Nyetimber: Where English Sparkling Beats Champagne

Nyetimber was the first producer to make English sparkling wine exclusively from Champagne varieties (Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier). Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs has won IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year twice (2018, 2025) - the first winemaker outside Champagne and first woman to achieve this. 425 hectares across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent.

What to do there

3 things to do

1. 1 Book the Estate Experience Wine · Price: high

   425 hectares - England's largest quality sparkling producer.

   Book at nyetimber.com. The estate in West Sussex is the heart of their 11-vineyard operation across three counties. Ask about the chalk soil - it mirrors Champagne exactly. Request the Classic Cuvée and Blanc de Blancs.

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2. 2 Taste the Award-Winning Blanc de Blancs Wine · Price: high

   Champion Sparkling Wine at IWC 2025.

   Request the Blanc de Blancs 2016 (ideally magnum if available) - it won Champion Sparkling Wine at the International Wine Challenge 2025. This is English wine's greatest achievement.

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3. 3 Understand the Chalk Connection Adventure · Free · Optional

   The same chalk that makes Champagne great underlies Sussex.

   Ask about the geology. The South Downs chalk is the same geological formation as Champagne's. Walk the vineyard and look for chalk fragments. This geological twin connection explains why English sparkling can rival Champagne.

   Log Memory

Insider tips

• Cherie Spriggs: first non-Champagne winemaker to win IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year

• The first English producer to use exclusively Champagne grape varieties

• 425 hectares across 11 vineyards in Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent

• The chalk soil is geologically identical to Champagne