Nyetimber: The Pioneer of English Sparkling Wine
A Pioneering Estate in the Heart of Southern England
Nyetimber is widely regarded as England's most celebrated sparkling wine producer, an estate whose name has become virtually synonymous with the very best of traditional-method English fizz. Located at Nyetimber Vineyard, Gay Street, West Chiltington, in the rolling countryside of West Sussex, the estate spreads across several separate sites in Sussex, Hampshire and Kent, all chosen for their greensand and chalk soils and gentle south-facing slopes that allow the cool-climate Champagne varieties - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - to ripen slowly and develop the depth, finesse and natural acidity that Nyetimber's wines are renowned for.
Nyetimber is a proudly estate-grown producer: every grape that goes into every bottle is hand-picked from Nyetimber's own vineyards, pressed in the estate's pressing centre at West Chiltington, and turned into wine under the watchful eye of Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs and Winemaker Brad Greatrix. All Nyetimber wines are crafted according to the traditional method, with a minimum of three years ageing on lees in cellar before release, and generous post-disgorgement maturation, ensuring that every bottle delivers the balance, complexity and silky texture the house is known for.
From Domesday Book to Modern Vineyards
The Nyetimber estate counts three major milestones in its history. Its earliest appearance in recorded history is in the Domesday Book of 1086 - almost a thousand years ago - when the peaceful valley of Nitimbreha (a name believed to mean "a newly timbered house" or a small timber plantation) first entered the historical record. That medieval reference is what gives the estate's prestige cuvée its evocative name, 1086 by Nyetimber.
The second milestone came 902 years later, in 1988, when the holy trinity of sparkling wine grapes - Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier - were planted at Nyetimber for the first time, finding a new home in the lee of the South Downs. Nyetimber was the first producer in England to plant these celebrated varieties exclusively for sparkling wine production, an act of quiet confidence that has shaped the entire English fine-wine industry.
The third milestone came in 2006, when entrepreneur Eric Heerema became Owner and Chief Executive of Nyetimber, bringing with him the belief that the estate's soils, climate and heritage had yet to achieve their full potential. He recruited Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix - a married winemaking team - who have since turned Nyetimber into a globally respected producer. In 2018 Cherie became the first person from outside the Champagne region to win "Sparkling Winemaker of the Year" at the International Wine Challenge, and the first woman to take the award; she repeated the achievement in 2025.
"I don't think in years but in generations."
That phrase, from Eric Heerema, is the guiding philosophy of the estate: a long-term commitment to quality, place and people, rather than a chase for short-term fashion. Today Nyetimber's vineyards cover a substantial area across the South of England, with around 30% of the estate deliberately maintained as natural non-productive hedgerows, windbreaks, woods, gardens, ponds and meadows, supporting wildlife and biodiversity.
The Nyetimber Range of English Sparkling Wines
Nyetimber's current range is built around seven core cuvées, each with its own character and purpose. Every wine is estate-grown, vegan-friendly and crafted in the traditional method, with extended lees ageing.
Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage - The Flagship
The signature wine of Nyetimber is a classic blend of Chardonnay (55 - 65%), Pinot Noir (30 - 40%) and Pinot Meunier (5 - 15%) drawn from multiple vineyards and multiple vintages, and aged on lees for typically more than three years. The resulting wine has a pale-golden hue and fine bubbles, distinctive toasty and spicy aromas, and a palate of honey, almond, pastry and baked apple. It is intense yet delicate, elegant yet complex - "a perfect balance of elegance and intensity," in Nyetimber's own description. Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage is £42 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs beautifully with smoked salmon, oysters, scallops, asparagus and sushi.
Rosé Multi-Vintage - A Textured, Generous Sparkling Rosé
A sunset-pink Multi-Vintage rosé blending Chardonnay (45 - 75%), Pinot Noir (25 - 55%) and a touch of Pinot Meunier (<5%). It is bone-dry yet creamy and round, with redcurrant, raspberry and cherry flavours over a shortbread-tinged finish - "evoking the English summer." Rosé Multi-Vintage is £47 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs with salmon fillets, brown crab, veal carpaccio and guinea fowl.
Cuvee Chérie Multi-Vintage - England's First Demi-Sec
Cuvee Chérie Multi-Vintage is 100% Chardonnay and the first Demi-Sec sparkling wine produced in England. It has light golden hues with a silver undertone, delicate effervescence, and aromas of pure lemon, mineral, honey and a hint of tangerine. The palate is lively, with a sweet lemon start offset by crisp acidity and a clean, pure structure. Cuvee Chérie is £42 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and partners beautifully with strawberries and cream, fruit tarts, afternoon tea, meringue, spiced Asian cuisine, foie gras and terrines.
