Name

Sugrue South Downs

Legal name

Sugrue South Downs

Website

https://sugruesouthdowns.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique English Winery

NAICS

Wineries (31213), Grape Vineyards (111332), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180), Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810)

akta.pro primary industry

Wine & Sparkling Wine Wineries & Brands (CRADAIAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wineries & Vineyards (Tasting Rooms) (THAFALAE), Wine Grape Vineyard Operations (Varietal/AVA Practices, Yield & Quality Targets) (AFAGAJAJ), Wine Retail (Bottle Shops & Wine Merchants) (CRANABAB)

Keywords

• English sparkling wine
• Boutique winery
• Traditional method wines
• Wine tourism experiences
• Single vineyard viticulture

Headquarters

HQ city

Wivelsfield Green

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct-to-consumer wine sales: Online sales through sugruesouthdowns.com across sparkling wines (The Trouble With Dreams from £49, Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan £125), still wines (Bonkers V2 £29, Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2022 £65), and Precognition Gin (£50). Free UK delivery over £75. Mixed cases and bundles available. This is the primary revenue stream for individual consumers and collectors.
2. On-trade restaurant and hotel supply: Wines supplied to fine dining restaurants (Michelin-starred including The Fat Duck, L'Enclume, The Ledbury, Murano, Geranium) and boutique hotels (THE PIG, Lime Wood, Chewton Glen). Rock Story is restaurant-exclusive. Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan poured on British Airways First Class. Prestige cuvées allocated to the on-trade by request.
3. Retail distribution: Wines stocked by specialist UK retailers (Fortnum & Mason, Hedonism Wines, Lea & Sandeman, The Wine Society, Harvey Nichols) and international retail in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Germany, Austria, Japan, Hong Kong, Malta, and Cayman Islands via international distributors.
4. Experiences and events: Revenue from tours & tastings (£55/person), Winemaker Masterclasses (£85/person, limited to 12 guests), Cellar Table with Mark Hix (£175/person), Sugrue Sundays (£150/person, chef-hosted vineyard lunches), and private hire. Gift cards and vouchers sold for tours and tastings. Pre-booked winery visits only, Thursday–Saturday.
5. Gin and accessories: Precognition Gin (£50, 43% ABV, made with Silent Pool Distillers) and accessories including cork screws (£10), tote bags (£13), and bottle stoppers (£8) sold through the e-commerce storefront.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Sugrue South Downs is a boutique English winery that produces award-winning traditional-method sparkling and still wines from chalk-soil vineyards in the South Downs and Crouch Valley. Its portfolio includes flagship sparkling cuvées (The Trouble With Dreams, ZODO, Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan), restaurant-exclusive cuvées (Rock Story), still wines (Bonkers Chardonnay, Crouch Valley Pinot Noir), and a single-vineyard Pinot Meunier gin (Precognition). The company sells primarily through direct-to-consumer e-commerce, on-trade supply to Michelin-starred restaurants and boutique hotels, and specialist retail, supplemented by cellar-door wine experiences and tours.

