Nyetimber at the Star Wine List of the Year 2023 International Finals

On 19th June, top sommeliers from around the world flew in to Stockholm in Sweden, or joined the live streaming via Facebook, to hear which restaurants and wine bars had won the coveted best lists in our international categories. Plenty of bottles of Nyetimber were on hand for the celebration. Nyetimber, the makers of exceptional English sparkling wine, have been a critical part of this year’s Star Wine List of the Year.

"At a time when the on-trade faces extraordinary challenges, sommeliers and other wine professionals need and deserve the recognition offered by Star Wine List of the Year," said Krister Bengtsson, founder and publisher of Star Wine List. "This is something we wouldn’t be able to do without the support of top wine producers like Nyetimber, who have supported us this year."

The sparkle of Nyetimber

Nyetimber is one of England's top wineries, whose wines have won numerous awards and been listed on some of the most prestigious wine lists in the world.

Giuseppe D’Aniello, Head Sommelier & Wine Buyer at The London Edition Hotel, considers Nyetimber to be a pioneer, and says it’s thanks to them that so many people now know about the high quality of English sparkling wines.

"This is why at The Edition we created a page specifically with English sparkling wine from the different regions, because we analysed what we saw and that there was this big increase in demand," he says. "More and more people understand English sparkling wine and know there is a quality and consistency."

D’Aniello says that Nyetimber is so important, that The London Edition Hotel offers it by the glass. "We know the terroir is represented perfectly, the packaging is great and elegant," and it looks and tastes luxurious, which makes everybody happy.

But great success never happens overnight; it’s a step-by-step process, even when all the elements are high quality.

The Nyetimber property was acquired in 2006 by Dutchman Eric Heerema, who has completely refurbished the winery and expanded the vineyard area to include sites in Kent, Sussex and Hampshire.

In 2007, Heerema brought winemakers Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix on board; in 2018, Spriggs became the first woman, as well as the first non-Champagne maker, to be named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year by the International Wine Challenge.

For me, the Blanc de Blancs is one of the wines I always want to have on my list

Between them, they have turned Nyetimber into an international ambassador for English sparkling wine. This has been partly thanks to the estate’s dedication to using 100% estate-grown grapes, introducing unique offerings like a Demi-Sec, and even launching a prestige cuvée, demonstrating a focus on crafting class-style wines that can rival the best in the world.

"For me, the Blanc de Blancs is one of the wines I always want to have on my list," says D’Aniello, saying he wants it chilled in the fridge at all time. "Generally speaking, the back vintages have developed well, have great complexity and have shown that they can age," though he adds that he likes the entire Nyetimber range.

He’s not the only lover of Nyetimber. Today, Nyetimber's influence extends far beyond its vineyards in Kent, Sussex, and Hampshire. Its wines are sought-after in numerous countries, including Norway, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, and Japan.

Serving Nyetimber in Sweden

Star Wine List of the Year celebrates the top wine lists and the work behind them. It began in Sweden in 2018, and has now spread across the world, with events in Asia, Europe, the UK and the US. Local winners of international categories came together in Stockholm on 19th June, either in person or online, to hear who had been named the best in the world by a world-class jury.