Blanc de Blancs
Guide price: £49
Recorded vintages: 2019
A vintage Sussex sparkling wine made entirely from Chardonnay grown on the Rathfinny estate.
2010
Alfriston
Blanc de BlancsBlanc de NoirsSparkling RoséSparkling WhiteStill WineTraditional MethodVintage
Mark and Sarah Driver founded Rathfinny in 2010, turning an arable farm near Alfriston into a wine estate. They planted the first vines in 2012 and released their first sparkling wines in 2018. Today, the estate specialises in vintage Sussex sparkling wines, with a range spanning Classic Cuvée, Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.
Rathfinny Wine Estate is a single-site vineyard in East Sussex crafting vintage-only Sussex Sparkling wines. Founded in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, the family-run estate sits in the Cradle Valley in the rolling South Downs National Park, just three miles from the sea near the iconic Seven Sisters cliffs. The south-facing chalk slope is planted with the classic sparkling grape varieties: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier; expertly blended to produce fresh, characterful English Sparkling wines that are served in some of the world's finest hotels, restaurants and bars. Visit for vineyard tours, dinner or an overnight stay in their vineyard accommodation.
Rathfinny Wine Estate stretches across 600 acres of the Cradle Valley in the South Downs. Just over a third of the land has been planted with vines over the last ten years and now extends to over 230 acres, predominantly on a single, south-facing chalk slope. The vineyard is planted with three principal grape varieties – Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier – used for Rathfinny’s Sussex Sparkling wines and a small area of Pinot Gris, for the Cradle Valley still wines.
Regarding terroir, the Estate has clay loam soils over chalk that are free-draining and perfect for growing sparkling wine grapes. Chalk gives their wines real vibrancy and provides a ready source of water for the vines during the drier summer months. The warm semi-continental climate and long summer days ensure perfect ripening, and the proximity to the sea gives coastal breezes and warming influences that shape the sparkling wine’s vibrant acidity, fruit-forward flavours and signature mouthfeel.
WINEMAKER
Tony Milanowski leads Rathfinny’s winemaking and production teams. Originally from Australia, he trained at the University of Adelaide and worked in the Riverland and at Katnook Estate in Coonawarra before moving to Europe. After winemaking in Abruzzo and 12 years teaching oenology at Plumpton College, he joined Rathfinny in 2019.
The estate’s approach centres on hand-picked fruit, whole-bunch pressing and low dosage. Its vintage sparkling wines undergo their second fermentation in bottle and mature on the lees, developing texture and savoury complexity alongside their fruit character.
The Collection
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Guide price: £49
Recorded vintages: 2019
A vintage Sussex sparkling wine made entirely from Chardonnay grown on the Rathfinny estate.
Guide price: £55
Recorded vintages: 2019, 2020
A vintage Sussex sparkling wine with red-fruit aromas, pear and plum on the palate, and a ripe-cherry finish.
Guide price: £38
Recorded vintages: 2020
A dry vintage sparkling wine with red-apple and summer-fruit flavours, a rounded texture and hints of orange peel and spice. Try it with crab linguine.
Guide price: £20
Recorded vintages: 2024
An estate-grown Sussex still white with pear, apple and citrus aromas, followed by peach and apricot flavours.
Guide price: £43
Recorded vintages: 2019
A vintage Sussex sparkling rosé, made in the traditional method from grapes grown on the Rathfinny estate.
Prices shown are the latest recorded by UKFizz and may change. Please check the seller’s current price before purchasing.
Book a vineyard tour and guided tasting, or collect a walking map from the Cellar Door and explore at your own pace. The estate offers seasonal dining, refreshments at The Hut and overnight stays in the Flint Barns or self-catering properties. The vineyard is open all year round and there is always a seasonal programme of events and experiences.
Shopping and complimentary drop-in tastings. Hours checked against the estate’s current opening information; confirm before travelling.
Outdoor wine bar and refreshments; walk-ins only. Check seasonal hours before visiting.
Book a dated tour or tasting through the estate website. Times and availability vary; the Cellar Door shop’s opening hours are not the tour timetable.
Book in advance. Autumn hours; Friday and Saturday lunches are also advertised from 2 October, 12pm–3pm. Check the estate website for your visit date.
Book guided tours, dining and overnight stays in advance. Flint Barns autumn stays are offered Wednesday–Sunday, with check-in from 3pm and check-out by 11am. Rathfinny Cottage offers three-, four- or seven-night stays, with Monday or Friday arrivals from 3pm and check-out by 10am. The self-guided walking trail does not require a booking. Dogs are welcome in designated areas, including The Hut and the walking trail; restrictions apply to the Cellar Door and guided tours and tastings. Check the estate’s booking pages for seasonal availability.
BUY & DRINK
Explore places linked to this producer or its individual wines. Menus and availability can change; check with the venue before visiting.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
Caribbean-inspired dining above the City of London, with a wine list featuring Rathfinny’s Sussex still and sparkling wines.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
An Art Deco steak and seafood restaurant near Piccadilly Circus, with English wines on its linked branch wine list.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A City steak and seafood restaurant listing Rathfinny Rosé Brut 2019 and Langham Culver NV by the glass.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A steak and seafood restaurant at St Pancras London, with Langham Culver NV on its by-the-glass wine page.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A steak and seafood restaurant on the water at Canary Wharf, with English wines on its linked branch wine list.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A Kensington restaurant and bar focused on English sparkling wine, with Rathfinny by the glass and English still whites.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A contemporary British restaurant inside the National Gallery, pairing seasonal cooking with views across Trafalgar Square.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A Borough Market restaurant inspired by the Greek islands and Levant, serving Rathfinny rosé by the glass and English still whites.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A riverside restaurant and bar at Shakespeare’s Globe, with Rathfinny sparkling and London Cru Pinot Gris by the glass.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
A City restaurant on St Swithin’s Lane, with modern European dining and a wine list featuring Stopham Pinot Blanc and English still and sparkling wines.
LISTED PRODUCER • Fordwich
A riverside pub and restaurant near Canterbury, with seasonal dining and an extensive English wine selection, including Simpsons, Gusbourne and Rathfinny.
LISTED PRODUCER • London
Fine dining at The Ritz on Piccadilly, with Rathfinny Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs on the restaurant’s wine list.