Hoffmann & Rathbone

In the modern world, humanity attempts to control the natural environment. In reality, the environment is the master of viticulture and viniculture, dictating one vintage after another as the years go by.

Each vintage, the forces of nature offer unique and unpredictable challenges. Passion and hard labour in the vineyard are the dependable forces in which we can trust to ensure that all our sparkling wines are of a consistently superior quality. At Hoffmann & Rathbone, we carefully source and nurture the relationship with our growers, just as they lovingly nurture and harvest the ripest and best grapes grown in the beautiful South East English countryside for us. England manifests terroir.

The Hoffmann & Rathbone approach to winemaking is modern but minimalistic. We create our base wines by carefully sourcing and hand-picking only the ripest grapes, which are gently pressed to separate the juice from the skins. The magic in the transformation from grape to sparkling wine is attention to detail and absolute care. The final Cuvee is lovingly and carefully selected from the most promising wines.

The key to the fine flavours and delicate layers that distinguish our boutique sparkling wines is a combination of artistry and patience: traditional bottle fermentation, years of devoted cellar ageing, remuage, disgorgement and dosage.

While we are proud to offer you the indulgence of our superior sparkling wines at release, we would also encourage that you savour your enjoyment for years to come.

Hoffmann & Rathbone represents a new heritage and a new philosophy in sparkling wines, founded in love, commitment and passion.

Ulrich Hoffmann brings a personal wealth of vinification and vineyard technology expertise, from an impressive international 15-year career that has taken him from the prestigious Rolf-Willy in Baden-Wuerttemberg to Chateau de Fieuzal and Chateau Haut-Gardére in Bordeaux; via Artadi in Navarra, Cain Vineyards in Napa Valley, Bookers Vineyard in Sussex and the Gusbourne Estate in Kent. One of the wines he crafted was served on the Royal Barge as part of Her Majesty The Queens’ Jubilee Celebration.

Ulrich believes that sparkling wine creates special occasions:
‘It is beautiful, uplifting and tastes wonderful if made well. I have always loved the process of making sparkling wines. Here in the South East, you find the perfect combination and interaction of cool climate, grape variety and soil.’

It was not only his passion for sparkling wine that finally bought Ulrich to Moonhill Farm in Sussex, but a long, long-distance love affair with now wife Birgit Rathbone. The couple combined their names to begin a new heritage, a brand suffused with absolute commitment and devotion. Their wines are the culmination of many hours talking about their dreams and many years of dedicated hard work to create something truly beautiful and unique. It is the couple’s young son Henry who inspires them most in the creation of the Hoffmann & Rathbone brand.

'The tree which moves some to tears of joy is in the eyes of others only a green thing that stands in the way. Some see nature all ridicule and deformity... and some scarce see nature at all. But to the eyes of the man of imagination, nature is imagination itself.'
~ William Blake ~