A South African Story in the Heart of Sussex
There is something rather special about discovering a place through the eyes of a first-time visitor.
Recently, travel writer Brian Berkman visited Sussex from South Africa and spent time exploring Leonardslee Lakes & Gardens, Leonardslee Wine Estate and Mannings Heath. What he found was more than beautiful gardens, award-winning wines and historic English countryside. He discovered a connection between South Africa and Sussex that runs deeper than many visitors realise.
From a chance encounter with a friendly local in Horsham to conversations about English wine and the remarkable journey of Leonardslee owner Penny Streeter OBE, the article explores how South African warmth, resilience and hospitality have become woven into the fabric of the estate.
The feature highlights Penny's extraordinary story, from her beginnings in Zimbabwe to building award-winning wine estates in both England and South Africa and reflects on how that vision has helped shape Leonardslee into one of England's most distinctive wine tourism destinations.
Along the way, readers are taken through the rolling Sussex countryside, the historic beauty of Leonardslee's Grade I Listed gardens and the growing reputation of English sparkling wine on the world stage.
For South African readers, it is a fascinating glimpse into a familiar spirit found thousands of miles from home. For visitors to Leonardslee, it offers a fresh perspective on the people, stories and heritage that make the estate so unique.
