Leading Sussex Sparkling producer Rathfinny Wine Estate, rapidly becoming known as the UK’s finest producer of Pinot Noir based Sussex Sparkling wines, is launching a new partnership with leading wine and spirits importer and distributor Fine Vintage in Hong Kong.

Releasing their first sparkling wines only in 2018, Rathfinny’s staggering success in the UK market has been especially noteworthy. With listings at The Dorchester, Dinner by Heston, The Fat Duck, Claridge’s, The Savoy, Le Gavroche, The Ritz, Harrods, Harvey Nichols and Selfridge’s, to name a few, Rathfinny is proving its viability to be present in the finest dining and retail establishments in the world. The new partnership with Fine Vintage, who specialize in servicing Hong Kong’s premium on-trade channel, will position Rathfinny perfectly for a replication of such success in this vibrant city, home to some of the world’s greatest restaurants.

Sarah Driver, co-founder of Rathfinny Estate who was educated and brought up in Hong Kong is thrilled to be marking a new chapter with Fine Vintage: “We are delighted to be embarking on this exciting journey with the well established and well respected Fine Vintage. We very much admire the other producers in their portfolio, most of whom have been with them for many years. Our partnership feels like such a natural fit.”

Kevin Stephen, Fine Vintage General Manager says of the new partnership: “We at Fine Vintage are immensely honoured and excited to be selected as the sole distributor for Rathfinny in Hong Kong. Over the past few years, we have been looking to find a good English Sparkling wine that would fit with our premium wine selection from predominantly family-owned wineries. Our patient search has been rewarded with what we believe to be the leading producer in England. Rathfinny is also leading the way in getting Sussex recognized as the leading region in England for Sparkling Wine. Mark and Sarah Driver (co-owners of Rathfinny) have a close historic connection with Hong Kong and we are extremely proud that they have entrusted Fine Vintage to look after their creation. We are looking forward to including Rathfinny in our portfolio and very much looking forward to sharing these outstanding wines with the wine community and consumers of Hong Kong.”

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 sparkling wines.

Located on a breath-taking south-facing slope in the South Downs of Sussex, the estate is found on the same band of chalk that forms the Paris Basin, running from Northern France into Southern England. Here, the semi-continental climate, with high levels of sunshine, long, warm sunny days and less rainfall than the rest of the UK, along with the free-draining chalk soils and southern aspect, form the perfect ‘terroir’ for the production of world-class sparkling wines.

The first 50 acres of vines were planted in 2012 and there are now 230 acres under vine predominantly planted with Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. Rathfinny low-intervention, Traditional Method, vintage Sussex Sparkling wines are a true expression of their Sussex 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 the fruit.

Pinot Noir’s rich flavours and multi-layered texture combined with a low dosage and long lees ageing characterizes the Rathfinny wines which are fast building a reputation for being the finest Pinot-Noir based sparkling wines in the UK. Indeed, Neal Martin writing for Vinous has quoted: “Impressive energy and sophistication are clear to see in what might be one of England's best Blanc de Noirs.”

Mark Driver, Rathfinny Co-Owner says “We are delighted to announce that we have appointed Fine Vintage as our exclusive distribution agent for our Sussex Sparkling wines in the Hong Kong On and Off Trade. It has always been our aim to be one of the On-Trades favourite English sparkling wines and Fine Vintage, who specialise in selling to the On-Trade and independent Off-Trade, are a perfect distribution partner for Rathfinny”

Fine Vintage’s starting portfolio of Rathfinny wines will comprise of:

- Rathfinny Estate Classic Cuvée 2018

- Rathfinny Estate Rosé 2018

- Rathfinny Estate Blanc de Blancs 2017

For more information about Rathfinny’s wines in Hong Kong, please contact debbie@finevintage.com.hk

Rathfinny Wine Estate Partners with Fine Vintage in Hong Kong