Digby Fine English Wines - Hilden Vineyard

Nestled in the heart of southern England, Digby Fine English has become one of the country’s most talked-about traditional method sparkling wine producers. Taking its name and inspiration from Sir Kenelm Digby, the seventeenth-century adventurer celebrated as the “father of the modern wine bottle,” the producer combines old-world patience with distinctly English wit. With its own Hilden Vineyard in Kent and a celebrated tasting room in West Sussex, Digby is on a sustained mission to make England world-famous for its fizz.

A Project of Passion: The Digby Story

Digby Fine English was founded by Trevor Clough and Jason Humphries with one clear ambition: to put England on the world winemaking map. Trevor and Jason released their first wines in 2013, made from the 2009 vintage - a benchmark year that produced their maiden Vintage Reserve Brut. Producing the finest fizz possible was a pre-requisite - quality is at the heart of Digby - but the couple was adamant that these wines should also reflect an inimitably English sense of humour: a glint in the eye, a wry joke, a hint of flamboyance, all protected by a perfectly composed demeanour.

There was nothing else for it. Trevor and Jason quit their corporate London lives and moved to Sussex, the heart of English wine country, to pursue their dream one glass at a time. An unfailingly innovative approach led them to embrace the négociant model, create the UK’s first urban cellar door, and invent the first wine glass dedicated to English sparkling wine.

Sir Kenelm - The Maverick Namesake

Digby isn’t just a name. It is a daily reminder to live with courage and curiosity, just like the historical namesake “Sir Ken” (as the team affectionately refers to him). Sir Kenelm Digby (1603 - 1665) was a seventeenth-century adventurer as famous for his naval expeditions as for his alchemy, philosophy, poetry, politics and glamorous wife. He is revered as the father of the modern wine bottle - his invention of a sturdy glass vessel replaced storage and transport in barrel and made traditional method sparkling wine possible as we know it.

Every bottle of Digby Fine English is adorned with the Digby Toast, a 25-line poem of courtesies, characters and Englishness, ranging from “To modesty and refinement” and “To bishops and brigands” to “To green and pleasant.”

Hilden Vineyard and the Digby Vineyard Portfolio

Digby’s sparkling wines are made from grapes grown across a portfolio of carefully chosen vineyards in Kent, Sussex, Hampshire and Dorset. Head Blender and CEO Trevor Clough puts together base wines from different soils, regions, aspects and microclimates - the artist’s palate from which Digby’s blends are crafted.

Since 2021, Digby has owned and managed its own flagship site, Hilden Vineyard, in Hildenborough, Kent. Placed on Wealden clay next to Kent’s North Downs, Hilden’s bowl-shaped layout captures sunlight rolling down gentle slopes, producing some of England’s top Pinot Noir. This fruit plays the lead in Digby’s Leander Pink and Vintage Rosé blends. The very first grapes harvested from Hilden appeared in the 2018 Vintage Rosé Brut.

The portfolio also includes:

• Original Hampshire Partner (Greensand) - a long, smooth slope at 110 - 115m elevation overlooking East Hampshire. The greensand soils form the backbone of every Vintage Reserve Brut Digby has ever made, providing taut, mineral Chardonnay.
• Dorset Coastal Bowl (Clay) - a sheltered site at 70 - 75m offering warmth from clay soils and providing confident Pinot structure.
• Petersfield Vineyard, South Downs National Park (Greensand) - taken on with a long-term lease in 2024, contributing generous, energetic fruit to the Non Vintage Brut.
• Sussex (South Downs National Park) - warm, low-lying slopes adding roundness and breadth.

By selecting vineyards for excellence and a cross-section of soil types, Digby makes wine that is confidently, uniquely English.

The Art of Blending: A Modern Négociant

Digby is, in its own words, “England’s terroir-obsessed blending house.” Rather than relying on a single estate, the team takes grapes from a curated portfolio and applies three winemaking pillars:

1. Terroir - selection of vineyards for excellence, providing grape parcels that reflect chalk, greensand and clay.
2. Blending - Trevor blends base wines across differing terroirs to build complexity, depth and the trademark Digby raciness.
3. Ageing - the “not-so-secret secret ingredient”. Wines are left on lees for years, then under cork, with release dates dictated by readiness rather than marketing windows.

This approach has earned national and international recognition. In 2025, The Real Review placed Digby 7th in its Top 10 UK Wineries, with the 2013 Blanc de Blancs shortlisted for “Wines of the Year.” In the 2026 Wine GB Awards, the lineup scooped Gold for Leander Pink Rosé, Multi-Vintage Blanc de Blancs, the 2009 Reserve Library Release and Non Vintage Brut, alongside Silver for Multi-Vintage Rosé and the 2014 Vintage Reserve Brut. Vinous critic Anne Krebiehl MW also awarded the 2014 Vintage Reserve Brut 95 points, calling it “simply wonderful”.

