In 2015, Swedish husband and wife Susanna Busi Jacobsohn and Douglas Jacobsohn planted their vineyard of five hectares in the High Weald of East Sussex with Burgundy clones to make English sparkling wines. From the very beginning, their ambition has been clear: to craft world-class English sparkling wines that express a true sense of place.
Susanna and Douglas are very much hands-on, working with both vineyard management, blending and deciding dosage, social media and bespoke tastings and vineyard walks. As artisan grower-producers, they believe excellence begins in the vineyard and continues through every stage of production. Their philosophy emphasises terroir, sustainability and minimal intervention. They aim for an expression of the place, soil and microclimate, rather than imposing a house style. With a shared vision, they combine craftsmanship with respect for nature to create wines that truly express their origin.
Both Susanna and Douglas enjoy the challenge of building everything from the ground up: planting vines, selecting clones, learning viticulture, making decisions about blending and ageing. They have taken courses at Plumpton College, getting to understand soil, climate and grape behaviour. They often speak about how much they value working directly with the vineyard, walking the vines daily, respecting the terroir and letting the soil and climate have their say rather than forcing a house style. They see the vineyard as part of a rich ecosystem for wildlife and plants. They also enjoy hosting tastings at the vineyard, welcoming visitors, showing people around and sharing stories with each other. There’s pleasure in seeing people experience their wines. Being part of the growing English sparkling wine story, knowing that their wines are gaining recognition and helping to raise the profile of the Sussex Weald region, gives them satisfaction.
Unlike the typical chalky soils of the South Downs, their vineyards sit on clay loam over greensand, with more acidic soils that shape the wines’ structure and fruit expression. This terroir imparts a distinct character compared to much of Sussex’s sparkling production. All wines are vegan-friendly. Their modest scale allows each release to feel carefully crafted rather than mass-produced. A strong sense of place is paired with solid technical expertise and progressive values, vegan winemaking and sustainability being central. Dosage levels are typically moderate to low, preserving both freshness and the natural acidity of the wines. The goal is not simply to produce wine but to do so in a way that honours the land and preserves it for future generations. Together, Susanna and Douglas embody a shared vision of excellence, sustainability and authenticity.
