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Nyetimber Named Official Sparkling Wine Partner to Richmond Rugby
Richmond Rugby Club is pleased to announce a new partnership with Nyetimber, which will become the club’s Official Sparkling Wine Partner.
Under the new partnership, Nyetimber will be served at the Richmond Athletic Ground by both the glass and the bottle, giving players, members and supporters the opportunity to celebrate matchdays, milestones and special occasions with England’s leading sparkling wine. A magnum of Nyetimber will also be presented to the Player of the Match after every Men’s and Women’s first team game.
The partnership follows the recent announcement of Nyetimber’s long-term collaboration with England Rugby, the first time the national governing body has been sponsored by an English sparkling wine producer. Richmond Rugby is proud to become the first domestic rugby club to partner with Nyetimber following that landmark national agreement.
Richmond Rugby Club and Nyetimber share a powerful pioneering spirit. Richmond is one of the oldest rugby clubs in England and a founder club of the RFU, while Nyetimber was the first producer to plant the renowned sparkling wine varietals Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier in England exclusively for the production of sparkling wine.
Both organisations also share a long-standing commitment to championing women in sport and industry. The first Women’s International rugby match was played at Richmond in 1986, followed by the founding of the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991, and Deborah Griffin, President of the RFU, currently serves as Richmond Rugby’s Club Secretary. At Nyetimber, winemaking has been led for nearly two decades by Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs, twice named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge and the only woman to have ever won the award.
As part of the partnership activation, Nyetimber will be the Headline Supporter of Richmond’s Ladies Day event in March, the club’s proud heritage in the women’s game.
Commenting on the partnership, Phil White, Managing Director at Richmond Rugby, said: “We are incredibly proud to welcome Nyetimber as our Official Sparkling Wine Partner at Richmond Rugby. As a club, we place huge value on heritage, quality and ambition, and Nyetimber embodies all three. To be the first domestic club to partner with Nyetimber following their landmark agreement with England Rugby is a fantastic endorsement of Richmond’s standing within the game. We’re excited to raise a glass with our members, supporters and partners throughout the season.”
Eric Heerema, owner and CEO of Nyetimber said:
“Following our partnership with England Rugby, we wanted to team up with a club to also celebrate this fantastic sport on a local community level. Richmond is the perfect partner for us, sharing the same pioneering spirit, historical record of ‘firsts’, and a constant strive for excellence. Rugby offers so many reasons for celebration, and we hope that Richmond’s fans, players and spectators will enjoy raising a glass of Nyetimber to the numerous achievements of the game.”
This partnership represents another significant step in Richmond Rugby’s growing commercial portfolio, aligning the club with one of the most respected luxury English drinks brands and enhancing the matchday and hospitality experience at the Richmond Athletic Ground.
About Nyetimber:
For 37 years, Nyetimber has had one single aim: crafting exceptional English sparkling wine that rivals the very best in the world.
A true pioneer, Nyetimber was the first producer to exclusively grow the three classic sparkling wine grape varieties, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, in England. Every bottle is made using 100% estate-grown grapes from its vineyards across West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Under the ownership of Eric Heerema and the leadership of Head Winemaker Cherie Spriggs, Nyetimber has become one of the most internationally recognised English sparkling wine brands. In 2025, its Blanc de Blancs 2016 Magnum was named Champion Sparkling Wine at the International Wine Challenge, the first non-Champagne wine ever to win the award.
Nyetimber is served in leading venues across the UK and internationally and forms part of The Nyetimber Group, which also includes The Lakes Distillery.