CELEBRATE VALENTINE ’S DAY WITH RATHFINNY SUSSEX SPARKLING WINES.

Well Hello Again,

Apologies for my lack of blogging recently….. these horrible times that we now find ourselves in are taking some getting used to for us all. Once again the UK is in LOCKDOWN as COVID19 strides relentlessly through our population which means that Valentines day will be spent at home with no one going out. Treats this year are going to need to be delivered.

So when a press release, from Rathfinny, landed in my inbox this needed to be shared, as they have some great treats that can be delivered to your home!

Wine and Wine and Food Hampers

Rathfinny’s Valentine’s Day offerings include beautifully curated English hampers, exclusive wine and spirits cases and bottles of Sussex Sparkling.

This year the renowned English Wine Estate will be launching their first Valentine’s Day Case which includes their highly acclaimed 2017 sparkling Rosé (hailed as “Ravishing” and a “Star Buy” by Susy Atkins for The Sunday Telegraph), along with their Cradle Valley 2018 Pinot Gris/Pinot Blanc and 2018 Seven Sisters Gin at an exclusive offer price of £79.

They are also selling Valentine’s hampers containing artisanal treats from British producers, including Paxton and Whitfield’s biscuits and chutneys, Drinks Biscuits, Olly’s Olives, Rebel charcuterie, Sussex Charmer cheddar cheese and delicious confectionery from The Chocolate Society. The hampers can be purchased via Rathfinny’s Cellar Door shop or online, with complimentary delivery available nation-wide.

Sarah Driver, Rathfinny Co-Owner, said, “As always, we’re delighted to be promoting fellow British producers, but it’s especially important during this difficult time to support these businesses.”

Buoyant online sales of premium drink brands appear to be one of the few bright spots in an industry that has been hit hard by successive lockdowns. Rathfinny Co-Owner, Mark Driver said, “Many of us are looking to treat ourselves in some small way during these tough times, and many are looking for something a little bit different from their usual sparkling wine to consume at home – something they cannot find on the supermarket shelves.” Stating that; “There is an increase in buying directly from the Vineyard because it makes their purchase feel more personal – they can read about the people working at the Estate and the skills and passion put into producing these hand-crafted, vintage wines”.

The full portfolio of Rathfinny’s Sussex wines, including Magnums and exclusive case combinations, are available from their online shop and Cellar Door shop on the Estate and are perfect for discovering the complete Sussex wine experience. Customers can place orders in advance using the ‘click and collect’ service on their online shop (shop.rathfinnyestate.com), or locals can visit the Estate, carrying out social distancing measures.

For those wishing to gift an experience to look forward to when COVID restrictions relax, Rathfinny also offers a range of gift vouchers to spoil someone this Valentine’s Day with a visit to the Sussex Estate. Experiences include overnight packages for couples to stay at the beautifully restored Flint Barns, situated in the heart of the Vineyard; along with Estate tours and three-course lunches at their Michelin Plate Tasting Room restaurant.

Packages Available

• 2017 Rathfinny Rosé, £36 a bottle, includes a complimentary gift box for Valentine’s Day.

• Valentine’s Day Case, includes 2017 Rathfinny Rosé, 2018 Cradle Valley Pinot Blanc/Pinot Gris, 2018 Seven Sisters Gin), Exclusive Offer price of £79

• Valentine’s Day Hamper includes Paxton & Whitfield Poppy & Linseed Crackers, The Chocolate Society Raspberry White Chocolate, Olly’s Olives Chilli & Rosemary, Drinks Biscuits Pecorino, Rosemary & Scottish Seaweed, Paxton & Whitfield Damson Fruit Cheese, Sussex Charmer cheddar, Rebel charcuterie, £56 with charcuterie & £53.50 without charcuterie.

• Dinner, bed & breakfast voucher, £215 for two

• Tasting Room three-course lunch voucher with a glass of Classic Cuvée, £90 for two

• Tour & Tasting voucher, £25

• Sussex Experience voucher, £195 for two

• Sussex Sparkling Experience voucher, £265 for two

https://rathfinnyestate.com/gift-vouchers/

I have written blogs about Rathfinny before so please check them out to find out more about the estate. But here is a quick synopsis about Rathfinny.

Rathfinny Estate in East Sussex was founded in 2010 by husband and wife, Mark and Sarah Driver dedicated to producing some of the world’s finest sparkling wine. Once a working arable farm, the first vines were planted in 2012 and today Rathfinny comprises over 230 acres of predominantly Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.
In addition to producing wine, the Rathfinny Wine Estate has become a popular destination for wine tourists. The RIBA nominated Winery is home to the Cellar Door where visitors can enjoy organised Vineyard tours and wine tastings, whilst the Tasting Room restaurant with its panoramic windows and large balcony overlooking the Vineyard, under the direction of Michelin-starred Head chef Chris Bailey, specialises in seasonal, modern British cuisine. The Estate also houses the Flint Barns, a wonderful ‘home from home’ accommodation which hosts sumptuous Sunday lunches, evening meals and picnics.

After eighteen months of careful planning and preparation Rathfinny planted the first 60,000 vines on a 20ha (50 acres) site in April 2012. Rathfinny has now planted over 370,000 vines on 91ha (226 acres) and over the next five years the vineyard will grow to approximately 140ha (350 acres) of around 600,000 vines. When at full capacity, the Winery will produce nearly eighty thousand cases of Sussex Sparkling wine per annum, making Rathfinny one of England’s most significant wine producers.

Rathfinny Wine Estate, Alfriston, Sussex (rathfinnyestate.com)