Chapel Down, England’s leading winemaker, has signed a four year agreement to become an official partner to The Boat Race Company Limited (BRCL).

Chapel Down, which replaces Bollinger Champagne, will be enjoyed by the victorious crew at the Mortlake finish line of the Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race.

Frazer Thompson, CEO at Chapel Down, commented: “We are thrilled to be partnering The Boat Race, an iconic moment in the British sporting calendar. This great rivalry inspires mutual respect but an iron will to outperform. This is a sentiment that I relate to as we compete with sparkling wines from ‘the other place’!”

David Searle, Executive Director of The Boat Race Company Limited, said: “We are delighted to welcome Chapel Down as an Official Partner of The Boat Races. Chapel Down will be joining a host of other great British brands partnering The Boat Races and it will be fantastic to see the iconic celebration moment after the Race being feted with English sparkling wine.

As a forward thinking and ambitious business, Chapel Down bring a new dimension to The Boat Races reflecting our desire to evolve as a thoroughly modern British event and we are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together over the next four years.”

The award-winning wines of the Kent-based producer are served at iconic British institutions such as The Donmar Warehouse, The Royal Opera House, London Symphony Orchestra and are an official wine partner to No 10 Downing Street

The 163rd Boat Race and The 72nd Women’s Boat Race will take place on Sunday 2nd April 2017. The Women’s Boat Race will start at 16:35, with The Boat Race an hour later at 17:35.