DEBBIE, LOUIS AND FLEUR DEWING
Debbie Dewing joined Rathfinny in July 2023 as part of the accounts team in the Estate Office. She lives with her family in the local town of Seaford.
She said: “It is so beautiful up at the Estate Office with the views down the Cuckmere Valley; my friends are all jealous that I get to work here! I was keen to get Louis out of the house in the holidays, so suggested he join me at the Estate. He has lots of friends from Seaford who have spent time with Rathfinny and had heard good things, so it was an easy sell.”
Louis, 22, had just completed his master’s degree in investigative journalism when he joined the team for the summer. He helped with disgorging and worked in the Vineyard. When his sister, Fleur, 18, saw how much he enjoyed working at Rathfinny, she decided to sign up for harvest. Fleur, who is currently completing an art foundation course, even used the Vineyard as inspiration for a recent project.
Interested in becoming part of the Rathfinny team? See the latest job opportunities on our careers page.
Ian and Oscar Wood
Ian Wood and his son Oscar have become a regular part of Rathfinny life. Ian left the world of finance in 2022 and decided to do his WSET Level 3 due to a keen interest in wine. When he visited Rathfinny on one of our Sussex Escape Packages, he fell in love with the project and decided to drop off a CV.
Starting out in the Cellar Door, Ian became a tour host before stepping into a brand ambassador role, supporting the pubs and restaurants in the local area. When his son, Oscar, 16, needed a summer job, Ian suggested he interview for a role with the team at The Hut, and he found himself serving coffee and cake. Oscar is doing his A-Levels and aspires to one day be a football club administrator.
Interested in becoming part of the Rathfinny team? See the latest job opportunities on our careers page.
Sarah, Millie and Mark Driver
A look at the families on the Estate would not be possible without mentioning the Drivers, who are the founders of Rathfinny.
Their journey to starting Rathfinny began many years before the first vines were planted in the ground. Mark Driver, who always had a passion for wine, was looking at potential university courses for one of his children when he discovered that Plumpton College offered a course in winemaking. Intrigued, he looked into it further and discovered the potential for making world-class sparkling wines in Sussex.
Mark signed up for the course, and as they say, the rest is history. Millie, Mark and Sarah’s daughter, joined the team in 2016, and now leads the Marketing Department as Director of Marketing. Find out more about our founding story and the Drivers.
Interested in becoming part of the Rathfinny team? See the latest job opportunities on our careers page.
Alice Chapman and Finbar Lipinski
Alice is one of our longest-serving team members, having joined as a kitchen porter in the Flint Barns Dining Room nine years ago. She is now our Guest Relations and Events Manager and oversees the day-to-day operations of the Flint Barns, including the Bed and Breakfast accommodation and the self-catered cottage.
A few years ago, she met Fin. After Covid, Fin decided he wanted a change of scenery and joined the Estate’s maintenance team. They both now live together and work at the Estate.
Interested in becoming part of the Rathfinny team? See the latest job opportunities on our careers page.
