Nyetimber 1086 Prestige Cuvée

The Nyetimber estate was first recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086, when the peaceful valley was listed as Nitimbreha. The modern wine story began in 1988, when American couple Stuart and Sandy Moss planted just over 14 hectares of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, making Nyetimber the first English producer to focus exclusively on these three Champagne varieties. Their first cuvée, the Blanc de Blancs 1992, won the English Sparkling Wine Trophy at the 1997 IWSC. Dutch entrepreneur Eric Heerema acquired the estate in 2006, and hired Canadian winemakers Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix the following year. To mark 30 years of winemaking in 2018, Nyetimber launched 1086, a white and a rosé, as England's first ever prestige cuvée.

• Vines first planted in 1988 by Stuart and Sandy Moss; first cuvée (Blanc de Blancs 1992) won the English Sparkling Wine Trophy at the 1997 IWSC
• Eric Heerema acquired Nyetimber in 2006 and expanded the vineyard from 16 hectares; Cherie Spriggs and Brad Greatrix joined as winemakers in 2007
• 1086 launched in 2018 for Nyetimber's 30th anniversary as England's first prestige cuvée, honouring the estate's 1086 Domesday Book entry
• The 2009 white and 2010 rosé were the inaugural releases; subsequent releases include white and rosé from 2010 and 2013

The Nyetimber estate sits in the heart of West Sussex, with vines tucked into the lee of the South Downs. Today the estate spans 11 vineyards across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent, totalling 425 hectares. Vineyard soils are either chalk or greensand, both valued for excellent drainage and naturally low vigour, which concentrates flavour in the fruit. The chalk geology of the South Downs continues beneath the English Channel to connect directly with the Champagne region, a fact that wine writers and geologists frequently cite as a key reason for the quality potential of the area. Rigorous canopy management, including de-leafing to maximise sun exposure, ensures the finest fruit quality across all parcels.

• 11 vineyards across Sussex, Hampshire, and Kent; 425 hectares under vine
• Chalk and greensand soils provide excellent drainage and natural low vigour, concentrating flavour
• South Downs chalk connects geologically beneath the Channel to the Champagne region
• 100% estate-grown fruit, handpicked and pressed parcel by parcel using Coquard presses from Champagne

All 1086 wines are made exclusively from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, the three classic varieties Nyetimber pioneered in England in 1988. The blend varies by vintage: the inaugural 2009 white is 46% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, and 11% Pinot Meunier, with the majority of Chardonnay from Old Manor vineyard plantings that were approximately 20 years old at harvest. The 2010 white is 45% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir, and 11% Pinot Meunier. The 2013 white shifts to approximately 51% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, and 9% Pinot Meunier. Selections are made by taste rather than formula, drawing from across 90 individual parcels to find the finest expression of each exceptional year.

• 2009 white: 46% Chardonnay, 43% Pinot Noir, 11% Pinot Meunier; Chardonnay sourced largely from Old Manor 20-year-old vines
• 2010 white: 45% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir, 11% Pinot Meunier
• 2013 white: approximately 51% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 9% Pinot Meunier
• Selection is made by taste from up to 90 individual parcels; only outstanding vintages qualify

1086 is made using the traditional method, with all fermentation conducted in stainless steel to preserve pure fruit character. After secondary fermentation in bottle, each vintage undergoes exceptionally extended lees ageing: the 2009 white spent 6 years on lees followed by 2 further years under cork; the 2010 white spent nearly 8 years on lees before disgorgement; the 2013 white spent approximately 8 years on lees before disgorgement and a further year under cork. This near-decade of ageing builds the textural richness, autolytic complexity, and seamless integration that define the 1086 style. Production quantities are very limited, with just 2,600 bottles of the 2009 white made.

• 2009 vintage: 6 years on lees plus 2 years post-disgorgement under cork before release
• 2010 vintage: nearly 8 years on lees before disgorgement
• 2013 vintage: approximately 8 years on lees, plus 1 further year under cork
• Stainless steel fermentation preserves English fruit character; very limited production per release

1086 and Nyetimber's wider portfolio have accumulated a remarkable record of international accolades. At the 2025 London Wine Fair Battle of the Bubbles, judged by 16 expert judges across 26 world-class sparkling wines, the 1086 2010 was named top-scoring Global Sparkling and top-scoring wine overall, ahead of Dom Pérignon 2013 and Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition. In the same year, the IWC awarded Nyetimber's Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum the Champion Sparkling Wine Trophy, making it the first non-Champagne wine to receive that honour, scoring 97 points. Cherie Spriggs also won IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year in both 2018 and 2025, the first person outside Champagne and the first woman to do so. Nyetimber has won English Wine Producer of the Year a record eight times at the IWSC.

• 2025 London Wine Fair Battle of the Bubbles: 1086 2010 named top-scoring Global Sparkling and top-scoring wine overall from a field of 26 international sparkling wines
• 2025 IWC: Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum won Champion Sparkling Wine Trophy, the first non-Champagne to do so; 97 points
• Cherie Spriggs: IWC Sparkling Winemaker of the Year 2018 and 2025, first person outside Champagne and first woman to win the award
• Nyetimber has won English Wine Producer of the Year a record eight times at the IWSC

Nyetimber welcomes visitors to the estate through a range of curated experiences. Open Day tours allow guests to explore the vineyards and estate, followed by tastings of the award-winning sparkling wine range. The 1086 by Nyetimber Paired Dining Experience offers guests a multi-course dinner matched to the prestige cuvée in the beautiful setting of The White Barn. These experiences provide an opportunity to understand the chalk terroir, extended ageing philosophy, and the winemaking craft behind England's most celebrated sparkling wine estate.

• Open Day tours of the estate followed by tastings of Nyetimber's full sparkling wine range
• 1086 by Nyetimber Paired Dining Experience: multi-course dinner matched to the prestige cuvée at The White Barn
• Lot codes on the back label of every bottle can be entered online to trace the wine's full journey from bottling to disgorgement