Established in 2025, Domaine of the Rose & Bear is a partnership between Yorkshire-born Sarah Stott and her half-Finnish partner, James Snowden.
I first met Sarah when she was Assistant Manager at the Michelin starred Roots restaurant in York, and I’ve followed her career progression with interest ever since.
Sarah now holds a BSc (Hons) in Viticulture & Oenology from Plumpton College. Once her studies were completed, she worked stages in Oregon, the Pfalz and, for the 2023 harvest, with Chris Alheit in the Cape.
The name Domaine of the Rose & Bear symbolises their different origins; a combination of the Yorkshire Rose and the Finnish Bear. It’s the foundation for their brand and pays homage to the inspiration of both their late mothers. Together, they house these influences under the classical structure of a domaine, a place where vines, wine, and the associated culture are duly respected.
In addition to being the ‘Rose’ in Rose & Bear, Sarah has established herself as a viticulturalist and winemaker, managing and advising clients throughout the south-east of England. Her work focuses on finding balance in vineyards, whilst nurturing vine and soil health, with the aim of helping English vineyard owners achieve a level of quality comparable to the great wine regions she has worked in around the world.
The D.P. Rowe name pays homage to Sarah’s mother, Denise, who introduced her to wine and inspired her future path, steeped in the international culture of wine and food.
The Fuchsia ‘Tom Thumb’ flower shown on the Meunier label was painted by the renowned botanical and natural history artist Ros Franklin and is inspired by plants that her mother grew in their Yorkshire garden. The fuchsia was one of Denise’s favourite flowers and perfectly reflects the vibrant red-pink hue of the wine.
James is a winemaker and oenologist who brings global winemaking expertise and winery management to Domaine of the Rose and Bear. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Geography and a Masters of Science degree in Viticulture and Oenology.
Describing himself as a winemaking journeyman, James looked to other regions and mentors to learn his craft. After stints in Burgundy, Napa and the Adelaide Hills, he returned to these shores to apply international winemaking technique and philosophy to English wines.
Latin for Finnish, Fennica is his own brand which allows him to channel his dual English-Finnish heritage in a creative format. His Finnish mother’s influence opened him up to a wider world of European culture, to the spirit of wine regions and diverse people and places.
Made from grapes grown on the sand and flint soils of Suffolk, the Fennica wines express vibrancy and transparency. Pinot Gris, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Blanc are all fermented on the skins and are then raised in Clayver ceramic vessels from Italy to preserve fruit clarity and amplify texture. Their neutral, breathable surface allows the fruit to evolve naturally.
Pride in his Finnish connection is captured in the woodcut illustrations by Robbie Jones. James commissioned Robbie to design the prints for his labels. An English woodcut artist based in Frome, he draws heavily on nature and folklore, making him an ideal collaborator for this work.
James and Sarah currently own no vineyards (although they are in the process of researching potential sites in East Anglia), however, in collaboration with vineyards located in Suffolk, Essex, and Kent, they are producing their wines in shared space within a Sussex cellar. Their objective is one of championing England’s viticultural geography and forming strong relationships in the process with the people who farm the land.
In their own words:
What sets our grower collaborations apart isn’t just where the vineyards are, but how they’re farmed and the shared philosophy behind the work. We partner only with growers who farm with intention, balanced canopies, measured yields, thoughtful soil care, with techniques that prioritise fruit integrity over volume. Each vineyard is chosen with purpose: clay for structure, chalk for linearity, sand and flint for energy. These aren’t broad regions, but specific parcels selected for what they naturally offer. Throughout the season, we’re present in the vineyard, walking rows, discussing vineyard tasks, tracking ripeness, and aligning picking windows. These wines aren’t made from afar; they’re shaped through shared decisions, along with constant vineyard visits and communication.
With a commitment to precision farming, from careful yield control to detailed canopy management, these growers prioritise vine balance and fruit quality. This foundation allows us to work with restraint in the cellar, because the vineyard has already done the heavy lifting. In this way, we build partnerships based on trust, shared standards, and a long-term vision for what English wine can be.
In the cellar, their work is centred on international influences, from both their individual experience and connections with winemakers around the globe. From France, they work with coopers Jérôme Fouailly, Éric Millard, Cavin, and Damy. Their choice is not centred around style but about suitability and finding the oak that best supports their wines.
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The Wines:
‘Meunier’ 2025 D.P. Rowe
D.P. Rowe Meunier is made from mutated Pinot Meunier grapes grown on the chalk soils of Brenley Farm, situated in the North Kent Downs. Following a warm, dry growing season, the grapes were harvested in late September 2025. The fruit was selected from the upper slopes, where the vines’ roots reach deep into the chalk bedrock, contributing clarity and mineral precision to form a structured and gastronomic rosé. The wine was fermented and aged in large format oak.
‘Forest King’ Pinot Noir 2025 Fennica
Fennica Pinot Noir comes from the Higham Vineyard in Suffolk’s Dedham Vale. Flint and sand soils overlay a clay-based geology. The grapes were hand-harvested in early October 2025 after a long, warm and dry growing season. The wine is a co-fermentation of two complementary German Pinot Noir clones. The label references the Finnish legend that the bear is the King of the Forest.
‘Foxfire’ Skin contact Pinot Gris 2025 Fennica
This wine is made from grapes grown at Tattingstone Vineyard on the Shotley Peninsula in Suffolk. The vines are planted on free-draining and warm glacial sands and gravels that sit above shallow-marine sands.
Foxfire comes from an ancient legend in which a magical fox runs swiftly across the Arctic fells, sending sparks flying into the night sky with its tail. In Finnish, the Northern Lights are called Revontulet, meaning Fox Fire.
‘Whitewing’ Skin-Contact Pinot Blanc 2025 Fennica
The Pinot Blanc comes from the Marquis Vineyard in Dedham Vale, Suffolk. The vineyard sits on the banks of the River Brett in the Stour Valley. Planted on free-draining alluvial soils which encourage deep rooting.
The Whooper Swan is the National Bird of Finland and a powerful symbol of a Finn’s connection with nature. James sees them at his family cottage in southeastern Finland, where their raucous calls echo across the lake and forest.
Hollands Essex Pinot Noir 2025 Domaine of the Rose & Bear
This is a one-off release produced from Pinot Noir fruit sourced via Matt Cooper of Holland’s farm in the Crouch Valley. The grapes were previously being supplied to nearby Danbury Ridge. The wine was aged in two third-fill Cavin barriques, sourced from a grower in Vosne Romanée. The wine should be viewed as a collaborative project between James and Sarah, with all 500 bottles exclusive to Dreyfus Ashby. The label illustration combines James and Sarah’s own identities, featuring both a Rose and a Bear.
Website : domainerb.co.uk
| D.P. Rowe Meunier | pack shot 2025 | fiche 2025 |
| Fennica Forest King Pinot Noir | pack shot 2025 | fiche 2025 |
| Fennica Foxfire Pinot Gris | pack shot 2025 | fiche 2025 |
| Fennica Whitewing Pinot Blanc | pack shot 2025 | fiche 2025 |