Nyetimber 

Our vineyards share similar characteristics with the best sparkling wine vineyards in the world. Greensand and chalk soils allow our vines, in each of our separate sites, to flourish across the south of England. The climate here allows for the slow ripening of our grapes, allowing us to achieve the optimum levels of ripeness and acidity, as well as the complexity and finesse for which our exquisite wines are renowned.

Using only estate-grown grapes from their own vineyards ensures that only the finest fruit is used to craft globally acclaimed Nyetimber wines. Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs, and her Winemaker husband Brad Greatrix assess each handpicked vineyard individually – from choosing the optimal time to harvest the grapes and supervising their gentle pressing to eventual vinification. This meticulous attention to detail allows them to make the most informed blending decisions the following spring. Nyetimber craft all their wines according to the traditional method, ageing them for extended periods of time to build complexity and flavour, and allowing for generous post-disgorgement time before release.

Vineyards

Spread across several separate sites, Nyetimbers vines are perfectly suited to the greensand and chalk soils of Sussex, Hampshire and Kent. The gentle south-facing slopes allow for the best possible exposure to the English sunshine, ensuring our grapes achieve the optimum level of ripeness before harvest.

The vineyards are surrounded by natural habitats – from native broadleaved woodlands which are managed and replanted, as well as wildflower meadows in various locations at both the Tillington and Manor vineyards that provide food and nesting places for birds and insects. Around 30% of the total Nyetimber estate is natural ‘non-productive’ hedgerows, windbreaks, woods, gardens, ponds and meadows. We create wildlife corridors for larger fauna, and where possible, the vineyard team uses sonar, kites and bird bangers as a gentle way of preventing damage to the fruit.

Since 2011, sheep from a local farm have been used in some vineyard locations to graze the grass as an alternative to mowers in winter; their droppings make a small but worthwhile contribution to the soil’s nutrients and the reduction in tractor use helps to minimise soil compaction and carbon emissions.