been on my radar for quite a number of years, so much so that I was gleeful to be able to spend a recent afternoon there enjoying a wine tour. I just knew that Tillingham would be the type of place that I love – remote and rustic, but with a big healthy dollop of hipster aesthetic.
My visit only served to confirm that Tillingham was all I could hope for and more (I’m adding bonus points for the fact there are a couple of pigs in residence!)
A visit to Tillingham lulls you into a state of pleasing reverie – out in the sticks and totally away from it all. And let’s be honest, there’s a touch of the boujee about it – spending time at Tillingham feels suitably luxurious.
Read on to learn more about what to expect when you visit Tillingham for a wine tour or more.
About Tillingham
Tillingham is a commercial vineyard and winery found close to the town of Rye and the East Sussex coast. An area with lots to see and do, not least the beautiful Camber Sands beach.
Vines were first planted in 2017 on land that was previously used as a hop farm. There’ s a touch of the eccentric in Tillingham’s blood – this became clear to me when I heard that the former head wine maker, Ben Walgate, planted 21 different grape varieties when Tillingham started out. Keeping in mind that most vineyards might start with three or four. This is a vineyard that wants to be a bit playful.
Their wine has maintained this experimental air, Tillingham focus on Natural wines with an organic spin – no pesticides and low sulphites. Now led by Salvatore Leone, a Sicilian wine maker, Tillingham still has a nod to the maverick but they also churn out some classic varietal wines – like their dreamy Chardonnay.
At first glance, Tillingham could pass as a simple farm. As you get closer, something a lot more interesting emerges out of the marshland. A bolthole, or trendy wine mecca if you will. There are just a few small buildings and they hide some exciting secrets – a shop, restaurant, pizza barn, bar, terrace and rooms. And of course, there’s a winery – where the magic happens.
What captured me most about visiting Tillingham is that it’s just a lot of fun. The wine makers look like they’re having a whale of a time, the staff all seem chipper and the tour guide that we had was as effervescent as Tillingham’s fizzy wine. It’s not a drab place to visit, even on a dreary October day. It is a place that will lift your spirits, warm your cockles and of course gently raise your blood alcohol levels.
Tillingham Wine Tour: What to expect
Every time I take a wine tour, my first fear is that I’ll be presented with a tour guide who wants to show off about their wine knowledge rather than engage with the audience. Or that there’s just a general sense of snobbishness.
The wine tour at Tillingham was energetic and memorable, an experience that seemed uniquely “Tillingham”. It somehow felt special and that there was a sense of occasion. And yet there was nothing about the afternoon at Tillingham that felt dry, pretentious or stuffy.
My second concern (and arguably a greater one) is always that the wine samples won’t be generous. I’m very pleased to say that Tillingham delivered – each glass poured with gusto.
Ace tour guide
There were quite a number of things that I loved about the wine tour at Tillingham, but first and foremost – the tour guide.
Our tour guide, Pete, was such a font of knowledge and his natural enthusiasm for English wine created an engaging tour. He posed questions to the group, making the session interactive. So much so, that we all subconsciously vied to be teachers-pet. My other half was practically buzzing when Pete asked the group a wine question and he got the answer right – let’s just say that I didn’t stop hearing about it for a few hours after the tour.
Tour & Tasting combined
I would describe the tour style as “roving” – we began with a glass of bubbles in the indoor tasting room, strolled out to the vines for two more samples and took our final glass inside the heart of the winery.
It was my first time experiencing a combined tour and tasting, which kept the energy lively and, most importantly – the wine flowing. Don’t get me wrong—I enjoy a good dose of information on a winery tour, but there’s something undeniably better about sampling each wine as you learn about it. Tillingham struck that balance beautifully.
A sense of occasion
Our group included seven people and one four-legged guest (arguably the handsomest of us all), each of us savouring a cheeky Friday afternoon tour in October. Everyone had a story—whether celebrating a birthday, marking an anniversary, or simply escaping London for the weekend—adding a real sense of occasion to the experience.
Because Tillingham is both a welcoming hospitality venue and a working vineyard, visitors can settle in for the day or even an entire weekend. No one was in a hurry to leave, making it easy to linger, socialize, and connect with other wine lovers. The relaxed pace of the tour meant there was no clock-watching, just an easy-going afternoon of good wine and good company.
Tillingham: The wine speaks first
Tillingham is an all singing all dancing great place to visit. I can imagine spending hours in the cosy bar playing boardgames, or reading a book on the south facing terrace. But let’s be honest, the wine should speak first when it comes to visiting an English vineyard.
During the tour, I sampled four of Tillingham’s top tipples.
“Col ’23” – the fizzy one. So called in (slightly nerdy) reference to “Col Fondo”, an historic way of making sparkling wine in Italy. This wine is unlike anything I’ve tried before. Almost as fizzy as eating a lemon sherbet with honeysuckle notes.
“Chardonnay” – this grape always has a bit of bad rep. Tillingham’s Chardonnay is not as you’d expect. Light, fresh, Chablis-like and oh-so-moreish. This was my fave of the day.
“Orange Ortega” – I’m always a bit sceptical of orange wine, they’re often a bit “fur coat no knickers.” This one was not. Well-rounded, juicy and complex. Similar to quality Hungarian & Bulgarian equivalents I’ve sampled.
“R” – a quirky wine, this is a juicy, fresh red – a complex mix of Dornfelder, Regent & Gamay. Beaujolais fans would love this. I’m putting it on my Christmas Day menu.
Dining at Tillingham
Tillingham has not one, but two restaurants as well as a more lowkey bar. Their pizza barn which looks a little like something you’d find at Wilderness Festival or a similar foodie event, serves up sourdough feasts in an informal setting.
Inside, you’ll find their flagship Michelin Green Star restaurant – for background, Green Stars are awarded to places that meet certain sustainability criteria, like Tillingham. Settle in for a five course tasting menu supper – expect meat and fish dishes like duck breast, or lobster ravioli. Fresh, local and a wee bit fancy.
You can also book a two or three course lunch, or take a walk around the vines and enjoy a Sunday roast afterwards. I can’t think of much more that I’d like to do on a drizzly English Sunday!
Staying overnight at Tillingham
If you want to make a night, or weekend of it, consider booking out one of the eleven stylish rooms in a barn style building at Tillingham. You can go for bed and breakfast, or include dinner in your rate at the weekend. I can imagine this would feel like a total escape – with everything taken care of for you.
In summer months, you can also plump for a a posh bell tent – complete with your own terrace area and firepit.
Look out for seasonal offers, such as mid-week stays or Christmas events. Well behaved dogs can stay in one of three dog friendly rooms, however Tillingham is more of an adults only vibe (no children under 10 in rooms and the formal restaurant.)
How to get to Tillingham
Tillingham is in Peasmarsh, near to Rye in East Sussex.
By train – head to Rye train station. Services are operated by Southern Rail from either Ashford International (20 minutes) or London St Pancras (1 hour 6 minutes.) From Rye station, you can either take a taxi (book well in advance) or more adventurous types can take a 3.5 mile walk cross country – details can be found here.
By car – Tillingham is found in Peasmarsh, just off the A268. It is sign posted and found easily on Google Maps. You can also find more detailed driving guidance on the Tillingham website – here.
Find out more & book
You can find all the information you need to book your experience at Tillingham Winery on their website – found here. Tours with a tasting cost £35 as of 2024.
*My experience was gifted to me by Tillingham. All opinions are my own.
Where to next?
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