Blanc de Blancs 2017 - Elegance and Depth
Crafted from a single vintage of 100% Chardonnay and given extended time on lees, this pure expression of Chardonnay was the first style ever produced at Nyetimber. The 2017 vintage follows the historic Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum, which in 2025 became the first non-Champagne wine to win Champion Sparkling Wine at the International Wine Challenge. Expect pale gold with a delicate mousse, lemon curd and greengage on the nose, clotted cream and shortcrust pastry, and a long, creamy, complex finish with a touch of salinity. Blanc de Blancs 2017 is £58 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs with white crab, Dover sole and mussels.
Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 - A True Expression of Place
A rare and refined wine from one of Nyetimber's most celebrated vineyards, a 73% Pinot Noir / 27% Chardonnay blend grown on greensand soils and aged for around 60 months on lees. The wine is pale gold with very fine bubbles, intense aromas of raspberry, red apple skin and rose petal, and a textured, vibrant palate revealing orange zest, apricot and marzipan. Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 is £110 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs with monkfish and John Dory.
1086 by Nyetimber - The Prestige Cuvee
1086 is England's first prestige cuvée, released only in exceptional vintages and blended from the finest parcels of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier across the Nyetimber estate. The 2013 vintage - currently the most widely available - is 51% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir and 9% Pinot Meunier, with rich red apple, peach, white rose petals, almond and clotted cream unfolding on a long, refined finish. 1086 by Nyetimber 2014 is £150 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs with caviar, lobster, turbot, scallops, sashimi and oysters.
1086 by Nyetimber Rosé - The Pinnacle of Rosé
The pinnacle expression of rosé at Nyetimber: 36% Chardonnay and 64% Pinot Noir from the finest parcels of the most outstanding years, with extended lees ageing. The 2013 vintage offers wild strawberry, red apple and floral aromas, chantilly cream and freshly baked brioche on a long, luxurious finish. 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2016 is £175 per 75cl bottle with gift box, and pairs with duck breast, veal carpaccio, steak tartare, lobster bisque and grilled octopus.
Large Formats: Magnums and Jeroboams
Nyetimber is one of the few English producers to offer its wines in large formats, the ideal centrepiece for a celebration table. Magnums and jeroboams age more gracefully than standard bottles, developing extra depth and complexity in cellar.
- Blanc de Blancs 2017 Magnum (1.5L) - £130
- Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage Magnum (1.5L) - £85
- Classic Cuvee Vintage 2010 Magnum (1.5L) - £95
- 1086 by Nyetimber 2013 Magnum (1.5L with gift box) - £325
- 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2013 Magnum (1.5L with gift box) - £375
- Classic Cuvee Magnums (3 x 1500ml) - £239
- Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage Jeroboam (3L) - £223
- 1086 by Nyetimber 2013 Jeroboam (3L) - £725
Gift Sets, Cases and Curated Collections
Nyetimber's online shop offers a thoughtful portfolio of curated cases and gift sets, from an intimate duo to a comprehensive six-bottle luxury case.
- The Classic Case (3 x 750ml Classic Cuvee MV) - £118.50
- The Icons Case (Classic Cuvee MV, Blanc de Blancs & Rosé MV, 3 x 750ml) - £138
- The Birthday Case (Classic Cuvee MV, Rosé MV & Cuvee Chérie MV, 3 x 750ml) - £123
- Collector's Case (6 x Classic Cuvee MV + 2 bottle stoppers) - £252
- Luxury Celebration Case (6 bottles of the most famous cuvées) - £321
- The Connoisseur Case (Tillington, Blanc de Blancs & Cuvee Chérie, 3 x 750ml) - £197
- 1086 by Nyetimber Duo (white 2014 + rosé 2016, 2 x 750ml) - £305
- 1086 by Nyetimber 2014 Trio Case (3 x 750ml with gift box) - £425
- 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé 2016 Trio Case (3 x 750ml with gift box) - £490
- The Halves Case (12 x 375ml Classic Cuvee MV) - £276
- Weekend Picnic Case (Classic Cuvee MV & Cuvee Chérie MV, 6 x 750ml) - £237
The personalised gift-boxed wines are a Nyetimber signature: every bottle in the core range can be finished with a personalised engraved metal plaque on the cream gift box, with up to 22 characters in the elegant Tangerine font - perfect for weddings, milestone birthdays and corporate gifting. Branded accessories include the Nyetimber Six Glass Gift Set (£60), the Nyetimber Ice Bucket Set (from £35), the Ice Vasque (holds up to 3 bottles, £85), the Nyetimber Fine Merino Wool Blanket (£295), the Nyetimber Umbrella (£56), and the Nyetimber Bottle Stopper (£8). There is also the Nyetimber Book, A Year in the Life of England's Finest Sparkling Wine (£29.95), and the Book & Sparkling Wine Duo (£68). Gift cards are available from £100.