Product overview

Sugrue South Downs is a boutique English sparkling and still wine producer offering a portfolio of award-winning wines alongside experiential offerings and branded accessories. Core products center on traditional-method sparkling wines (The Trouble With Dreams, Rosé Ex Machina, Cuvée Boz, ZODO, Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan) crafted from South Downs chalk vineyards, complemented by still wines (Bonkers Chardonnay, Crouch Valley Pinot Noir) and a gin (Precognition Gin). The company supplements wine sales with wine experiences including Tours & Tastings, Winemaker Masterclasses, Cellar Table dinners, and Sugrue Sundays events. Merchandise includes branded corkscrews, tote bags, and bottle stoppers. Mixed case bundles offer curated selections at various price points.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Trouble With Dreams Flagship traditional-method sparkling wine crafted from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grown on South Downs chalk, fermented in old oak barrels and aged 5-10 years before release. England's highest-rated sparkling wine averaging 93.1 points from critics.
• Rosé Ex Machina 2018 Late-release traditional-method sparkling rosé aged 80 months on lees, comprising 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier, and 10% Chardonnay from Coldharbour Vineyard.
• Cuvée Boz Mount Harry Blanc de Blancs 2020 Single-vineyard Blanc de Blancs from Mount Harry 'Grand Cru' site, 100% Chardonnay, crafted only in best vintages for long cellar ageing. Trophy winner for Best Blanc de Blancs at WineGB Awards.
• ZODO MV 2020 Zero-dosage traditional-method sparkling wine made without any added sugar, featuring reserve wines from 2009 and 2011, aged 48 months on lees. Named by Hugh Johnson as a desert island bottle.
• Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan 2018 Prestige traditional-method sparkling cuvée made only in exceptional vintages, representing the finest wine from the house. Selected for British Airways First Class (2026-2028).
• Rock Story MV Multi-vintage Pinot-dominant traditional-method sparkling wine exclusive to restaurants, blended from six vintages between 2011-2022 with 40% reserve wines. Food wine designed for the restaurant table.
• Bonkers V2 Solera-aged multi-vintage still Chardonnay blend employing fermentation in oak, ageing under flor, controlled oxidation, and vintage blending. Gold Medal winner at WineGB Awards 2025.
• Crouch Valley Pinot Noir 2022 Inaugural still red wine from Mason's Point in Crouch Valley, Essex, planted on London Blue Clay. Deeply saturated Pinot Noir of structure, power, and elegance with fine-grained velvety tannins. Only 500 bottles produced.
• Precognition Gin Single-vintage, single-variety, single-vineyard London Dry Gin made from Pinot Meunier grapes from Mount Harry, distilled with Serbian juniper, coriander, angelica root, clove, black cardamom, and botanicals at 43% ABV. Produced in collaboration with Silent Pool Distillers.
• Tours & Tastings Guided winery tours and tutored wine tastings at the working winery in Wivelsfield Green, East Sussex. Includes vineyard tour, tasting of 5 wines, cheese and charcuterie pairing. £55 per person.
• Winemaker Masterclass Intimate tasting evenings led by Dermot or Ana including vineyard tour, barrel tastings of vins clairs, and tasting of 5 wines including library vintages. Limited to 12 guests. £85 per person.
• Cellar Table with Mark Hix Five-course wine dinner cooked by chef Mark Hix over vine cuttings, paired with Sugrue South Downs wines including library stock selections. £175 per person.
• Sugrue Sundays Alfresco wine lunches in the vineyard featuring rotating chef pairings (Angela Hartnett, Mark Hix, Richard Corrigan, etc.), four-course menu grilled over vine cuttings, and wine pairings. £150 per person.
• Mixed Cases & Bundles Pre-curated wine collections including Essential Twin Pack (£99), Signature Twin Pack (£105), Signature Mixed Case (£315), and The Trouble With Dreams Collector's Case (£350).
• Gift Vouchers & Cards Gift cards and Tour & Tastings vouchers for wine enthusiasts, valid for experiences at the winery. Gift cards available in variable amounts, tour vouchers at £55 per person.

