Hoffmann & Rathbone
Hoffmann & Rathbone is an English winery that represents the new European horizon of the Metodo Classico. The winery is located in the heart of Sussex, the southern region of England, overlooking the English Channel. The idea of creating a sparkling wine reality in Anglo-Saxon land stems from Ulrich Hoffmann's passion for the world of wine. Before embarking on this adventure, Ulrich accumulated a significant wealth of international experience, with consulting roles in winemaking at important wineries in Bordeaux, Spain, Napa Valley, Italy, and Lebanon. Starting from a solid foundation of knowledge, he decided to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the production of Metodo Classico.
From the passion for wine and the love for his wife Birgit Rathbone, the Hoffmann & Rathbone brand was born. The couple, with the help of their son Henry, manages the Mountfield estate in Sussex, producing several high-end Metodo Classico labels. The soils are very suited, characterized by a deep substrate of gypsum and limestone, ideal for viticulture. The effects of global warming has contributed to soften the cold and continental climate, making it milder. In the vineyards, the three classic Champagne grape varieties are cultivated: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, which reach maturity while maintaining a remarkable level of freshness, essential for creating excellent sparkling bases.
The harvest is manual, with selection in the vineyard of only the ripest bunches. The grapes are vinified separately based on the grape variety and the vineyard of origin, in order to have a wide palette of vins clairs to create the cuvées. At the end of the aging period, the base wines are blended to create the different labels. The selection of the best wines and a very long aging on the lees, which ranges from 60 to 84 months, allows for the production of a Metodo Classico of great complexity, with evolved aromas, yet always supported by a vibrant freshness. These are bottles to discover, that amaze with their balance and harmony, a perfect expression of a terroir with great potential, still all to be explored and enhanced.
Hoffmann & Rathbone is an English winery that represents the new European horizon of the Metodo Classico. The winery is located in the heart of Sussex, the southern region of England, overlooking the English Channel. The idea of creating a sparkling wine reality in Anglo-Saxon land stems from Ulrich Hoffmann's passion for the world of wine. Before embarking on this adventure, Ulrich accumulated a significant wealth of international experience, with consulting roles in winemaking at important wineries in Bordeaux, Spain, Napa Valley, Italy, and Lebanon. Starting from a solid foundation of knowledge, he decided to dedicate himself wholeheartedly to the production of Metodo Classico.
From the passion for wine and the love for his wife Birgit Rathbone, the Hoffmann & Rathbone brand was born. The couple, with the help of their son Henry, manages the Mountfield estate in Sussex, producing several high-end Metodo Classico labels. The soils are very suited, characterized by a deep substrate of gypsum and limestone, ideal for viticulture. The effects of global warming has contributed to soften the cold and continental climate, making it milder. In the vineyards, the three classic Champagne grape varieties are cultivated: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Meunier, which reach maturity while maintaining a remarkable level of freshness, essential for creating excellent sparkling bases.
The harvest is manual, with selection in the vineyard of only the ripest bunches. The grapes are vinified separately based on the grape variety and the vineyard of origin, in order to have a wide palette of vins clairs to create the cuvées. At the end of the aging period, the base wines are blended to create the different labels. The selection of the best wines and a very long aging on the lees, which ranges from 60 to 84 months, allows for the production of a Metodo Classico of great complexity, with evolved aromas, yet always supported by a vibrant freshness. These are bottles to discover, that amaze with their balance and harmony, a perfect expression of a terroir with great potential, still all to be explored and enhanced.
