Wiston Estate

Wiston Estate has remained in the Goring family since 1743. It is now owned by Pip and Harry Goring and managed by son Richard and his wife Kirsty. The family produces sparkling wines in West Sussex, England, less than six miles from the English Channel and about a two-hour drive south of London. The winery is situated among the rolling hills, valleys, and steep escarpments of the South Downs, where two thousand years ago Romans first grew grapes on the soft, chalky slopes.

It was Pip’s dream to establish the winery, evoking memories of her South African childhood. Besides producing their award-winning wines, they contract their renowned winemaking skills to other grape growers. They have gained a “royal’ reputation – Wiston Estate Brut NV was used by Her Majesty Elizabeth II to christen the yacht Britannia.

After hundreds of years of traditional farming, the vineyard was planted in 2006. The vines occupy 12 hectares in the heart of the estate, on sites selected for their combination of soils, microclimate, and aspect. The soil is harsh, forcing roots to reach deeply.

Purity of expression is the philosophy that guides winemakers Marcus and Megan Rayner-Ward as they practice traditional methods of making sparkling wines. Grapes are gently pressed immediately after picking and the wine is fermented and aged in barrels and tanks. The wines mature for several years with constant monitoring prior to bottling on site. Leftover grape juice not used for wine is distilled for gin or vodka.

Sustainability is at the heart of the estate. Sheep graze on cover crops between the vines, and bees pollinate plants throughout the property. Their honey is used in Chalk, the estate’s restaurant. After harvest, the pressed grape skins and removed wood are composted and mulched back into the soil. No herbicides or pesticides are used. No plastic tape or pallet wrap is used on the estate and cardboard is recycled. Solar panels help power the winery. Used corks are collected and recycled.