2020 was set to be another milestone year for Rathfinny Wine Estate as we are releasing all four sparkling wines for the first time in our history, completing our wine portfolio. Well, events have indeed overtaken us, but here at Rathfinny, essential grape growing and wine production have not stopped.

The final sparkling wine to join the Rathfinny portfolio is the Classic Cuvée, a delicious blend of 57% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay and 21% Pinot Meunier. This vintage looks to capture the best features of each grape, in a friendly and enjoyable style. Besides making the wine, we must also work on using safe, secure and smart packaging, so the team have been developing labels, wire hoods, foils, gift boxes and cases to ensure the final product looks as good as it tastes.

Foiling Machine
Hannah packing wine bottles
Packing up Bottles
Wine Boxes

As part of our uncompromising view that everything we do is to our very best standards, we also took an opportunity to reformulate the technical element of the label. While our Seven-Sisters-inspired labels perfectly capture the spirit of our Sussex wine, we wanted to make it a stand-out feature on the bottle. For the last six months, we reviewed all the available materials in the UK and internationally to see which would work best for us. In the end, we have changed our label paper so that it stays intact in all environments, yet still captures the essence of the Estate’s chalk soils.

Of course, improving labels and finalising packaging is surprisingly difficult at the best of times, and even harder when supply chains have been disrupted, staff either furloughed or working from home. In the end, our industry partners have delivered a great new label, and the Winery team is now busy finishing off the labelling processes which takes a little while longer whilst carrying out social distancing rules. Still, the team have made a valiant effort.

Our working conditions may have been adapted and slowed, but we are working steadily to ensure the new wines are released at the beginning of June. Exciting times ahead!

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