Rock Story is our new Pinot-dominant, multi-vintage English sparkling wine exclusive to the on-trade.
“Rock Story tells a tale of the multiple terroirs and vintages that Ana and I have worked over the past two decades in England,” says Dermot. “This is a dramatically different style of wine compared to our single-vintage, Chardonnay-led cuvées like The Trouble with Dreams, but we couldn’t be happier to welcome it into the Sugrue South Downs family.”
Comprising two-thirds Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier to one-third Chardonnay grown on chalk, limestone, sandstone, and clay vineyards across the South Downs and beyond, Rock Story includes 40% reserve wines from six vintages between 2011 and 2022.
Ana says: “While it is not uncommon to blend multiple years in the making of traditional method sparkling wine, Rock Story is a true ‘multi-vintage’. We are privileged to be able to draw upon healthy stocks of reserve wines that we have made over the last twenty years. They add a richness and complexity like nothing else.”
Aged for 18 months on its lees and disgorged with 6g/L dosage, Rock Story is fruit-forward and immediate, showing a beautiful summer berry and pastry-tinged character alongside a satin-soft texture. While an ideal aperitif, it is a versatile and layered food wine that will pair with a wide range of dishes.
Rock Story will be launched at HH&Co restaurant at Lime Wood in June 2025, before joining by-the-glass rotation at THE PIG hotels later in 2025.
Dermot says: “With Robin Hutson’s enduring chairmanship of both Lime Wood and Sugrue South Downs, this is a magnificent opportunity for us to consolidate our relationship with the hotel – a longstanding champion of English wine – with Rock Story as one of its special by-the-glass pours. This is the perfect venue for us to launch this new cuvée.”