Rathfinny chooses HK as first export market

English sparkling wine producer Rathfinny has appointed a distributor in Hong Kong and its first wines will be available there in September this year.

(Photo: Rathfinny Estates)

The Sussex winery has appointed Jebsen Fine Wines as its exclusive distributor in the territory to sell its Blanc de Blancs 2014 and Rosé Brut 2015.

Co-owner Mark Driver commented: “We are delighted to be embarking on this exciting journey with Jebsen, one of the most highly-regarded distributors in Hong Kong, synonymous with its first-rate portfolio, exceptional knowledge of the market and, perhaps most importantly for us, its strong relationships within the trade.”

One of the new wave of English wine estates, Rathfinny’s first wines were not launched until April of this year in the UK and have already been listed in top on- and off-trade accounts such as the Savoy Hotel, Berry Bros & Rudd and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

The estate has a stated aim to sell as much as 50% of its production in export markets and Hong Kong was a natural first port of call.

As co-owner Sarah Driver explained: “Aside from its potential as a growth area for sparkling wine, it’s a country we feel very connected to. Having been brought up there myself, we have a strong network of friends and family based in Hong Kong, and we believe that with a bit of hard work, we can create a loyal following for Rathfinny over there.”

Gavin Jones, managing director of Jebsen, stated: “We are very proud to be working as the exclusive Hong Kong distributor for Rathfinny Wine Estate. For such a new English wine producer, Rathfinny has already gained an enviable reputation and profile within the UK. Mark, Sarah and the team have instilled a confidence and attention to detail which permeates every aspect of their brand, that we at Jebsen find both unique and admirable.

“The wines themselves are of an exceptionally high quality, to the extent that we feel they are already elevating the English wine category as a whole. We believe Rathfinny will benefit greatly from our leading position in the market and will fit comfortably side-by-side other premium producers such as Bollinger and Frescobaldi that we are inordinately proud to count as part of our portfolio.”