Coombe Bottom Farm
Curiosity sown, passion grown
A Retirement Project Turned Vineyard Passion
Tucked into the gentle folds of the High Weald, just beside St Leonard’s Forest, Coombe Bottom Farm was never intended to be a commercial vineyard. Purchased in 2014 as a retirement venture, it began with a house rebuild, followed by a fairly adventurous decision to plant vines across five hectares of former pastureland.
With no prior farming background – but a healthy dose of curiosity and commitment – the owners threw themselves into the project. Short courses at Plumpton and expert advice laid the groundwork, and by 2016, the first vines were in the ground.
- Location
- Altitude
- Soil type
- Vinyard size
- Planted varieties
Carefully planted, quietly thriving
A Site of Quiet Promise
The vineyard slopes gently to the southwest, offering excellent drainage and relative frost protection thanks to the open valley floor. The light, sandy clay loam soils sit over sandstone, requiring early intervention to address low nutrient levels – phosphorus, potassium, and magnesium were all carefully supplemented pre-planting.
Rootstocks include SO4, 3309, and Couderc, with plantings done by Vineworks. Approximately 20,000 vines now span the site, thoughtfully spread across key sparkling and still wine varieties:
- 30% Chardonnay
- 23% Pinot Noir
- 17% Pinot Gris
- 23% Bacchus
- 7% Pinot Meunier
While yields vary with vintage conditions, 2022 saw 7 tonnes per hectare, followed by a remarkable 9.5 tonnes in 2023, the site has proven to offer strong vigour and diversity. More challenging weather in 2024 halved output – a reminder of the site’s altitude and cool-climate reality.
Rooted in responsibility
Sustainability Without Fuss
The team here quietly aims at low-intervention farming. Chemical use is kept to a minimum, the soils are nurtured, and sustainability underpins decision making - not as a marketing claim, but as a principle rooted in long-term thinking. Deer fencing was essential from day one, but beyond that, interventions are measured and purposeful.
Fruit of rare character
A Grower of Distinction
Coombe Bottom Farm has sold fruit both on term contracts and the spot market to several leading producers in Sussex and Kent. While much of the output goes into traditional method sparkling wines, standout still wines have emerged from Pinot Gris and Pinot Meunier – showing the potential of the site.
We’re proud to work with fruit from this special place – most recently a small parcel of Pinot Gris (clone 457 on 3309 rootstock, with a touch of SMA 514 on SO4). The 2024 vintage was painfully small, but what was harvested carries the clarity and poise we value deeply at Vyn Dene.
