Champagne vintners eye Sussex fields for future wine production

Champagne could see a huge geographical shift in production after producers were rumoured to be looking at land a little closer to home.

In the past few years, top Champagne makers have been seen scouting around Sussex and the South Downs as potential sites to plant vines.

This may be down to climate change, which is altering the growing conditions in wine producing regions such as Champagne in France.

Sussex hosts many beneficial qualities such as chalky soil, seen in the white cliffs of Dover, in which grape vines thrive, plus the land is 30 times cheaper than in France.

Howard Corney, joint owner of Court Garden vineyard in Ditchling, said: “I would not be surprised to hear of big names buying vineyards in Sussex.


more on thisismoney.co.uk