With a combined decade of international and domestic winemaking experience, we craft premium still & sparkling wines with grapes from England’s finest vineyards in our Sussex winery. We share a vision to elevate English winemaking with balance, craftsmanship, character, and community.
“We believe great wine begins in the vineyard. When the fruit is exceptional, everything else can follow. Guided by healthy grapevines and living soils, each site is farmed to produce fruit of purity, character, and integrity. In the winery, a thoughtful and gentle hand allows that fruit to express itself fully, coaxing the wine into being with care and restraint.”
James & Sarah
James Snowden
James is a Winemaker and Oenologist, and brings global winemaking expertise and winery management to Domaine of the Rose and Bear. He holds a Bachelors of Science in Geography and a Masters of Science in Viticulture and Oenology, where in both he specialised in the inter disciplinary sciences of soil, climatology, and plant sciences.
A winemaking journeyman, James looked to other regions and mentors to learn his craft. After stints in Burgundy, Napa Valley, the Adelaide Hills and beyond, he returned to these shores to apply international winemaking technique and philosophy to English wines.
He is focused on nurturing wines through precise technique and careful cultural practice. James steers clear of industrial shortcuts and works to elevate the natural characteristics of the grapes, allowing a sense of place and terroir to shine through.
Sarah Stott
Sarah Stott is a Viticulturist and Winemaker whose work bridges the vineyard and winery. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Viticulture & Oenology from Plumpton College, where she developed a strong technical foundation in wine science, vineyard management, and wine production.
Her experience spans leading producers across the world’s quality wine regions. Following her studies, she worked in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, the Pfalz in Germany, the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley in South Africa, and England, gaining experience across both vineyard and cellar operations.
Her work focuses on finding balance in vineyards, intending to produce fruit of great quality whilst nurturing vine and soil health. She aims to help DRB’s growers and English vineyards more widely achieve a level of quality comparable to the great wine regions she has worked in around the world.
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