Quantifiable outcome

• The Trouble With Dreams 2009 in magnum – Best in Show, Decanter World Wine Awards 2025 (first sparkling wine in magnum to rank in top 50 wines globally; first achievement by any Champagne or English sparkling)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers27 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Café Murano (London)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Café Murano Marylebone hosts a Winemaker's Dinner with Dermot Sugrue on Thursday 2nd July 2026. Direct booking through the restaurant.
• Thyme (Cotswolds)minorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Thyme boutique hotel in the Cotswolds hosts a Winemaker's Supper Club with Sugrue South Downs on Wednesday 29th July 2026. Direct booking through Thyme.
• British AirwayscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2026Cuvée Dr Brendan O'Regan 2018 selected by British Airways Master of Wine Tim Jackson to be poured on British Airways First Class globally for three years from March 2026. Placed alongside prestige cuvées from Rare, Charles Heidsieck, Laurent-Perrier, Bollinger, Veuve Clicquot, Gusbourne, and Nyetimber. A significant prestige placement for English sparkling wine.
• Mugaritz (San Sebastián)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2025Two Michelin star World's 50 Best Restaurant Mugaritz collaborated with Sugrue South Downs on a special multi-vintage release under their 'Vis à Vis' series. During Mugaritz's six-month annual closure, sommeliers travel globally to find tiny parcels of wine for the restaurant. Ana and Dermot collaborated with Head Sommelier Kristell Monot.
• Lime Wood (New Forest)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2025Lime Wood boutique hotel launched a brand partnership with Sugrue South Downs in February 2025. Rock Story launched at HH&Co restaurant; ZODO poured at Raw & Cured; The Trouble With Dreams listed as exclusive English sparkling house pour. Includes exclusive wine tastings hosted by Dermot and Ana. Robin Hutson is chairman of both companies, making this an intra-group partnership.
• Indigo WineminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2025Indigo Wine's 'Salt of the Earth' series – a collaboration with Ben Henshaw (Indigo MD), Jamie Goode, and Daniel Primack. Salt Éire is Sugrue South Downs' contribution: a white wine available exclusively via Indigo Wines.
• Tindal Wine Merchants (Ireland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Tindal Wine Merchants (founded by Anthony and Mathew Tindal, 2004) appointed as Sugrue South Downs' distributor in Ireland from January 2025. Represents Sugrue alongside François Raveneau, Hubert Lamy, Markus Molitor, Bouchard Finlaison, and other domaines. Directed by Fine Wine MW Harriet Tindal.
• Bona Fide Wines (Norway)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Norway.
• Handpicked (Sweden)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Sweden.
• L'Esprit Du Vin (Denmark)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Denmark.
• Lobenbergs (Germany)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Germany.
• Döllerer (Austria)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Austria.
• Real Wines (Switzerland)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Switzerland.
• Massal Selection (Spain)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Spain.
• Frontive (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Japan.
• I Love Bubbles (Hong Kong)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Hong Kong.
• M&Z (Malta)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Malta.
• Cayman Boutique Beverage (Cayman Islands)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in the Cayman Islands.
• Johnston Fine Wine (Italy)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025International distributor for Sugrue South Downs in Italy.
• Tindal (Ireland)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2025Tindal Wine Merchants appointed as distributor in Ireland, January 2025.
• High Weald DairyminorOthers · 1 January 2024High Weald Dairy provides cheese for tours & tastings and winemaker masterclasses at Sugrue South Downs. Recommended pairing: Little Sussex cheese with Cuvée Boz Blanc de Blancs.
• Beal's Farm CharcuterieminorOthers · 1 January 2024Beal's Farm provides charcuterie for winery tours, tastings, and masterclasses. Recommended pairing: Bresaola with Rosé Ex Machina. Featured in Bonkers tasting notes.
• Silent Pool DistillerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Working with Silent Pool Distillers in the Surrey Hills to produce Precognition Gin. Silent Pool selected botanicals (Serbian juniper, coriander, angelica root, clove, black cardamom, wild forest pepper, rosemary, jasmine, lavender) to complement the Pinot Meunier base from Mount Harry vineyard. Double-pot distilled to 43% ABV. A unique collaboration producing a single-vintage, single-variety, single-vineyard gin.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Ridgeview Wine Estate: Long-established Sussex sparkling producer with strong restaurant and export presence. Comparable on traditional-method English sparkling, DTC e-commerce, and event-driven cellar-door experiences. A cited peer in Wine Lister's English sparkling ranking.
• Gusbourne: Award-winning premium English sparkling and still wine producer with vineyards in Kent and Sussex. Direct peer in DTC e-commerce, on-trade channel (also listed by British Airways First Class alongside Sugrue), and Michelin-starred restaurant presence. Comparable price points and prestige positioning.
• Nyetimber: England's largest and most established premium sparkling wine producer, founded 1988. Most direct comparable to Sugrue South Downs in terms of product (traditional-method English sparkling), target market (Michelin-starred UK restaurants and luxury retail), and winemaking approach (chalk terroir, extended lees aging). Dermot Sugrue was previously Head Winemaker at Nyetimber.
• Rathfinny Wine Estate: Large, well-capitalised Sussex sparkling and still wine estate with broad retail and on-trade distribution. A referenced competitor in Wine Lister's English sparkling ranking and direct overlap on DTC, on-trade, and event experiences at the winery.
• Roebuck Estates: Premium English sparkling producer in Sussex, ranked by Wine Lister ahead of several larger producers. Direct peer on product (traditional method, single-vineyard expressions), DTC and on-trade channels, and is identified as a comparable in Sugrue's own awards narrative.
• Chapel Down: England's largest wine producer (AIM-listed), spanning sparkling, still, and beer/spirits with national retail and on-trade penetration. Comparable on DTC e-commerce and UK retail stockists like Fortnum & Mason, and a relevant scaled comp for a future fundraise or exit narrative.
• Hambledon Vineyard: One of England's oldest commercial vineyards and a recognized premium sparkling producer on chalk soils in Hampshire. Direct competitor in the same Wine Lister top-rated English sparkling list as Sugrue, with overlapping DTC, on-trade, and wine-tourism business models.
• Hattingley Valley: Hampshire-based English sparkling wine producer recognized for traditional-method wines and on-trade placements. Closely comparable on production philosophy, DTC model, and listed by Wine Lister in England's top sparkling wines alongside Sugrue.

Emerging players

• Maison Jacques Selosse: Iconic grower Champagne referenced by Jancis Robinson, Tom Parker, and others as Sugrue's stylistic touchstone for oxidative, low-dosage, terroir-first wines. Indicative of the prestige positioning Sugrue aspires to and against which ZODO is benchmarked.

Broad incumbents

• Charles Heidsieck: Prestige Champagne house whose extended-lees-aging, low-dosage cuvées (Brut Réserve and Blanc des Blancs) are explicitly cited by critics and British Airways as the benchmark Sugrue is being compared to. Indicates the prestige-cuvée trajectory Sugrue is targeting rather than day-to-day commercial competition.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/SugrueSouthDowns
• Instagraminstagram.com/sugruesouthdowns
• Xx.com/dermotsugrue
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sugrue-south-downs

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sugrue South Downs