Sussex producer Rathfinny Wine Estate has launched its Mini Cuvée 2020 50cl bottle, offering the first product of this size of sparkling wine bottle into the UK market. The Alfriston-based firm said the bottle size was “perfect” for two people to share, with a pour of four glasses. As a result of its smaller size, the producer believes it will allow consumers to indulge in a glass of sparkling wine on more occasions, for example at lunch, with friends, or as a casual pre-dinner apéritif. In addition, the company said the size aimed to cater to those who wish to consumer less alcohol. The cuvée is bottle-aged and fermented unlike many 37.5cl bottles were are normally filled by the transfer method from a large bottle, potentially reducing quality of the end-product. Legislate It follows Rathfinny campaigning to legislate the 50cl bottle for several years, and laid down the first batch of the product from the 2020 vintage. This is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 15% Pinot Meunier, with a further 5,000 bottles from the 2021 vintage bottled in June 2022. The producer said the bottle was also aimed at growth markets where the 50cl bottle size was also permitted. Co-founder of the estate, Mark Driver, said he was “thrilled” to introduce the product, and it was a “terrific bottle size”. Two formats He said: “As Matthew Jukes has said, sparkling wine should be sold in two formats: 50cls and Magnums (150cl). The Mini is the
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Champagne
