Breaky Bottom Vineyard

Breaky Bottom Vineyard sits in a beautiful, secluded fold in the Sussex Downs and is described as wonderfully remote. The family planted the vineyard in 1974, having farmed pigs on the land since 1968. The site turned out to sit atop the same belt of chalk that stretches from Sussex to Champagne in France, ground later revealed to be perfect for crafting sparkling wine. Peter Hall saw great potential in a local climate much like that of Champagne and the Loire. Peter and Christine Hall were described as true pioneers of the English wine movement. Peter Hall, once referred to as the 'Johnny Cash of English wine', died on 2 October 2025; Breaky Bottom continues to function as usual under the management of the family.

Breaky Bottom sits in a beautiful, secluded fold in the Sussex Downs and is wonderfully remote. The family planted the vineyard in 1974, having farmed pigs on the land since 1968; the idea of a vineyard was then considered maverick. By extraordinary good fortune, the site turned out to sit atop the same belt of chalk that stretches from Sussex to Champagne in France, ground later revealed to be perfect for crafting sparkling wine. Peter Hall saw great potential in a local climate much like that of Champagne and the Loire, at a time when modern plant science was beginning to develop early-ripening grape varieties and demand emerged for clean, elegant, cool-climate wines. Peter originally planted the vineyard with Seyval Blanc and Muller-Thurgau and established Breaky Bottom's reputation making still white wines; the 1990 vintage Seyval Blanc won a Gold Medal in the 1993 International Wine Challenge. He produced his first sparkling brut made with 100% Seyval Blanc in 1995, released in 2000. Peter and Christine were described as true pioneers of the English wine movement. Peter Hall died peacefully at home on the morning of 2 October 2025 following a short illness, survived by his wife Chris and his four children Kate, Emily, Tom and Toby. Breaky Bottom will continue to function as usual under the management of the family.

Pioneering English wine rooted in family and place, producing cool-climate wines from grapes grown only in its own valley.

• Still white wines

• Sparkling brut made with 100% Seyval Blanc

1. 1Breaky Bottombreakybottom.co.uk
2. 2History — Breaky Bottombreakybottom.co.uk
3. 3Breaky Bottom vineyardwikidata.org