A FESTIVAL OF ENGLISH WINE IN LEWES
8 – 13 June 2026
Sponsored by: Carpenter Box, Knight Frank and Mayo Wynne Baxter
Lewes is set to raise a glass to English Wine Week with WINELANDS – an exciting festival of pop-up wine events taking place from 8 – 13 June 2026. Designed to showcase the world-class quality of Sussex and Southeast England’s wines, WINELANDS will bring together wine lovers, local producers, and industry experts for a week-long celebration of the region’s finest vintages.
Supported by:
Lewes District Council, Plumpton College, Sussex Winelands, Lewes Depot and Symposium
HEADLINE / TICKETED EVENTS
Wednesday 10 June
SUGRUE SOUTH DOWNS X SQUISITO WINE DINNER
And Dermot Sugrue in conversation with Victoria Moore
Squisito, The Old Needlemakers BN7 2NZ / 7-9.30pm
£150 per person for a specially created menu to be paired with four Sugrue wines
An exceptional food and wine pairing dinner, showcasing some of England’s most exciting wines alongside a bespoke seasonal menu from the Squisito kitchen. The evening will take guests through the remarkable story and philosophy behind Sugrue South Downs, while enjoying thoughtfully paired dishes designed to complement each pour.
Victoria will lead the conversation with the effusive Dermot Sugrue and will also find some time to table hop, so have your questions ready!
SOLD OUT – Wednesday 10 June
OLLY SMITH BOOK LAUNCH ‘Death by Noir’
Gorringe’s, 15 North Street, BN7 2PE / 6-8pm
Free entry, but booking required
Olly Smith, Lewes’s own celebrity wine expert, will launch his new book Death by Noir to be released later in June.
Doors open at 6pm for guests to enjoy a glass of sparkling wine from Artelium and there will be an introduction by Executive Director Oliver Searle, followed by Gorringe’s Fine Wine specialist Lisse Garnett conducting a Q&A interview with Olly Smith about his career, connections to Lewes, and his new book.
Other wines from Artelium will be available to taste after the Q&A, and Olly Smith will give a short reading from the book and be available to sign copies.
Thursday 11 June
‘SOUR GRAPES’ & SPOT-THE-FAKE WINE TASTING
At the Depot Cinema / 6pm
£26 per person, to include the film, blind tasting, and afterparty
A special one-off screening of Sour Grapes at the Depot cinema, followed by a unique spot-the-fake wine tasting and afterparty.
Presented by director Jerry Rothwell, Sour Grapes is a documentary exploring how notorious wine fraudster Rudy Kurniwan befriended rich and powerful wine collectors to sell fake wine.
Saturday 13 June
WINELANDS GRAND TASTING & MASTERCLASSES
A drop-in tasting with sixteen amazing English Wine producers and in-depth masterclasses
Tasting Sessions from 12 noon
All Saint’s Centre, Friars Walk, Lewes BN7 2LE
Tickets £5 – inc. free glass / over 18s only
Producers include;
Albourne • Dillions • Kingscote • Mountfield • Mousehall • Nutbourne • Oxney Organic • Rathfinny • Rowfant • Stopham • Sugrue South Downs • Tinwood • Wildwood • Winklestone • Wiston
You can also book a place on one of these special WINELANDS Masterclasses + Tastings;
MASTERCLASS 1: Sustainable Wine Production in Sussex / 1:30 – 2:30pm
Four top Sussex vinegrowers and winemakers will present their wines and discuss how Sussex is leading the way in sustainable practices in the vineyard and winery. Chaired by Chris Foss.
MASTERCLASS 2: How English Wine Ages / 3:30 – 4:30pm
This masterclass will look at three producers who have wines that have aged, and show how Sussex has great potential to be a fine wine region.
Saturday 13 June
PLUMPTON COLLEGE OPEN MORNING / 9am – 12pm
FREE
For anyone considering a career in the English wine industry or other land and environment work.
The UK wine industry is one of the fastest growing and most successful in the agricultural sector, so if you’re interested in pursuing a career in this growing and in-demand sector with a wealth of exciting opportunities, consider one of Plumpton College’s courses.
Find out more here.
FRINGE EVENTS
Other Lewes venues will be promoting local wines with drop in tastings, pairing menus and other events during WINELANDS
Maggie’s of Lewes
Drop-in tastings in store
Fri 22 May – Westwell with their delicious pet nats (it was GREAT!)
Thurs 11 June – Off the Line will be showcasing their still pink wines
Fri 12 June – Breaky Bottom will be serving up their superb fizz
Caccia + Tails
Thurs 18 June – WINELANDS at Caccia + Tails with Westwell Wines
Join Westwell Wines and Caccia + Tails for a one-night-only pairing evening in the heart of Lewes. Expect an evening of brilliant food from Caccia & Tails and wines from Adrian and Galia at Westwell, with DJing, badge making and most importantly, FUN.
Across the evening, Caccia + Tails will serve a series of Italian-inspired dishes paired with a selection of Westwell wines, including traditional method sparkling, pet nat and some new releases direct from the winery.
More information about these events to follow…
WINELANDS: 8 - 13 June 2026 