Creating a Legacy: Mark & Sarah Driver on Rathfinny and the Story of English Sparkling
In Conversation with Tom Owtram
On the chalk slopes of the South Downs, just a few miles from the English Channel, Rathfinny Wine Estate has become one of the country’s most ambitious and admired sparkling wine producers. Founded in 2010 by Mark and Sarah Driver, Rathfinny was conceived not just as a vineyard, but as a world-class estate - rooted in place, built for future generations, and dedicated to showing what English wine can be on the global stage.
Over the past decade, the Drivers have combined vision and pragmatism: pioneering sustainable viticulture, earning B Corp certification, and welcoming tens of thousands of visitors each year to experience Rathfinny’s wines, food, and landscape. In this conversation, they reflect on their beginnings, their shared leadership as a couple, and what it means to make Sussex Sparkling a mark of quality at home and abroad.
Beginnings and vision
Rathfinny began with a vision, not just to grow vines but to create a world-class sparkling wine estate in Sussex. What inspired you to start?
We looked at several farms across southern England, but when we found Rathfinny we knew it was right. A south-facing slope on chalk soils, close to the sea to reduce frost risk, and a cluster of farm buildings perfect for conversion into a winery.
We’d been inspired by New Zealand in the 1990s - how they created a new wine region from scratch. And we knew the UK, then the biggest export market for Champagne, would be ready for traditional-method English sparkling wine if we could do it well.
Balancing heritage and innovation
You’ve spoken about wanting Rathfinny to feel timeless yet forward-looking. How do you balance tradition and innovation?
We see ourselves as custodians of the land. When we arrived, the soils were degraded from intensive farming. From the start, we practiced regenerative viticulture - reducing chemicals, fostering biodiversity, and mixing organic and modern approaches.
The winery itself reflects this philosophy: flint from the land, locally sourced oak, solar panels, and modern techniques like electro-dialysis to reduce energy usage. We make terroir-driven wines with long lees ageing and a low-intervention approach.
Wine tourism is also part of that balance - 60,000 visitors a year now come to experience how the land, people, and wines are connected.
Shared leadership
As co-founders and as a couple, what does shared leadership look like in practice?
Mark was the visionary at the beginning, Sarah the detail. Mark oversees winemaking, vineyard, and sales; Sarah leads the guest experience and wine tourism. Our daughter Millie now runs marketing with real creative vision.
Sustainability and B Corp
The estate is now B Corp certified. What does sustainability mean for you day to day?
It means being fair to our people as much as to the environment. We’ve always believed in nurturing the land, caring for people, and reducing our footprint. That philosophy is embedded - from building a water treatment plant, to installing solar, to reducing packaging and using recycled glass.
It’s about doing the right thing, every day, so the estate will thrive for generations.
Sussex Sparkling and the global stage
With Sussex Sparkling recognised internationally, what role do you hope Rathfinny plays in shaping English wine?
We helped establish the Sussex PDO, setting quality and provenance standards for sparkling wine from the region. That stamp of quality protects the integrity of traditional-method sparkling wine, especially as more producers explore alternatives like Charmat.
Beyond that, we’re forging new markets at home and abroad. England is still a new category internationally, much as New Zealand once was. We want Sussex Sparkling to be seen alongside Champagne and Franciacorta as a mark of excellence.
Wine, food, and landscape
Rathfinny has become a destination. What experience do you want guests to have?
Oz Clarke put it well: once you know the place and the people, wine never tastes the same again. To understand Rathfinny, you need to visit.
The estate is about connection - to the land, to the wines, to the food. Guests can stay at the Flint Barns, dine at the Tasting Room, explore the valley and cliffs, and taste our wines in the place they’re made. We want everyone to feel welcome and to see why our environment matters so much.
The South Downs as teacher
How has the South Downs landscape shaped your wines and values?
Our chalk soils and coastal climate define the wines: precise, fresh, with a natural elegance. We’ve adapted to the environment with windbreaks, terracing, and biodiversity corridors.
Being in a national park reminds us daily of our responsibility - to protect and enhance the land, and to contribute positively to the local community.
Decisions that shaped Rathfinny
You’ve invested in every part of the process. What decisions were most defining?
From choosing Pinot Noir as our dominant variety, to committing to only vintage wines with low dosage, we’ve always put terroir and provenance first. Even our bottle design - recycled glass, shaped to enhance autolysis - reflects that philosophy.
Today, our Blanc de Noirs is our signature, and seeing it on the tables of top restaurants worldwide is immensely rewarding.
Looking ahead
What excites you most for the future?
We’re developing new sparkling wines from specific plots and clones, particularly for markets like Japan where purity and food pairing are highly valued. We’re expanding guest accommodation at the Flint Barns, and building our Rathfinny Reserved wine club to offer members exclusive wines and experiences.
Grounding values
And finally, what grounds you most in the work?
Our people. The team share our ethos and our commitment to making the best possible wines, while giving visitors an experience that matches their quality.
