winemaking

OUR WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY

Our low-intervention, Traditional Method, Vintage Sussex Sparkling wines are a true expression of our terroir. Produced from hand-harvested grapes that are whole-bunch pressed and patiently matured, on lees and in bottle to develop rich, autolytic notes, with a low dosage that emphasises the purity of our fruit. We aim to preserve the wonderful natural flavours of the grapes with as little intervention as possible.

Discover our portfolio of

SUSSEX SPARKLING WINES

At Rathfinny we produce four vintage, traditional method English sparkling wines – Blanc de Noirs, Blanc de Blancs, Rosé and Classic Cuvée.

Rathfinny Blanc de Noirs
Our signature Sussex Sparkling

Blanc de Noirs

Our most prestigious Sussex Sparkling wine made from predominantly Pinot Noir grapes grown and hand-harvested on the Rathfinny Wine Estate.

2016 Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs
Our elegant Sussex Sparkling

Blanc de Blancs

Made from a blend of predominantly Burgundy clones of Chardonnay grapes grown and hand-harvested on the Rathfinny Wine Estate.

Tempura Prawns
Our expressive Sussex Sparkling

ROSÉ BRUT

A Pinot Noir dominated Sussex Sparkling wine, with a red-fruit style that beautifully showcases the increased presence of Pinot Noir within the blend.

The Bloomsbury Hotel Bedroom
Our classic Sussex Sparkling

CLASSIC CUVÉE

Our 'house-style' Sussex Sparkling. Made from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes grown and hand-harvested on the Rathfinny Estate.

Vineyard Team

The 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.

Our single-site Vineyard is tended to by our joint Vineyard Managers, Ian and David, and their team. The main grape varieties planted at Rathfinny are Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier.

Rathfinny Winemaking

THE PROCESS

Traditional winemaking processes are under the careful control of our Winery Manager, Tony Milanowski. Sussex Sparkling wine is crafted in the Traditional Method, where the secondary fermentation takes place in the bottle, after which it is left to age on the yeast lees for a minimum of 30 months to develop wonderful autolytic notes. On occasion, some fermentation and/or ageing takes place in oak barrels to develop even more complexity.

Rathfinny Winery Building

A Year in the Winery

Discover a year in our Winery and what it takes to make outstanding, world-class sparkling wine. Winery operations are fairly seasonal and routine but that doesn’t mean there isn’t space for innovation and experimentation in our Winery team!

THE Sussex PDO

The establishment of a Sussex wine PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) ensures that Sussex wines will continue to be considered among the very best in the world. The tighter rules reflect the quality of wine made in Sussex, ensuring provenance and quality.

FIND OUT MORE
Rathfinny harvest

Autumn

In October the Estate is busy with all the harvest action.

Miguel in the Winery

Winter

After the first fermentation, the wines undergo malolactic fermentation.

Working in a winery

Spring

In spring we start blending our wines.

Rathfinny bottles

Summer

The wines are bottled and undergo their secondary fermentation.

Seven Sisters Gin
Sussex still wine & spirits

Other Brands

Find out more about our Seven Sisters Spirits and Cradle Valley still wines.