The Nyetimber estate, based in the heart of West Sussex, is widely regarded as an ideal site for sparkling wine production. First recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book, the estate has a lengthy history and was first established as a vineyard in 1988, planting just over 14 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier vines. The ever-increasing demand for Nyetimber’s sparkling wines led to considerable vineyard expansion from 2006 onwards. Today, Nyetimber comprises 11 carefully selected vineyards across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent, with 425 hectares under vine.

The estate is owned by Dutchman Eric Heerema, who, alongside Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs, has installed an impressive cellar. Cherie Spriggs won the much-coveted IWC ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ in 2018, becoming the first winemaker outside of Champagne and the first woman to achieve this coveted accolade. Nyetimber’s grapes are 100% estate-grown, handpicked and gently pressed, parcel by parcel, using their six state-of-the-art Coquard presses from Champagne. Their vineyard holdings are planted on either chalk or greensand soils, both favoured for their good drainage and low vigour. Their vines are rigorously managed to ensure excellent flavour concentration, and de-leafing is carried out to maximise the grapes' exposure to sunlight.

Nyetimber was the first producer to make English Sparkling Wine exclusively from ‘Champagne varieties’, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. The estate provides a Lot code on the back label of each bottle. Entering this code on their website will provide a precise chronology of each bottle from the moment it was bottled to when it was riddled and disgorged.

Their flagship wine, the ‘Classic Cuvée’, has been a multi-vintage blend since 2016 and is aged for more than three years on lees. It shows spicy and toasty aromas and an excellent development on the nose. The palate is elegant and complex, with notes of honey, almond and pastry. It is perfect to enjoy on its own or with smoked salmon, sushi or oysters.

The ‘Blanc de Blancs’ includes a small portion of barrel-fermented Chardonnay. Following secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine ages for around five years on its lees, followed by an additional 18 months under cork before release. This gives the final wine a subtle richness of character, combined with floral and citrus aromas alongside deeper notes of pastry and brioche. The Rosé pairs beautifully with slightly weightier dishes and has a delicate nose of anise, redcurrants, raspberries, and cherries. The ‘Cuvée Chérie’ Demi-Sec, named as a nod to Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs, adds a sweeter element to their portfolio, making a wonderful accompaniment to fruity desserts, afternoon tea or gently spiced savoury dishes. ‘Tillington’ is sourced from a single vineyard in the middle of the South Downs National Park. The plot’s south-facing aspect, combined with excellent shelter and drainage, helps produce grapes of exceptional quality. Made predominantly with Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay, it spends three years ageing on its lees, creating flavours of toast and praline to complement the intense red fruit characters.

In 2018, to celebrate their 30th Anniversary, Nyetimber launched two Prestige Cuvées, a white and a rosé. These are named ‘1086’ after the Estate’s first mention in the Domesday book and have been ten years in the making. Immediately excelling in blind tastings and receiving lavish critical praise, they have cemented Nyetimber’s place as a leader in the world of sparkling wine.

England’s wine regions are concentrated in the southern half of the country, where the climate and soils are most suited to viticulture. The industry has expanded rapidly in recent years, thanks to a warming climate, improved vineyard practices, and growing recognition for quality, particularly in sparkling wine.

Key climatic influences include a cool maritime climate with increasing average temperatures and longer growing seasons, which have significantly improved grape ripening. However, spring frosts, rain during flowering, and high humidity pose ongoing challenges. The best vineyards are typically south-facing, sheltered, and on well-drained soils such as chalk, greensand, and clay.

The most prominent regions include Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire, and Essex. Sussex is the first region in England to gain PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) status and is home to many of the country’s leading producers. Kent and Hampshire also host significant plantings, while East Anglia, particularly Essex, is emerging as a hotspot for still wines due to its drier climate.

The main grapes planted are those used in traditional method sparkling wine: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. Bacchus is the leading still white variety, valued for its aromatic, fresh style. Others include Ortega, Pinot Gris, and increasingly, early-ripening red varieties like Pinot Noir and Meunier.

Chardonnay is one of the world’s most popular and versatile white grape varieties, originating from the Burgundy region of France. It is a relatively adaptable vine, thriving in a range of climates and soil types, making it widely planted across the globe. Chardonnay ripens early to mid-season and is known for its ability to express terroir, as well as respond well to a variety of winemaking techniques, including oak ageing and malolactic fermentation.

Today, Chardonnay is grown in nearly every major wine-producing country. In France, it shines in Burgundy’s Chablis (crisp, mineral-driven) and Côte de Beaune (rich, complex), and is also a key component of Champagne. In the New World, regions like California, Australia (Yarra Valley, Margaret River), New Zealand, and Chile produce diverse expressions, ranging from lean and citrusy to full-bodied and buttery.

Cool-climate Chardonnays tend to show green apple, lemon, and flinty notes, while warmer regions yield riper flavours like tropical fruit, peach, and melon. Oak-aged Chardonnays may exhibit vanilla, toast, and nutty characteristics, while unoaked versions highlight freshness and purity of fruit.

This remarkable flexibility makes Chardonnay a favourite among winemakers and wine lovers alike, offering a wide spectrum of styles and flavours.

Pinot Meunier is a black grape variety primarily known as one of the three key grapes used in Champagne, alongside Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Its name, meaning "miller" in French, refers to the flour-dusted appearance of its leaves. A mutation of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier originated in France and has long been valued for its early ripening and adaptability, especially in cooler climates where other varieties may struggle.

Viticulturally, Pinot Meunier is hardy and frost-resistant, making it ideal for regions such as Champagne. It buds late and ripens early, helping to maintain acidity and fruit freshness. Though historically considered a secondary variety, it is increasingly appreciated for its contribution to fruitiness, approachability, and roundness in sparkling wine blends.

Beyond Champagne, Pinot Meunier is grown in Germany (where it's known as Schwarzriesling), the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, particularly California and Oregon. While most commonly used in sparkling wine, it also produces expressive still wines, particularly in cooler regions.

In terms of flavour, Pinot Meunier tends to show vibrant red fruit notes—such as raspberry, cherry, and strawberry—along with floral and earthy nuances. Its wines are generally softer and more accessible than Pinot Noir, making them appealing in youth and versatile in style.

Pinot Noir is one of the world’s most celebrated and challenging grape varieties, renowned for producing elegant, complex wines. Believed to have originated in Burgundy, France, over 1,000 years ago, it thrives in cooler climates where its thin skin and early ripening nature are best suited. Viticulturally, Pinot Noir is notoriously difficult to grow: it is susceptible to rot, mildew, and pests, and requires precise canopy management to balance ripening with acidity retention.

Pinot Noir is planted across the globe, with notable expressions found in Burgundy, Champagne, Oregon’s Willamette Valley, California’s Sonoma Coast, New Zealand’s Central Otago, and Germany’s Baden and Pfalz regions. In Champagne, it is a key component of sparkling wines, typically blended with Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. The wine's diverse geographical range means that you might also find it labelled as Red Burgundy, Pinot Nero, Blauburgunder, or Spätburgunder.

The grape produces wines of delicate colour but remarkable aromatic depth. Typical flavour profiles include red fruits such as cherry, raspberry, and strawberry, often layered with floral notes, earthy undertones, and hints of spice or forest floor as the wines mature. Styles range from light and silky to more structured and age-worthy, depending on climate and winemaking choices. Pinot Noir’s ability to express terroir with precision makes it a favourite among wine lovers, despite — or perhaps because of — its demanding nature in the vineyard.