To celebrate twenty vintages of English winemaking, Gusbourne Estate is opening its cellar for a rare release of historic wines, many in such limited quantities that some will never be available again in this form. The Cellar Release collection goes live to members on 16th July and remains available online until 6th August 2026.

The release comprises around 250 bottles in total, drawn from tiny parcels held back over two decades. The collection of sparkling wine offers a unique cross-section of the estate’s winemaking history – including just four bottles of Blanc de Blancs 2006, from Gusbourne’s very first vintage.

These rare and precious wines, priced from £45 per bottle and exclusively available to Gusbourne members, share an unusual distinction: every bottle was disgorged on the same day, 23 March 2026, and each has been hand-labelled with the estate’s new Cellar Release design.

A taste of history

The 2006 vintage holds particular significance as the estate’s founding harvest. Gusbourne’s Chief Vineyard Manager, Jon Pollard, recalls picking the first fruit from the Butness vineyard that year.

Reflecting on the years since, Pollard describes a winemaking journey shaped as much by setbacks as by breakthroughs – from an unusually late, high-yield harvest in 2010 to the estate’s first still Chardonnay in 2011, a wine he calls a turning point for English still wine.

“There’s something in every vintage,” said Pollard. “You try things, you learn from them, you fine-tune them. Then another year comes along and teaches you something else.”

Members first

The Cellar Release is designed as a reward for Gusbourne’s members, giving them first and equal access to wines that, in many cases, exist in single-digit quantities. The online sales window has been set deliberately to ensure fairness: members will know in advance exactly when the collection goes live, so access is a matter of timing rather than chance.

Gusbourne’s exclusive two-tier membership – Collectors and Explored – includes preview access to new releases, preferential pricing on all wines, special tastings and first access to ticketed events.

For those not yet part of the Gusbourne community, this release offers a clear case for joining: membership is the route to wines, history and moments that are not otherwise available.

This offer is available for a limited time, closing on 6 August. Preview the list of wines in the Cellar Release collection: https://tinyurl.com/CellarReleaseCollection

To learn more about Gusbourne Membership: https://tinyurl.com/GusbourneMembership