15th October 2009

PRESS RELEASE : NYETIMBER WINS IWSC TROPHY FOR BEST WORLDWIDE SPARKLING WINE

2009 is shaping up to be an unrivalled year for Nyetimber, Britain’s leading sparkling wine producer.  In the midst of the largest and possibly highest quality harvest yet seen in its 21 year history, Nyetimber’s 1992 Blanc de Blancs has won this year’s  International Wine & Spirit Competition Denbies Trophy for the Best Worldwide Sparkling Wine. This 1992 Blanc de Blancs was only disgorged earlier in 2009.  In the words of the IWSC judges it is “an aristocratic, multifaceted and splendid fizz…simply sublime”.

While taking a break from bringing in the harvest amongst Nyetimber’s rolling vineyards overlooking the Sussex Downs, Eric Heerema, CEO of Nyetimber said “The whole team is as pleased as punch down here. To have been the only producer to win the Trophy on two past occasions was exceptional‘, he continued, ‘but to do so for a third time is of course unique’.  ‘But that in itself means little – what makes me personally so very proud is that the years and years of quiet dedication and pioneering by our winemakers are now being recognised.  We have always judged ourselves by international standards, now it seems others are doing so too.  This is a further major step along our journey to make Sussex world famous for its sparkling wine.’ 

Recently disgorged earlier in 2009 by Winemaker Cherie Spriggs, this Blanc de Blancs has all the Nyetimber hallmarks of elegance and complexity.  Cherie said, ‘What thrills me is that it is Nyetimber’s maiden vintage of 1992  that has scooped the prize.  To achieve such greatness in a 17 year old library vintage requires flawless fruit at the outset.  This is testimony to what I have always known, that Nyetimber is a remarkable place, with potential to rival the very best vineyards in Champagne or anywhere else where conditions favour world class sparkling wine production’.

Current Nyetimber vintages are available in the UK from independent wine merchants, Waitrose and many restaurants and hotels.

www.nyetimber.com

For more information, please contact Ros McCall 01798 813989 and ros@nyetimber.com