Award-winning winemakers Dermot and Ana Sugrue of Sugrue South Downs receive further investment from hospitality icons.
The company’s star-studded raft of investors, which include actor Hugh Bonneville, wine writer Hugh Johnson, and hotelier Robin Hutson, are now joined by Michelin-starred chef and culinary national treasure Angela Hartnett, Mr & Mrs Smith founders James and Tamara Lohan, and ex-Fortnum & Mason CEO Ewan Venters.
Angela said: “I instantly fell in love with Dermot and Ana’s enthusiasm for life and their delicious wines – I didn’t take much convincing to invest! I’m so excited to be pouring Sugrue’s wines at all my restaurants: Murano, Café Murano, Cicoria at the Royal Opera House, as well as at Lime Wood.”
“We’ve been blown away by the wines that Dermot, Ana and the Sugrue team have been producing,” said James and Tamara. “Now, we’re delighted to be supporting them on the next leg of their journey – we cannot wait to see what they conjure up.”
This fresh round of investment will enable Sugrue South Downs to further its development of the winery in Wivelsfield Green and expand the cellar door and hugely successful series of pop-up events, which this year has featured Hartnett and Neil Borthwick, Mark Hix and Henry Harris, Mitch and Ben Tonks, and Kamil Oseka and Andy Wright. Dermot said: “We couldn’t be happier to have such accomplished people join our already stellar group of investors. Angela, James, Tamara, and Ewan are all at the top of their game and are wellversed in everything food, drink, and hospitality. I look forward to them helping us take Sugrue South Downs and our boutique wines to the next level.”
Photo: Sarah Weal
