Are you searching for the perfect way to celebrate a milestone birthday? Whether it’s your 40th, 30th, 50th or 60th birthday, there’s no better way to mark the occasion than with a wine tasting tour. Gather your friends and family for a memorable day filled with beautiful scenery, delightful wines, and unforgettable moments.
Why a Wine Tasting Tour is Perfect for Milestone Birthdays
When you’re celebrating a significant birthday, it’s all about creating a fun and meaningful experience. Here’s what makes a wine tasting tour the ideal choice:
A Scenic Day Out: Imagine spending the day surrounded by rolling hills and lush vineyards. Wine tasting tours in Sussex and Surrey provide a beautiful backdrop for your special day, combining good company, delicious wines, and stunning views.
Bringing People Together: Wine tasting is a social activity that sparks great conversations and brings your group together over a shared experience. Whether your friends are wine enthusiasts or casual sippers, everyone will have something to talk about.
Hospitable Venues: The vineyards are well-equipped to host groups, ensuring that you’ll be treated with top-notch hospitality. Many vineyards also offer private tours and tastings, making the day feel even more special.
A Party on the Bus!: Our vintage buses add a fun, nostalgic touch to your celebration. You can even decorate the bus to match your birthday theme! And as the wine flows, the return journey can often get pretty lively!
Sparkling Wine and Celebration Go Hand-in-Hand: Popping the corks on some of Sussex’s best sparkling wines is the perfect way to celebrate a milestone. The bubbles, the cheers, and the joy of the occasion make it a day to remember.
We’ve hosted countless wine tasting tours for birthday celebrations, and below are three different itineraries that might inspire your own special day.
40th Birthday Wine Tasting Tour in Sussex
For a stylish and memorable 40th birthday celebration, this itinerary offers a mix of fantastic wines, a beautiful lunch, and plenty of fun.
Group Size: 25 people
Start Time: 10:15am at Haywards Heath Train Station
Transport: The guests boarded a 1960s London Routemaster bus, adding a unique and vintage flair to the day. The bus provided the perfect backdrop for fun, memorable birthday photos.
Itinerary: The tour began at Ridgeview Wine Estate, just outside the village of Ditchling. Guests were treated to a guided tour of the vineyards and winery, learning about Ridgeview’s pioneering role in English sparkling wine. After the tour, everyone enjoyed a tasting of four sparkling wines, with the beautiful Chardonnay vines as the backdrop.
Lunch followed at Ridgeview’s Rows & Vine restaurant, where the group shared a delicious spread of dishes from their “Life is for Celebrating” menu. Highlights included pan-seared asparagus, burrata with confit tomatoes, and seared duck breast with truffle polenta.
At 2:00pm, the guests hopped back on the vintage bus for a short journey to Court Garden Vineyard. Here, the group enjoyed another tutored tasting of four sparkling wines, led by head winemaker Hugo. There was plenty of time to take photos, explore the vineyard, and relax with a glass of rosé while admiring the picturesque surroundings.
The group returned to Haywards Heath by 4:15pm, wrapping up a fantastic 40th birthday tour.
Price: From £165 per person (based on 25+ guests), which includes vintage bus transportation, a vineyard and winery tour, two wine tastings, and a three-course sharing lunch. Additional drinks at lunch and at Court Garden were paid directly to the vineyards on the day.
30th Birthday Wine Tasting Tour from Brighton
For a 30th birthday with a touch of vintage charm, this tour is a hit with larger groups. Here’s what one of our recent 30th birthday tours looked like:
Group Size: 30 people
Start Time: 10:00am at Brighton Train Station
Transport: A vintage London bus, complete with a uniformed driver and conductor issuing classic bus tickets, set the tone for the day.
Itinerary: After boarding the bus, the group made their way through Brighton and over the South Downs, arriving at Albourne Estate at 10:30. Here, they enjoyed a guided tour of the vineyard and winery, learning about Albourne’s still and sparkling wines while soaking in stunning views of Devil’s Dyke.
The group then enjoyed a tutored tasting on the vineyard’s terrace, sampling four wines, followed by a leisurely lunch of charcuterie and cheese boards, accompanied by fresh bread, chutneys, and pickles. After a relaxed meal, the group left Albourne at 2:00pm, making their way to the next stop.
The afternoon took them to Wiston Estate, where they were greeted with a tour of the winery, including the impressive Coquard press, before heading to the tasting room for a guided sampling of four of their award-winning sparkling wines. The estate’s stunning setting made for great group photos and plenty of celebratory toasts.
The group returned to Brighton at 5:00pm, where the birthday festivities continued in local pubs!
Price: From £140 per person (based on 30+ guests), which includes vintage bus transportation, two wine tastings, a vineyard and winery tour, and a grazing board lunch. Additional drinks at lunch were paid directly to Albourne on the day.
50th Birthday Wine Tasting Tour in Surrey
Turning 50 is a major milestone, and this Surrey wine tasting tour offers the perfect balance of relaxation, celebration, and good company. Here’s what a recent 50th birthday tour looked like:
Group Size: 34 people
Start Time: 10:30am at The Inn at West End, Surrey (the lead guest requested this pick up location as it was a convenient central meeting point for all their guests)
Itinerary: The guests were greeted by our vintage Routemaster bus, which then took them on a scenic 30-minute journey through the Surrey countryside to Greyfriars Vineyard. Once there, the group embarked on a fascinating vineyard tour, learning about Greyfriars’ history and winemaking techniques. Afterward, everyone enjoyed a tutored tasting of four of the vineyard’s sparkling and still wines.
At 1:00pm, the group headed to The Gomshall Mill, a charming country pub where a private dining area had been reserved. The guests enjoyed a traditional pub lunch with their choice of drinks, providing the perfect pause between tastings.
The final stop of the day was Albury Vineyard, where guests enjoyed a final wine tasting session overlooking the scenic vineyard. The group then headed back to their drop-off point, ready to continue the celebrations back home.
Price: From £150 per person (based on 34 guests), which includes vintage bus transportation, two wine tastings, a vineyard and winery tour, and a two-course lunch. Additional drinks at lunch and the vineyards were paid for by the guests on the day.
Celebrate Your Milestone Birthday in Style
No matter if you’re turning 30, 40, 50 or 60, a wine tasting tour is a perfect way to celebrate with friends and family. From the joy of popping sparkling wine corks to the fun of travelling on a vintage bus, it’s a day filled with laughter, learning, and plenty of toasts to the next chapter of your life.
For big birthday celebrations we can arrange a tailor-made itinerary similar to the examples shown above or you can choose to book tickets on our scheduled Vintage Bus Wine Tour that departs Brighton station every Saturday at 10am and visits two vineyards for a vineyard and winery tour, tasting and lunch.
Ready to plan your birthday wine tour? Contact us today to start organising a memorable day in the heart of Sussex or Surrey’s best vineyards!
