There are regions of the world that come to mind for wine and wine tourism—Bordeaux, the Rhine Valley, Napa Valley and more—but few are likely to think of England's Sussex in that company. But that may be about to change.
Sussex, on England's southern coast, has just under a thousand hectares of land planted in vines, but with its chalky soil, similar to the Champagne region of France and its warming climate it has the potential for perhaps 40,000 hectares more that are suitable for wine grapes.
Beyond the potential increase in quantities of wine, the local tourism development agency Sussex Modern sees a big future for wine tourism. Sussex's 138 vineyards already account for about £25 million in tourism revenue, and the agency believes that can grow to over £280 million by 2040.
The plan is not only to increase the number or size of the vineyards, but also to expand the number that are open to the public. Currently just over a quarter have cellar door sales, tours and tastings, restaurants, accommodation or wedding licences.
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