Rathfinny winery lays sustainable roots

Building work has begun on England’s largest and most environmentally sustainable winery in Alfriston, East Sussex.

The Rathfinny Estate’s new winery is set to feature a number of sustainable design techniques and low carbon technologies, with a new 50kW of solar power set to save 16 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year.

Designer Martin Swatton has used locally sourced English oak to clad the new building, with locally grown English sweet chestnut used for the decking.

The building heights and floor levels have been designed around a ‘gravity’ grape pressing solution which takes advantage of the site’s natural slope to load grapes at a high level and collect juices from below – avoiding the need to use energy to pump juice into settling tanks.

Mark Driver, the Founder of Rathfinny, said: “Every aspect of the construction of the winery has been designed to produce the highest quality sparkling wine. We have taken an uncompromising approach to ensure that it will be one of the most high-tech and environmentally friendly wineries in the world.”

Martin Swottan, said: “The winery will be built to demanding standards to ensure it complements the beauty of the South Downs National Park while at the same time allowing for the production of the finest quality wines.”