Nyetimber Becomes Official Sparkling Wine Of Allianz Stadium and England Rugby
Today marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between Nyetimber, the pioneering English sparkling wine producer, and England Rugby. For the first time ever, the iconic sporting organisation will be sponsored by an English sparkling wine, with a partnership that will see Nyetimber support the England Men's and Women's Senior teams and be served at all hosting fixtures at Allianz Stadium, as well as major tournaments such as the Guinness Six Nations and Quilter Nations Series.
Nyetimber and England Rugby are united by a shared pioneering spirit, with both having broken new ground in their respective fields. While Nyetimber paved the way for luxury English sparkling wine production - being the first producer to have grown the famous grape varieties Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier in England exclusively for producing sparkling wines - England Rugby was the sport's first ever governing body, marking a pivotal step forward for its future development. What's more, just as rugby unites players and fans in camaraderie, Nyetimber unites friends and family in toasting to life's greatest moments.
The partnership embodies the spirit of English excellence: pioneering, uncompromising, and worthy of celebration. The celebrations in question will range from grassroots to the national stage, as not only will Nyetimber be presented to the player of the match at every England Rugby Senior Men's and Women's home match, but the brand will also be working to support local clubs across the country.
As the exclusive sparkling wine, the full Nyetimber range will now be available by the bottle and by the glass at Allianz Stadium. The Nyetimber Routemaster Bus - recognisable to many for its iconic presence at many English sporting and cultural events - will be parked up in the Nyetimber Garden in the British Airways West Fan Village during major matches, and Nyetimber will also be served in hospitality. The range includes seven styles: Nyetimber Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage, Nyetimber Rosé Multi-Vintage, Nyetimber Cuvee Chérie, Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs, Nyetimber Tillington Single Vineyard and 1086 by Nyetimber & 1086 by Nyetimber Rosé.
Nyetimber CEO and Owner, Eric Heerema said, "It means so much to us to have become the first English sparkling wine of England Rugby. As a brand with a history of partnering with British sporting institutions - including Team GB in 2024 - we feel incredibly proud to be supporting a national team; particularly one that is so iconic and has such a passionate following in this country.
"It is a fitting time for us to share this news, as we proudly support the Red Roses in their pursuit of a world title. Both of our organisations champion women at the top, with the RFU's appointment of their first female president, Deborah Griffin, and our Head Winemaker, Cherie Spriggs having been at the helm of our winemaking for the past two decades. Cherie was the first and remains to this day the only woman to have ever won Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge.
"We are delighted that fans can now celebrate the many achievements in this game with a glass of Nyetimber."
"It is fantastic to be welcoming Nyetimber as our Official Sparkling Wine Partner," said Claudio Borges, RFU Executive Director of Commercial and Marketing.
"Both of our organisations demonstrate English excellence on-and-off the pitch, and just as England Rugby has built its reputation through decades of dedication to excellence, Nyetimber has established itself as England's finest sparkling wine through uncompromising attention to detail and commitment to quality. There is so much cause for celebration in our sport, and we are thrilled that the England Rugby community can now raise a glass to achievements great and small with Nyetimber's outstanding sparkling wines."
Nyetimber will be served at Allianz Stadium for the first time on 1 November, during the first Quilter Nations Series fixture between England and Australia. Other upcoming fixtures include England vs. Fiji (8 November), England vs. New Zealand (15 November), and England vs. Argentina (23 November).
Hospitality packages are available to purchase online here.