Rathfinny Wine Estate stands among England’s most distinguished sparkling wine producers, crafting elegant Sussex wines on the sun‑drenched chalk slopes of the South Downs. Founded in 2010, this family‑owned estate unites artisanal expertise, sustainable practices and an exceptional terroir to create sparkling wines of true world‑class calibre, rivaling the finest Champagnes. Rathfinny is also the world’s first grower‑producer of sparkling wine to achieve B Corp certification — a testament to its uncompromising quality, environmental stewardship and refined winemaking philosophy.

2020 VINTAGE Spring was met with the arrival of warm weather prompting an early budburst. This set the tone for a growing season with rapid vine development and limited rainfall. We witnessed the driest May ever recorded in England and flowering towards the end of June. The vines benefited from a warm August and September, resulting in the perfect balance of sugar and acidity come veraison. Very low disease pressure at harvest resulted in a beautifully clean crop, characterised by small bunches and great concentration of flavour, with ripeness levels comparable to standout years like 2018.

Winemaking

Inoculated with commercial yeast, fermented in stainless steel tanks at 16 °C. TIME IN BOTTLE 54 months upon release

Tasting notes

Rich textures of red apples and summer fruits followed by hints of spice and orange peel on the finish. Very pale gold. Invitingly creamy and lightly yeasty aroma, with apple and clementine notes, even a very subtle hint of ginger. Extremely fine and persistent mousse, excellent balance between the crisp acidity and the rounded, creamy – and yet almost chewy – finish. Harmonious, classy and long.

Food pairing

As an aperitif-style wine, the Classic Cuvée prepares the palate for food with it’s mouth-watering structure. However, it is also a versatile food-matcher. We recommend pairing this vintage with a crab linguine. The orchard fruits complement the delicate, natural sweetness of the crab whilst the salinity of our wine enhances the briny flavours. The zesty acidity cuts through the buttery sauce, making every bite taste light and fresh.