The English Wine Diaries

Dermot Sugrue, Sugrue South Downs – Episode 44

March 08, 2023 Rebecca Pitcairn Season 7 Episode 44
Dermot Sugrue, Sugrue South Downs – Episode 44
The English Wine Diaries
More Info
The English Wine Diaries
Dermot Sugrue, Sugrue South Downs – Episode 44
Mar 08, 2023 Season 7 Episode 44
Rebecca Pitcairn

My guest on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Dermot Sugrue, who is widely recognised as the UK’s most successful and decorated winemaker. 

After studying viticulture at Plumpton College Dermot joined Nyetimber in 2003 and oversaw the West Sussex vineyard’s emergence as one of the world’s greatest sparkling wine producers. 

He went on to help Harry and Pip Goring establish Wiston Estate a few miles down the road and for the next 16 years was responsible for making some of England’s most celebrated wines. 

Somehow, he also found time to make his own wine, setting up Sugrue South Downs in 2006 and releasing his first own-brand sparkling, The Trouble with Dreams, in 2013 to critical acclaim. 

Last year Dermot left Wiston to focus full time on Sugrue South Downs with his wife Ana, who is also a winemaker, and the couple have received investment from none other than hotelier, Robin Hutson, who was in fact the first ever guest on this podcast.

We talk about his first introduction to wine, why he decided to take the leap and focus full time on Sugrue and lets us in on some exciting news about what’s on the agenda for the Sugrue family this summer.

Keep up to date with Sugrue South Downs’ latest news and releases at Sugruesouthdowns.com or by following @sugruesouthdowns on Instagram.

NB apologies for some sound quality issues in this episode.

This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free deliver on orders over £40.


Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.

Show Notes

My guest on this week's episode of The English Wine Diaries is Dermot Sugrue, who is widely recognised as the UK’s most successful and decorated winemaker. 

After studying viticulture at Plumpton College Dermot joined Nyetimber in 2003 and oversaw the West Sussex vineyard’s emergence as one of the world’s greatest sparkling wine producers. 

He went on to help Harry and Pip Goring establish Wiston Estate a few miles down the road and for the next 16 years was responsible for making some of England’s most celebrated wines. 

Somehow, he also found time to make his own wine, setting up Sugrue South Downs in 2006 and releasing his first own-brand sparkling, The Trouble with Dreams, in 2013 to critical acclaim. 

Last year Dermot left Wiston to focus full time on Sugrue South Downs with his wife Ana, who is also a winemaker, and the couple have received investment from none other than hotelier, Robin Hutson, who was in fact the first ever guest on this podcast.

We talk about his first introduction to wine, why he decided to take the leap and focus full time on Sugrue and lets us in on some exciting news about what’s on the agenda for the Sugrue family this summer.

Keep up to date with Sugrue South Downs’ latest news and releases at Sugruesouthdowns.com or by following @sugruesouthdowns on Instagram.

NB apologies for some sound quality issues in this episode.

This episode of The English Wine Diaries is sponsored by Wickhams, The Great British Wine Merchant. Visit wickhamwine.co.uk to see their award-winning range of English wine with free deliver on orders over £40.


Thanks for listening to The English Wine Diaries. If you enjoyed the podcast then please leave a rating or review, it helps boost our ratings and makes it easier for other people to find us. To find out who will be joining me next on the English Wine Diaries, follow @theenglishwinediaries on Instagram and for more regular English wine news and reviews, sign up to our newsletter at thesouthernquarter.co.uk.