In April 2023 Rathfinny became the third wine producer in the UK to achieve B Corp certification, underscoring their philosophy to put people and the planet at the core of their business. Rathfinny Wine Estate was founded in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, who planted the first vineyards in April 2012. This family-owned estate now comprises over 93 hectares of vines in the South Downs, just three miles from the Channel. Their vineyards are predominantly planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Pinot Meunier on a south-facing slope. Combined with a semi-continental maritime climate and free-draining chalk soils, this unique site offers ideal conditions to ripen grapes for sparkling wine. Rathfinny uses only estate-grown fruit for their four traditional-method sparkling wines, Classic Cuvée, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs and Rosé, each produced and labelled as a vintage wine. 

Rathfinny’s hand-harvested and whole-bunch-pressed grapes are vinified with minimal intervention and low dosage, preserving the purest expression of place and vintage. This preservation of character starts in the vineyard.

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.