As English Wine Week begins, David Kermode sits down with award-winning winemaker Dermot Sugrue of Sugrue South Downs to discuss English winemaking, the quality of England’s terroir and the challenges the region faces.
In the recent IWSC 2025 judging, Sugrue’s The Trouble with Dreams Magnum Brut 2009 was one of the highest scorers across the entire competition. Praised for its ‘impressively long [finish], with echoes of pastry and sea salt,’ The Trouble with Dreams dazzled the panel of expert judges.
The wine takes it name from a catastrophic incident that occurred during Sugrue’s first harvest, one that is indicative of the highs and lows of winemaking. Earning the status as one of the most celebrated winemakers in England, Sugrue has been making his mark on English wine for the past 23 years. Born in Limerick and raised on a dairy farm, his winemaking career has seen him take up positions at Nyetimber, as well as working vintages in Saint-Julien and Pomerol.
During this episode, Sugrue explains what he loves about England as a winemaking region, whilst admitting that with every excellent vintage (2022 and 2023 are mentioned) a bad one follows (2024), as is the way with English weather.
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