‘Our ambition is that in twenty years’ time you will walk into a bar or restaurant in New York or Beijing and you’ll be asked, “would you like a glass of Champagne or a delicious glass of Sussex? I can recommend Rathfinny.”’

Mark & Sarah Driver, Rathfinny Owners

Rathfinny Owners
How it all began

THE RATHFINNY VISION

Husband and wife, Mark and Sarah Driver, established the Rathfinny Wine Estate in 2010 on a working arable farm with the express intention of producing some of the world’s finest quality English sparkling wines.

Our vision is about a great deal more than the production of outstanding Sussex Sparkling wine. Rathfinny aims to contribute something special to the unique spirit of place in this beautiful part of the South Downs, which has been farmed since medieval times.

Rathfinny Estate Landscape July
Where it all began

THE PERFECT LOCATION

Did you know the Romans claimed that the best location to plant a vineyard was three miles from the sea? So here we are: located on the same band of chalk that forms the Paris Basin, running from Northern France into Southern England. This breath-taking south-facing slope in the South Downs of Sussex is one of England’s exceptional natural landscapes. The climate, chalk, soil and aspect make it the perfect site for producing world-class sparkling wine.

BCORP portrait
Where we are now

WE ARE PROUD TO BE A B CORP

Rathfinny is the first grower-producer of sparkling wine in the world to achieve the B Corp accolade. We have joined a growing list of over 1,600 UK businesses that have achieved B Corp status, the gold standard for ethical and sustainable business practices, verified to high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

The Estate’s vines and trellises are being stitched into the past and growing out of the chalky soil into the future. The land, the existing buildings on the Estate, our local workforce and the communities around Rathfinny are as important as the wine produced.
Social Distanced Vineyard Maintenance

Location

Rathfinny's first 50 acres of vines were planted in 2012. We eventually expect to have 350 acres under vines. We've planted three principal grape varieties - Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier as well as a small amount of Pinot Gris.

Man in English Vineyard

Craft

The time-honoured methods for making sparkling wine, developed over centuries in the Champagne region of France and elsewhere, are being adopted and refined at Rathfinny under the watchful eye of our experienced team.

As we reach the crown of the hill, a green and pleasant Sussex landscape is revealed: a sun-soaked, slanting bowl of 600 acres, protected from the prevailing winds by an escarpment of National Trust land. In the distance, blue and magnificent is the English Channel. This is Rathfinny Estate…

Sunday Telegraph

harvest

INVESTMENT IN THE WINE INDUSTRY

Rathfinny has always been committed to developing a local skilled workforce and we are extremely proud that the investment in time and training has given us a team of all ages and backgrounds, to support us in the expansion of the Vineyard and the Winery. We have also sponsored the construction of the Rathfinny Research Winery, part of the Plumpton College Wine Research Centre, which will further strengthen the industry's knowledge and skills base.

Wildflower Corridors

CARING FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT

Rathfinny's new buildings are constructed with locally-sourced materials, using sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic cells and wastewater recycling. We have worked with Natural England, the National Trust and the South Downs National Park to implement a programme of improvements to enhance wildlife habitats, while reviving and reclaiming areas of natural chalk grassland and creating wildlife corridors to improve biodiversity.

July Wildflowers
B Corp

Environmental Stewardship

Rathfinny is a certified B Corp. Rathfinny’s new buildings are constructed with locally-sourced materials, using sustainable technologies such as photovoltaic cells and wastewater recycling. We have worked with Natural England, the National Trust and the South Downs National Park to implement a programme of improvements to enhance wildlife habitats, while reviving and reclaiming areas of natural chalk grassland and creating wildlife corridors to improve biodiversity.

Planting Vines

2010

Estate established by Mark and Sarah Driver

Rathfinny First planting

2012

First vines planted

Harvest 2014

2014

Rathfinny first harvest & fermentation

Caged Bottles

2015

Bottling & second fermentation

Wedding Wine Cheers

2018

First release of Sussex Sparkling wine!

Sussex Sparkling Portfolio

2020

Full range of vintage Sussex Sparkling released

Rathfinny B Corp

2023

Rathfinny achieves B Corp status

The Rathfinny project is not just about making wine: we are committed to supporting the wider ambitions of the English wine industry, and that means nurturing the skills required to fulfil its potential.

Mark Driver

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