Nyetimber partners with Richmond Rugby Club
English producer Nyetimber has been named Official Sparkling Wine Partner to Richmond Rugby Club, marking the club as the first domestic side to align with the brand following its landmark deal with England Rugby.
Nyetimber will now be poured at the Richmond Athletic Ground by the glass and bottle. Players, members and supporters will be able to raise a toast to matchdays, milestones and special occasions with what the brand describes as 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 fixture.
Building on national rugby deal
The agreement follows Nyetimber’s recently announced long-term collaboration with England Rugby — the first time the national governing body has been sponsored by an English sparkling wine producer.
Richmond becomes the first domestic rugby club to join forces with Nyetimber since that national partnership was unveiled.
Both parties point to their shared pioneering spirit. Richmond counts among the oldest rugby clubs in England and was a founder club of the RFU. Meanwhile, Nyetimber was the first English producer to plant Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier exclusively for sparkling wine.
Shared commitment to women’s sport
The partnership also highlights the two organisations’ long-standing commitment to women in sport and industry.
The first Women’s International rugby match was played at Richmond in 1986, followed by the inaugural Women’s Rugby World Cup in 1991. Deborah Griffin, President of the RFU, currently serves as Richmond Rugby’s Club Secretary.
Nyetimber’s winemaking is headed by Cherie Spriggs, who has led production for nearly two decades. She has twice been named Sparkling Winemaker of the Year at the International Wine Challenge and remains the only woman to have won the award.
Partner Content
As part of the activation, Nyetimber will be the Headline Supporter of Richmond’s Ladies Day event in March, which celebrates the club’s heritage in the women’s game.
‘Fantastic endorsement’
Commenting on the partnership, Richmond Rugby managing director Phil White 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.”
Nyetimber owner and CEO Eric Heerema added: “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.”
Richmond said the partnership marks another step in the club’s expanding commercial portfolio, aligning it with a leading luxury English drinks brand and enhancing the matchday and hospitality experience at the Richmond Athletic Ground.
Nyetimber has spent 37 years focused on crafting English sparkling wines that it says can rival the world’s best.
The producer was the first in England to exclusively plant the three classic sparkling grape varieties — Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier — and uses only estate-grown fruit from vineyards in West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent.
Under the ownership of Heerema and the leadership of head winemaker 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 to receive the title.
Nyetimber forms part of The Nyetimber Group, which also includes The Lakes Distillery, and is served in leading venues in the UK and internationally.
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