In April 2008, husband and wife team, Charles and Wendy Outhwaite planted 9.5 hectares of vines on south-facing greensand slopes overlooking West Sussex’s South Downs.

Planted with the traditional champagne varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the vineyard has now produced three consecutive vintages. It is managed to the highest standard in sympathy with both nature and the demands of the weather. Spraying is kept to a minimum and much of the work (pruning, green harvesting, de-leafing and harvesting) is done by hand.

“With the help of our South African winemaker, Kobus Louw, we strive to produce wines that encapsulate the particular characteristics of the Sussex soil and climate,” explains Wendy Outhwaite.

“West Sussex has a semi-continental climate rather like that famous French growing area about 80 miles to the southeast, which is perfect for great sparkling wine grapes. The cooler climate allows the grapes to retain the requisite acidity to form the backbone of an outstanding sparkling wine. We selected slower ripening Burgundian clones of varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier because, although lower- yielding, they produce grapes of a dramatically higher quality.