On a beautiful, warm summer’s day in early July, a small group of clients and a few members of the L&W Trading team boarded the 9.54am train from Victoria station, trading the bustle of London for the rolling hills of the South Downs.
Our destination: Rathfinny Estate.
We arrived at Polegate, where we were greeted at the station by Rathfinny’s Brand Ambassador, Rich, and whisked away by minibus to the winery. As we wound through charming Sussex villages, we were treated to sweeping views of green valleys, rolling hills, and the sea shimmering in the distance.
Gathered outside the visitor centre atop a hill overlooking the vineyards, a pick-me-up coffee set our group up for a tour through the vines – although we would have been quite content to sit and enjoy the view from their perfectly placed picnic benches all day!
Rich led us on a tour of the vineyard, guiding us down a meandering path lined with native wildflowers. As we walked, he explained the estate’s thoughtful environmental efforts: reviving areas of natural chalk grassland, creating wildlife corridors, and implementing a long-term programme to boost biodiversity and habitat restoration.
Among the 385,000 vines stretching across 93 hectares, we came face-to-face with the early signs of the 2025 vintage: tiny, unripe Chardonnay grapes just beginning to peek through. Rich shared the story behind Rathfinny, its vision, its people, and its ongoing projects. Mark and Sarah Driver, the owners, are building something rooted in place but ambitious in scope. Their dream?
“That in twenty years’ time, you’ll walk into a bar or restaurant in New York or Beijing and be asked, ‘Would you like a glass of Champagne or a delicious glass of Sussex? I can recommend Rathfinny.’”
Just three miles from the sea, with the same prized chalk soils as Champagne, Rathfinny enjoys ideal conditions for sparkling wine. Their commitment to sustainability runs deep too – from the use of locally sourced materials in the estate’s buildings, to solar power and wastewater recycling.
We strolled back up to the visitor centre and made our way downstairs to the heart of the winery: the winemaking room. Giant steel vats and state-of-the-art technology filled the space – this is where the magic happens.
Then came one of the most engaging parts of the day: a guided tasting of three sparkling roses at different dosage levels: 0g/l, the classic 5g/l, and 9g/l. We explored the impact of sweetness and dryness on balance and mouthfeel before donning lab coats and goggles for an exclusive hands-on disgorgement and dosage session. With Rich’s enthusiastic guidance, we carefully removed the bottle caps (trying not to soak the group like overexcited Formula 1 winners – which was easier said than done), selected our preferred dosage, and resealed the bottles, each of us taking home a personalised souvenir to remember the day.
A little sticky from our sparkling escapades and more than ready for lunch, we were led to the restaurant, perched overlooking the vineyards and the South Downs stretching into the distance. We feasted on fresh bread, hummus, crisps, green olives, almonds, a glorious selection of locally made cheeses: Golden Cross goat’s cheese; Pevensey blue; Sussex brie; and charcuterie from just down the road in Brighton.
The spread was paired with Rathfinny’s brilliant sparkling range:
2019 Blanc de Blancs, a creamy 100% Chardonnay gracing the palate with tropical and stone fruits with a saline finish influenced by the Seven Sisters coast.
2019 NV Classic Cuvée, a crisp blend of chardonnay, pinot noir, and petit meunier presenting floral notes and a citrussy zing.
2020 Blanc de Noirs, a beautiful expression of pinot noir and petit meunier, having spent 36 months on lees, it showed crisp red summer fruits that evolved into an almond-rich biscuity finish.
2019 Rosé, a pale salmon-pink with distinct aromas of crisp red apple and red summer berries.
And finally, a special surprise to the original line-up, the 2018 Rosé en Magnum, which was like peaches and cream in a glass, layered with ripe red fruits and a subtle warm spice complexity.
Each wine brought a refreshing lift to the richness of the meal, the acidity cutting beautifully through the creamy cheeses and cured meats – exactly what you want on a sweltering summer afternoon.
Reluctantly, we boarded the train back to London, full from delicious food, sparkling sussex, stunning views, and even better company. For anyone looking to spend a sun (and sparkling wine) drenched afternoon in the South Downs, we honestly can’t think of a better way to do it than at Rathfinny Estate. Can’t make it to the South Downs? No problem – keep an eye on your inboxes next week as we’ll be sharing a few of our favourites from the visit, and trust us, you’ll want a case or two.
