Hugh Johnson OBE, considered to be the world’s best-selling wine writer and one of the best-known wine commentators in the UK, has invested an undisclosed sum into Sugrue South Downs, the multi-award winning English Sparkling Wine producer headed up by the UK’s legendary winemakers, Dermot and Ana Sugrue.

Dermot said: “We could not be more thrilled to have Hugh Johnson on board. This is the ultimate endorsement for our wines, that Hugh with his vast experience and knowledge has chosen to invest in myself and Ana. He has always been supportive and very complementary about the way we work, ever since he first tasted wines that I made over 2 decades ago.  He once commented that our zero dosage ZODO multi-vintage, would make his ultimate desert island case, and described Sugrue South Downs as “Honestly, England’s best.” He even bought his delightful granddaughter Lily to the winery for a visit and tasting on her 18th birthday. Hugh has been a long-term fan of the way we do things at Sugrue, using barrels and a light touch in the cellar as well as long ageing of the wines before release.  In our spare time, we both have a mutual obsession with Claret and Riesling!“

Hugh Johnson said: “My faith and hope for English wine goes back to the 1970’s.  Fifty years on we are now enjoying the fruits and picking the winners.  Dermot Sugrue’s wines have, for many years, been amongst the very best.  He is a master of his craft, he clinches it.  I am excited to now add my financial support to his and Ana’s future endeavours.”

Sugrue, in the past couple of years, has attracted other high-profile investment.  From renowned boutique hotelier Robin Hutson OBE (now also Chairman of Sugrue) to Peter Chittick (long term collaborator of Hutson’s); one of our best loved British actors Hugh Bonneville to Chris Cecil Wright (Hugh Johnson’s son-in-law and supplier of super yachts to the rich and famous).

This impressive roster of shareholders assembled by Hutson, signals an exciting new era for Sugrue, together with the completion of their new winery at Bee Tree Vineyard in East Sussex which officially opens on Thursday 19th September. 

Dermot further commented: “When I was 15 years old, I started making beer in Ireland, and by 16 I had become obsessed with wine. The catalyst for this was reading Hugh Johnson’s seminal ‘Wine’, the 1988 reprint, and it quite simply changed my life. To this day I can still recite entire paragraphs from those pages, such is the effect it had on me. I know I am just one of millions for whom Hugh’s books have had such a profound impact, so to have him now, more than 3 decades later, join our wonderful team at Sugrue South Downs is both a humbling and truly inspirational new episode in mine and Ana’s career.”