British bubbly hailed ‘champagne of the month’ by The Ritz

A English sparkling wine is to be showcased by The Ritz as its “champagne” of the month for only the second time.

The Rathfinny Estate’s 2015 Blanc de Noirs is to be launched at the hotel on May 1 and will be promoted in its bars, restaurants and room service throughout the month, alongside a 2016 Rathfinny rosé.

London hedge fund boss Mark Driver and his lawyer wife Sarah bought the estate near Lewes, East Sussex, in 2010 and have spent almost a decade planting and preparing the vineyards.

It is only the second time that a sparkling wine from outside the Champagne region has been awarded the accolade by the hotel.

The first occasion came in July 2017 when West Sussex-based Nyetimber broke the French monopoly.

Giovanni Ferlito, head of wine and beverage at The Ritz, said: “When we first offered English sparkling wine it was hard to persuade people to try it but in just a year there has been a big change in people’s perceptions and now they ask for it.

“I tried the Blanc De Noirs with the winemaker before it was bottled. I realised it was going to be very special and so decided to make it a wine of the month.”

Mr Driver said: “Our wines are a reflection of Rathfinny’s unique terrior — a combination of our geography, micro-climate and chalky soils — and a testament to the expertise of our estate team, under the direction of winemaker Jonathan Médard and vineyard manager Cameron Roucher.”