Sparkling wine producer Henkell Freixenet has bought Bolney Wine Estate for an undisclosed fee.

The acquisition of the English sparkling wine and wine cellar based near Brighton, Sussex occurred on 14 January and marks Henkell Freixenet’s entry into the emerging, high-growth English sparkling wine segment.

English sparkling wine, considered by some experts as ‘the new champagne’, is witnessing exponential growth.

Bolney Wine Esate was founded in 1972 by Janet and Rodney Pratt and is today run by their daughter Samantha Linter.

The estate has a portfolio of sparkling and still wines, the recipient of several awards including the prestigious ‘UK Glass of Bubbly Sustainability Award’.

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Dr Andreas Brokemper, CEO of Henkell Freixenet, said: “As producers of champagne, crémant, cava, prosecco and sparkling wines of various origins, we are delighted to add English sparkling wine, a still young, prestigious sparkling wine speciality to our ‘Pearls of Europe’.

“We are convinced that as the global market leader in the sparkling wine market, we can further strengthen the image of English sparkling nationally and internationally.”

As part of the deal, Linter will work closely with the teams at Henkell Freixenet and its UK and Ireland arm Freixenet Copestick as Managing Director.

Linter added: “This is a new chapter for Bolney Wine Estate. Over the past 50 years my family and I have worked hard to bring Bolney to where it is today.

“I am now very much looking forward to working with Freixenet Copestick and helping to develop Bolney within the group nationally and internationally.”

Henkell Freixenet picked up ‘Best Wines Product’ for its Freixenet Pinot Noir Rosé Italian sparkling wine at the consumer-voted Global Travel Retail Awards 2019.