Sugrue

Few names have had a greater influence on modern English sparkling wine than Sugrue South Downs. Founded by Dermot and Ana Sugrue, the boutique Sussex producer has built an almost cult-like following through a combination of exceptional vineyard sites, meticulous winemaking and a relentless pursuit of quality.

Dermot’s journey into English wine was anything but conventional. Originally from Ireland, he gained experience in Bordeaux before joining Nyetimber, where he quickly rose to become Head Winemaker and helped establish the estate as one of England’s benchmark sparkling wine producers. Yet alongside his work at some of the country’s most important wineries, Dermot harboured a dream of creating wines under his own name.

That opportunity arrived in 2006 when the priests of Storrington Priory, at the foot of the South Downs, invited him to plant a small vineyard on their land. Dermot agreed on the condition that he could keep a portion of the fruit to make his own wine. The first harvest was famously devoured by birds, prompting Father McMahon’s understated remark: “That’s the trouble with dreams.” The phrase stayed with Dermot and would later inspire the name of his first wine.

Released from the 2009 vintage, *The Trouble With Dreams* quickly attracted critical acclaim and helped establish Sugrue South Downs as one of the most exciting names in English wine. The vineyard’s unusual combination of sandstone, clay and chalk soils produced wines of remarkable balance and complexity, proving the potential of single-site English sparkling wine.

As the reputation of Sugrue South Downs grew, so too did the search for exceptional vineyard sites. In 2013, Dermot took over the management of Mount Harry Vineyard near Lewes, a south-facing chalk site that has since become one of the estate’s flagship sources of fruit. More recently, Coldharbour Vineyard in West Sussex and Bee Tree Vineyard in East Sussex have joined the portfolio, each contributing its own distinct character to the wines.

Alongside vineyard expansion came a new chapter for the business. Croatian-born winemaker Ana Sugrue joined full-time in 2021, bringing international experience from wineries across Europe, New Zealand, Napa Valley and South America. Together, Dermot and Ana have transformed Sugrue South Downs from a passion project into one of England’s most admired boutique wine producers.

Today, the estate farms and sources fruit from some of the finest vineyard sites in Sussex, crafting wines that combine precision, personality and a strong sense of place. Supported by a group of passionate investors and admirers, including leading figures from the worlds of hospitality, wine and the arts, Sugrue South Downs continues to push the boundaries of what English wine can achieve.

At its heart, however, the story remains the same as it was at Storrington Priory nearly two decades ago: a belief that great vineyards, patience and a little faith can turn even the most ambitious dreams into reality.