Tilsmore

Set over 100 acres of rolling East Sussex countryside, Quarry Wood Farm is a family–run estate and the home of Tilsmore Wine. Tilsmore takes its name from the little stream at the foot of the vineyard, which winds down to meet the River Rother. The landscape undulates in gentle folds, with open skies and far views that change character through the seasons: bluebells in spring, dappled warmth in summer, coppered beech in autumn, and clear, flinty light in winter.

Built around a 15th–century quarry, the Georgian–style farmhouse looks over landscaped gardens, wildflower meadows, neat rows of vines, and an amphitheatre enclosed by ancient woodland. The estate still holds the memory of a medieval bloomery, and the original quarry is said to be the setting for one of Sussex’s most enduring folk tales: the legend of St Dunstan and the Devil. There are many reminders of the region’s importance and Sussex’s industrious past, which includes the old Cuckoo Line railway, the connection between Tunbridge Wells and Polegate, running along the edge of the property and providing access to the vineyard and woods. The property is approached through the old railway bridge, a magical portal to the estate.

Tilsmore is a boutique operation, releasing only small quantities of sparkling wine each vintage. The wines are produced using the Traditional Method, overseen by winemaker Nick Lane at Defined Wines, who previously worked at Cloudy Bay, Moet Chandon and Dom Pérignon. Under his expert guidance, the Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes are blended to make sparkling wines that perfectly embody the refined elegance of a cooler climate. Each release is labeled by vintage and is intended as an honest record of the year’s growing and the character it drew from this slope. The vines are rooted on a south–west–facing slope beneath iron–rich sandy clay loam. The orientation invites long arcs of afternoon sun, while the soils hold and release water to the Tilsmore stream, encouraging measured growth and balanced ripeness. The estate relies on solar panels and an irrigation system sourced from the natural spring on the estate.

Guests are welcomed for tours, tastings, amphitheatre events, and self–guided woodland walks. The estate also operates as a shoot location for major brands. Whether for a quiet hour among the rows, an evening performance beneath the trees, or a long table laid in the garden, the invitation is the same: to share in the character of Tilsmore, to see how a family and a landscape shape a wine, and to leave with a memory that lingers.