Nyetimber has become the first English sparkling wine sponsor of England Rugby in a new long-term partnership.
The agreement covers the England Men’s and Women’s Senior teams and will see Nyetimber poured at all hosting fixtures at the Allianz Stadium, as well as major tournaments including the Guinness Six Nations and the Quilter Nations Series.
The company’s wines will also be served in the Nyetimber Garden at the British Airways West Fan Village during all major matches. A magnum of Nyetimber will be presented to the Player of the Match after every game.
The first games are November 1st (England vs Australia), followed by November 8th (England vs Fiji), November 15th (England vs New Zealand), and November 23rd (England vs Argentina).
Nyetimber, based in West Sussex, is recorded in the Domesday Book (1086). Vines were first planted in 1988 however, when founders Stuart and Sandy Moss set Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier with the aim of producing traditional-method sparkling wine.
Owner and CEO Eric Heerema acquired Nyetimber in 2006 and remains its driving force. He works with Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs and Senior Winemaker Brad Greatrix to craft premium traditional-method sparkling wines that today rival those of well known Champagnes. All Nyetimber wines are made exclusively from 11 estate owned vineyards covering 425 hectares across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Taking over from Bollinger, the partnership feels like a natural patriotic fit. Served in some of the most renowned venues in the UK, including The Savoy, Scott’s Mayfair, The Ivy, The Social Company (Jason Atherton restaurants), as well as around the world, including Ritz Carlton Berlin, Ciel Bleu in Amsterdam, Maaemo in Oslo, Franzen in Stockholm, The Edition Tokyo, Jumeirah Zabeel Saray Dubai and many more, the wines deserve the placement.
At the 2018 International Wine Challenge, Cherie Spriggs was named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year – the first winemaker from outside Champagne and the first woman to receive the award.
“It is fantastic to be welcoming Nyetimber as our Official Sparkling Wine Partner,” said Claudio Borges, RFU Executive Director of Commercial and Marketing.
Pointing out the synergies between the two brands, he notes, “both of our organisations demonstrate English excellence on-and-off the pitch, and just as England Rugby has built its reputation through decades of dedication to excellence, Nyetimber has established itself as England’s finest sparkling wine through uncompromising attention to detail and commitment to quality.”
Borges elaborated that “there is so much cause for celebration in our sport, and we are thrilled that the England Rugby community can now raise a glass to achievements great and small with Nyetimber’s outstanding sparkling wines.”
Likewise, Heerema said, “It means so much to us to have become the first English sparkling wine of England Rugby. As a brand with a history of partnering with British sporting institutions – including Team GB in 2024 – we feel incredibly proud to be supporting a national team; particularly one that is so iconic and has such a passionate following in this country.”
With both organisations championing women at the top – the RFU appointed Deborah Griffin as their first female president – Heerema noted that Nyetimber’s Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs has now been at the winemaking helm for the past two decades.
“It is a fitting time for us to share this news, as we proudly support the Red Roses in their pursuit of a world title. We are delighted that fans can now celebrate the many achievements in this game with a glass of Nyetimber.”