Exploring the Wines

Digby structures its collection into three tiers: Long-Aged Luxe, Vintage Standard-Setter, and Non-Vintage Life is Short. All prices are 75cl bottles unless stated.

Long-Aged ‘Luxe’ Vintage

• 2013 Blanc de Blancs Brut - Nuanced yet lavish. 100% Chardonnay from the top 5% of the 2013 harvest. £70.00 per 75cl. 8 years minimum on lees, partial malolactic. Gold at Wine GB Awards 2024.
• 2014 Vintage Reserve Brut - Poised yet plush. Digby’s flagship. 62% Chardonnay, 21% Pinot Noir, 17% Pinot Meunier. £55.00 (Kenelm Club price £44.00). 8 years minimum on lees. Vinous 95 points.
• 2014 Vintage Reserve Brut Magnum - Double the fun! 150cl format. £110.00 (Kenelm Club price £88.00).
• 2009 Reserve Library Release - Refined yet lively. Aged 10 years on lees, plus time on point and under cork. Limited allocation. £110.00 (Kenelm Club price £88.00). Drinking window 2025 - 2035.

Vintage ‘Standard-Setter’

• 2018 Vintage Rosé Brut - Robust yet refined. 58% Pinot Noir, 22% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay - the first release to feature Hilden fruit. £60.00 (Kenelm Club price £48.00). 4 years minimum on lees. Vinous 94 points.
• 2013 Vintage Reserve Brut Half Bottle - Excellence in miniature. 37.5cl. The trophy-winning flagship in smaller format. £35.00 (Kenelm Club price £28.00).

Non-Vintage ‘Life is Short’

• Non Vintage Brut - Vibrant yet understated. 40% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. £38.00 (Kenelm Club price £30.40). “Because it’s Tuesday!” The wine poured on British Airways Club World.
• Non Vintage Brut Magnum - Vivacious yet modest. 150cl. £88.00 (Kenelm Club price £70.40).
• Leander Pink Brut - Jubilant yet gracious. 50% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 20% Pinot Meunier. £39.00 (Kenelm Club price £31.20). The official English sparkling wine of Leander Club.
• Leander Pink Brut Magnum - 150cl. £80.00.
• Leander Pink Brut Jeroboam - 300cl. £210.00.

Member-Exclusive Releases

• Multi-Vintage Blanc de Blancs - Delicate yet dynamic. 100% Chardonnay, a blend of the 2018, 2019 and 2020 vintages, on lees for 5 years. Usually reserved for restaurants and hotels. £40.00 (Kenelm Club price £32.00).
• Multi-Vintage Rosé - Sumptuous yet sophisticated. £40.00 (Kenelm Club price £32.00). 7 years on lees.

Mixed Cases & Gifts

• The Digby Core Collection - £120.00
• The Digby Pink Duo - Leander Pink NV Brut + 2018 Vintage Rosé - £90.00
• The Digby Vintage Trio - £165.00
• The Vertical Vintage Trio - £170.00
• The Digby Mixed Half Case - £225.00
• Leander Pink NV Trio - £296.00

The Tasting Room: England’s First High-Street Cellar Door

Digby’s Tasting Room in Arundel, West Sussex, is the UK’s first high-street cellar door. Housed in a Grade II listed townhouse at 55 - 57 High Street, Arundel, BN18 9AJ, the venue brings the vines to visitors in an urban setting. Wines are available by the glass, by the bottle, and via curated tasting flights, alongside a seasonal snack menu of local cheese boards, olives, salted nuts and crackers.

Tasting flights and table reservations can be booked online, with flights starting at just £17.50 for the Discovery Flight (Non Vintage Brut, 2014 Vintage Reserve Brut and Leander Pink) or £30.00 for the full Tasting Flight Experience of all five core wines, lasting 60 - 90 minutes. A Vintage Add-on featuring the 2018 Vintage Rosé Brut and 2013 Blanc de Blancs can be added for £10. Kenelm Club members receive 20% off all bar and retail purchases and preferential rates on room hire.

Tasting Room Opening Hours

• Thursday: 2pm - 8pm
• Friday & Saturday: 12 noon - 8pm
• Sunday: 12 noon - 6pm

Bookings are limited to six guests online; for larger parties, the team invites guests to email ahead. The venue is a short walk from Arundel station, with direct trains from London Victoria in around 87 minutes.

The Kenelm Club: An English Fine Wine Society

Inspired by Sir Kenelm Digby’s courage and curiosity, the Kenelm Club is Digby’s fine wine club. Members receive three shipments per year of newly released Digby wines at a 20% discount, with complimentary shipping on club shipments, 20% off further purchases online and in store, complimentary tasting flights to share, and exclusive invitations and previews.