Visiting the Estate: Open Days and Experiences
The Nyetimber estate is not generally open to the public - but a select programme of estate experiences invites visitors to walk the historic vines and taste the wines where they are made. The flagship experiences are listed below.
The Open Day Tour
The Open Day Tour is the most accessible way to experience Nyetimber. Guests are welcomed in the White Barn with an introduction to the rich history of Nyetimber and the estate, before a guided walking tour through the historic vineyards - home to some of the oldest vines in England. The tour then returns to the Nyetimber Estate for a tasting in the 15th-century Medieval Barn of Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage, Rosé Multi-Vintage, Cuvee Chérie Multi-Vintage and Blanc de Blancs 2017. The experience spans two and a half hours and the £50 ticket price is fully redeemable against a case of six bottles purchased on the day at cellar-door prices. Open Day Tour tickets run throughout May - September 2026.
Open Days are 18+ only, with no dogs permitted (except pre-arranged assistance dogs) and no children, no cash payments and no deliveries from the estate. Parking is free and a short walk to the White Barn. Guests with restricted mobility are asked to email opendays@nyetimber.com in advance so arrangements can be made.
1086 by Nyetimber Paired Dining Experience
A refined four-course seasonal dinner paired with Nyetimber wines, including the prestige cuvée 1086 by Nyetimber - the pinnacle of the estate's winemaking. Held at the estate by night. Tickets are £195 per person; this experience is currently sold out for the current season.
A Sparkling Celebration of Seafood
An exclusive dining experience that pairs the natural acidity of Nyetimber's English sparkling wines with a luxurious seafood-led menu crafted by Executive Chef Steven Edwards, set against the backdrop of the historic estate. Tickets are £220 per person; this experience is also currently sold out for the current season.
Exclusive Nyetimber Brand Ambassador Tastings
For a Nyetimber experience like no other, the estate offers private Brand Ambassador Tastings held at a venue of your choice. One of Nyetimber's ambassadors will host a unique session covering the history of Nyetimber, the methods used to craft the cuvées, a masterclass in tasting sparkling wines and a tutored tasting of Classic Cuvee MV, Rosé MV, Cuvee Chérie MV, Blanc de Blancs and Tillington Single Vineyard. The session is £1,700 for up to 10 attendees and usually lasts around 1.5 hours. Transport within London zones 1 - 3 is included, with glasses, bottles and all materials (ice buckets, tasting cards, stoppers and tasting mats) sent a day in advance. To arrange, call 0800 804 8107 or enquire through the Brand Ambassador tastings enquiry form.
The Nyetimber Bus
The Nyetimber is a beautifully reimagined 1968 Routemaster bus that travels to iconic British events throughout the year. The Lower Deck houses a handcrafted wooden and copper bar set against a backdrop of a Union Jack cut from English oak, while the Upper Deck offers guests a comfortable vantage point from which to enjoy a glass of Nyetimber. A "Push for Nyetimber" button means guests need only lift a finger to replenish their glass. The Nyetimber Bus is not available for private hire (other than as part of wedding packages) but attends sporting, cultural and social events across the calendar; the full programme of tour dates is published on the Nyetimber Bus.
Weddings with Nyetimber
Nyetimber is one of the most popular sparkling wine choices for English weddings, with a dedicated wedding team offering packages, experiences, pairings and personalised gifting. Wedding wines cover the entire journey - from proposal to wedding cake - and every cuvée has a moment.
- Classic Cuvee (75cl, 150cl & 300cl): the signature aperitif and reception wine.
- Rosé Multi-Vintage (75cl & 150cl): a perfect year-round food wine.
- Cuvee Chérie (75cl & 150cl): the ultimate wedding cake partner.
- Blanc de Blancs 2017 (75cl & 150cl): a refreshing aperitif.
- Tillington Single Vineyard 2016 (75cl): a special-occasion wine for a special day.
- 1086 White 2014 (75cl): when only the finest will do.
- 1086 Rosé 2016 (75cl & 150cl): the most luxurious of occasions.
Wedding packages include the Nyetimber Toast (60+ bottles, personalised magnum and bottle stopper), the Nyetimber Experience (120+ bottles, personalised magnum and two Open Day tickets), the Prestigious Toast (30+ bottles of 1086 with complimentary 1086 Rosé magnum) and the Prestigious Experience (60+ bottles of 1086 with private estate tour for six). A Virtual Tasting starts from £75 per delivery address and the In-Person Tasting from £50 per person. The dedicated wedding team provides personalised consultations and tailored packages; enquiries can be sent to weddingwine@nyetimber.com. The 2026 Wedding Brochure is available as a PDF.
