Our Top 5 Tips for Maximising Your Vineyard Experience

A visit to a vineyard offers more than just a wine-tasting experience. It’s a chance to meet the passionate people who work in the Cellar Door, get a glimpse into the winemaking process and soak up the hospitality of the booming Sussex wine scene. After taking a tour and tasting the wine portfolio, purchasing your favourite bottle is the perfect way to bring home a memory from your visit. Here are some of our tips to enhance your experience.

1. Support your Local Winery

Wineries like Rathfinny that carry out the whole production process on-site will have temperature-controlled cellars to store the wine in optimum conditions. This means, when you pick up a bottle from the Cellar Door shop or order a glass from the Vineyard restaurant, your wine hasn’t travelled far at all and has been stored perfectly ready your consumption. As a B CORP, reducing our carbon footprint, supporting local businesses and championing the British winemaking industry is something we truly value. At Rathfinny, you can drop in for a free in-store tasting of our Sussex wines at the Cellar Door where our knowledgeable experts are on hand to help you find the right bottle.

2. Plan Ahead for Buying Wine after The Tour

To truly appreciate your wine tour experience, it’s useful to plan ahead for purchasing wine during your visit. You can research Rathfinny’s portfolio of wine ahead of time on our website and make a note of any wines you’d like to taste and purchase later. Our wine experts and tour guides will be happy to make sure you find everything you need and there’s usually a few surprises in the Cellar Door shop that you can’t find anywhere else!

Hedonism Wine Tasting Event
kristina Guided Wine Tasting
Wine Tasting

3. Savour Your Favourite Wines from The Tasting

During your Vineyard Tour, you’ll be invited to indulge in a variety of wines. You’re welcome to take notes and ask your guide for recommendations based on your taste preferences to help you find the perfect wines to take home. Alternatively, if you plan a morning tour followed by lunch in the Tasting Room, you can take a note of what to order from the wine list next door.

4. Find Out If There Are Any Quantity Restrictions When Purchasing Wine

Some wineries will have limited volumes of their wine if it has already been allocated to restaurants, bars, hotels and wine merchants. This makes buying your wine from the Cellar Door even more special as it may be harder to source. For instance, our Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs are restricted to just three bottles per person as these are our most coveted premium wines. If you want to buy more, its worth asking the winemaker if they have a wine club or pre-order system in place like our Rathfinny Reserved programme which allows customers to reserve cases of our premium wines ahead of release.

5. Select The Perfect Wine

When selecting a bottle of wine to purchase, consider the occasion and the intended use. For example, if you’re looking for a wine to enjoy with a specific meal, ask for pairing recommendations from one of our experts. If you’re looking for a gift, consider the recipient’s taste preferences and the occasion and perhaps choose a gift box or Treat Box for extra special presentation.

Purchasing wine directly from a winery is a wonderful way to extend the experience. By following the tips above, you can make the most of your visit and take home a bottle to enjoy. We recommend storing your wine in a dark space after purchasing it to ensure the quality is maintained.

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