Membership Tiers

• Kenelm Club - From £96.00 every 4 months. Three bottles per shipment plus a magnum in winter. Free shipping, complimentary tasting flights, preferential tasting room hire rates.
• Founders’ Circle - From £200.00 every 4 months. Six bottles per shipment plus two magnums in winter. Includes library wines in every shipment, unique insights from founders Trevor and Jason, and the full Kenelm Club benefits.

Partnerships of National Distinction

Digby’s wines have graced some of the most prestigious institutions in Britain. Since 2023, Non Vintage Brut has been served on British Airways Club World as the airline’s first English sparkling wine by the glass. In April 2026, Leander Pink NV Brut was added, making Digby the first English producer to hold two concurrent listings in BA’s Club World. The wines rotate quarterly.

• British Airways Club World - Non Vintage Brut; Leander Pink NV Brut from April 2026.
• House of Commons - official English fizz of the gift shops and events for over five years running.
• Leander Club, Henley-on-Thames - partnership since 2015. Part of every bottle sold supports Leander’s young athletes via the Leander Academy.
• HMS Queen Elizabeth - served aboard the Royal Navy’s flagship vessel.
• Sussex Snowdrop Trust - charity partner since 2019, supporting families with seriously ill children through nursing care and counselling.

Corporate Experiences and Gifting

For clients seeking a refined wine experience, Digby offers a range of corporate experiences. From hosted The Classic Tasting of three award-winning wines through Sparkling Receptions and immersive Interactive Experiences, the team tailors each event to brief, audience and venue. Corporate gifting ranges from individual bottles to large-scale gifting programmes, with personalisation available.

To discuss a corporate event or order, contact Gabriella Rondelli at grondelli@digbyfineenglish.com. The Corporate Gift Guide is available as a PDF.

Sustainability

From vine to glass, Digby scrutinises the environmental consequences of every bottle, with an estimated footprint of 1.2 - 1.75 kg CO₂ per bottle. Initiatives include:

• Vineyards: Hilden Vineyard hosts beehives to maintain natural balance.
• Bottles: 835g Ecova 75cl bottles from Verallia - 15% lighter than traditional Champagne bottles.
• Corks: 100% natural cork from Amorim, with a negative carbon footprint.
• Wire hoods: Traditional, with no additional plastic coatings.
• Foils: Sparlux ‘Absolute Green Line’ technology, 21% reduction in carbon emissions.
• Boxes: Recycled materials, recyclable again. Re-used pulp inserts in the Tasting Room.
• Transport: Minimising road and air haulage by shipping internationally in sea containers.
• Offsetting: Trees planted locally near Arundel and elsewhere to net out the carbon footprint for all wines sold from 2020 onwards.

Events and Calendar

Digby maintains a calendar of in-person and ticketed events. Recent listings have included Digby After Dark evening tastings and Winemaker’s Dinners hosted at partner venues such as The Town House. Each summer the house celebrates Henley Royal Regatta with Leander Club.

How to Get Your Hands on Digby

Digby’s wines are widely available across the UK through M&S, Waitrose, Ocado and Harvey Nichols. On-trade distribution in England and Wales is handled by Swig Wines at the Food Exchange, New Covent Garden (0208 995 7060, wines@swig.co.uk). In Scotland, contact Inverarity Morton in Glasgow (0141 620 6100); in the USA east coast, Vine Street Imports in New Jersey (+1 856 840 8388); and in New Zealand’s North Island, Dhall and Nash in Auckland (+64 09 357 0493).

The online shop offers the full range of bottles, magnums, mixed cases, glassware and accessories, with free UK mainland delivery on orders of three bottles or more. Smaller orders incur a £10 delivery charge, and bespoke pricing is available for orders outside the mainland or above 24 bottles.

Plan Your Visit

• Address: 55 - 57 High Street, Arundel, West Sussex, BN18 9AJ, United Kingdom.
• Phone: 020 7112 8887.
• Email: cheers@digbyfineenglish.com (general); sales@digbyfineenglish.com (orders).
• Wedding and Private Events: grondelli@digbyfineenglish.com
• Tasting Room Hours: Thursday 2pm - 8pm; Friday - Saturday 12 noon - 8pm; Sunday 12 noon - 6pm.
• Closest Station: Arundel (direct trains to London Victoria in 87 minutes).

Whether you arrive by train, settle in for a tasting flight of five sparkling wines, or simply stop by for a glass of Non Vintage Brut on a Thursday evening, the Digby Tasting Room offers one of the most accessible ways to experience the very best of contemporary English sparkling wine.

Toast to Courage and Curiosity

From its very first vintage in 2013 to its 2026 listing on British Airways, Digby Fine English has championed the patient, terroir-led, characterful face of English fizz. With Hilden Vineyard now firmly in the family, a tasting room on the high street in Arundel, and a glittering awards record, the team is more committed than ever to making England famous for its world-class winemaking.

To courage and curiosity.