Awards and Recognition
Nyetimber's trophy cabinet is among the most decorated of any English wine producer. The headline accolades include:
- Champion Sparkling Wine - International Wine Challenge 2025: Nyetimber's Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum became the first ever non-Champagne wine to win the Champion Sparkling Wine Trophy in the IWC's history, scoring 97 points.
- Sparkling Winemaker of the Year - IWC 2018 & 2025: Cherie Spriggs remains the only woman to have won the award, and the first winemaker outside the Champagne region to take the trophy (in 2018).
- English Wine Producer of the Year - International Wine & Spirit Competition: awarded to Nyetimber a record eight times.
- Winery of the Year Great Britain - The Real Review Awards 2026: Nyetimber became the first English winery to win this accolade in two consecutive years, with 1086 by Nyetimber 2014 awarded Sparkling Wine of the Year and 97 points.
- Battle of the Bubbles - London Wine Fair: Nyetimber 1086 named top-scoring global sparkling and top-scoring wine overall, pipping prestige cuvées from Champagne including Dom Pérignon 2013.
Beyond trophies, Nyetimber is the official sparkling wine partner of England Rugby and, from January 2026, of Richmond Rugby Club, with a magnum presented to the Player of the Match after every Men's and Women's first team game. Nyetimber is also partnered with the National Gallery, Jaguar Land Rover, the Lawn Tennis Association (Queen's), Henley Royal Regatta, the Jockey Club and Cheltenham Festival, and is regularly featured in the national and international press.
Sustainability and Community
Nyetimber's environmental approach is built around a sustainable and holistic management of its land, resources and carbon footprint. Around 30% of the total estate is natural non-productive hedgerows, windbreaks, woods, gardens, ponds and meadows, providing wildlife corridors and habitats for birds and insects. Sheep from a local farm graze some vineyard locations in winter, providing natural fertiliser and reducing tractor use. Drones map and analyse vine health block-by-block, row-by-row, allowing targeted intervention rather than broad spraying. Weather stations and analysis software model disease risk and limit spray applications. Pruning waste and pressed grape skins are composted and returned to the vineyards as natural fertiliser. The new West Chiltington Pressing Centre generates some of its own power through PV cells and recycles rainwater, while energy from cold stabilisation is harvested and recycled via heat exchangers. The Nyetimber bottle has weighed 835g since 2008 (compared with the industry standard of 905g), saving 10% in transport-related emissions, and the foil cap on each bottle uses a plant-derived laminate.
Nyetimber is deeply rooted in its local community, supporting charities including the South Downs National Park Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support, Friends of Sussex Hospices, the Mary How Trust for Cancer Prevention, the Shipley Arts Festival and the Friends of the South Downs. The estate partners with WSET School London, Le Cordon Bleu London and Plumpton College on wine education, and supports the Amberley Revival Classic Car Tour, the West Chiltington Village Show and other local initiatives. The company's Code of Conduct commits Nyetimber to a safe, respectful and inclusive environment with zero tolerance for harassment in any form.
Where to Find Nyetimber
As well as via the Nyetimber online shop (with complimentary delivery on UK orders over £70), Nyetimber is stocked at leading UK retailers including Fortnum & Mason (181 Piccadilly, W1A 1ER - 020 7734 8040), Hedonism (3 - 7 Davies Street, Mayfair, W1K 3LD - 020 7290 7870) and Harrods (87 - 135 Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, SW1X 7XL - 020 7730 1234), and is poured at leading restaurants, country pubs and hotels across the South of England and beyond - including Amberley Castle, Gravetye Manor, Alexander House, Park House Hotel & Spa, The Welldiggers Arms, The White Lion at Thakeham and etch. by Steven Edwards in Hove. International enquiries can be sent to info@nyetimber.com. In Japan, Nyetimber is available through TY Creation.
Plan Your Visit
The Nyetimber estate is located at Gay Street, West Chiltington, West Sussex, RH20 2HH. The nearest train stations are Pulborough and Billingshurst, from which taxis must be booked in advance. The London office is at 7th Floor, Asticus Building, 21 Palmer St, London SW1H 0AD (telephone 020 7734 8490). The estate itself is generally not open to the public outside of programmed Open Days and Chef's Paired Dining Experiences; the company does not currently host private events or weddings at the estate, although it offers an extensive wedding wine service.
Customer services for online orders are available on 0800 093 0243 (Mon - Fri 08.30 - 17.30) or via customerservice@nyetimber.com. Press enquiries: press@nyetimber.com. Experiences enquiries: experiences@nyetimber.com. Wedding enquiries: weddingwine@nyetimber.com. General enquiries: info@nyetimber.com.
Nyetimber is active on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), LinkedIn and YouTube, and publishes the Nyetimber Journal with new releases, events and awards.