NYETIMBER PARTNERS WITH PLUMPTON COLLEGE TO SUPPORT NEXT GENERATION

Over March, April and May, three students will spend ten days immersed in the Nyetimber business, learning all about its renowned pioneering approach developed over the last thirty years.  The students are studying wine production and wine business courses at Plumpton and will spend time with Nyetimber’s Vineyard, Winery, Sales and Marketing teams. This exposure will enable the students to gain a good understanding of the various aspects of how Nyetimber operates and the lengths it must go to to maintain its reputation as one of the world’s finest sparkling wine producers.

Nyetimber owner and CEO, Eric Heerema said:

With the increasing demand for quality English Sparkling Wine there is a commensurate need for the industry to recruit more talent from the growing number of students learning about wine. We at Nyetimber are delighted to offer work experience to students from Plumpton as we appreciate the importance of discovering young professionals with an aptitude for wine, offering mentoring, training and hands-on experience to develop those who want to pursue a career in what is a fascinating, exciting and rewarding industry.

Plumpton College Wine Centre provides extensive support for students with placement opportunities and has a strong framework for business management in what is a rapidly expanding industry. According to industry group WineGB, around 2,500 people work in the wine production industry and this is expected to increase to 30,000 by 2040. Total global sales of English and Welsh wine are expected to hit 40 million bottles (up from 5.9 million bottles sold in 2018) with a forecast retail value of over £1 billion by 2040.  3 million vines were planted in 2019, up from 1 million in 2017 and total wine production hit a record 13.2 million bottles in 2018, up 123% on the prior year - of which approximately 2/3^rd is sparkling.

Plumpton’s wine courses cover learning about viticulture and oenology, from grape berry development and composition, to yield and quality management, and sustainable viticulture, plus modules on the impact that climate change will have on wine production in the UK. Students are also offered courses on wine sales and business that can lead to careers as a business development manager, independent retailer, logistics officer or sommelier either in the UK or abroad.  

Regarded as England’s finest sparkling wine, Nyetimber is made from one hundred percent estate-grown grapes from vineyards spanning the South of England. Owner and Chief Executive Eric Heerema works together with award-winning Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs and Winemaker Brad Greatrix to produce wine of extraordinary elegance and quality.

The growing international reputation of Nyetimber was recognised in 2018 when Cherie Spriggs won the acclaimed ‘Sparkling Winemaker of the Year’ title at the International Wine Challenge, the first time a woman or anyone outside of Champagne or France had won. Other notable awards for Nyetimber also include:

• Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 2009 wins the English Classic Blend Trophy and the English Sparkling Trophy at the International Wine Challenge 2019
• Blanc de Blancs 2010 wins English Sparkling Blanc de Blancs Trophy at the International Wine Challenge 2018
• Classic Cuvee 2009 Jeroboam wins Best English Sparkling wine Trophy at the Champagne & Sparkling wine World Championships 2017