The legacy of rich ricci horses is taking an unexpected form: sparkling wine. Susannah Ricci, owner of the 70-acre Yotes Court farm in Kent, has for more than a decade produced labels that echo the racing colours borne by her and her husband Rich. This week she launched Annie Power Cuvée 21, a new sparkling named for the mare whose Champion Hurdle triumph at Cheltenham remains a defining moment for the ownership team. Orders are open now with bottles available to purchase from April.
Rich Ricci Horses: From Yotes Court to the Bottle
The naming pattern at Yotes Court is deliberate. Susannah Ricci has attached equine identities to a suite of sparkling wines, with earlier cuvées bearing the names Benie Des Dieux, Chacun Pour Soi and Let’s Dance. The farm, spanning 70 acres, has produced wine for over 10 years and the new Annie Power Cuvée 21 joins an established portfolio that blends personal memory and commercial product. The choice of Annie Power, a Champion Hurdle winner a decade earlier, signals an intent to translate emotional milestones from the turf into collectible bottles.
Why the Annie Power Cuvée Matters: Commercial and Cultural Context
At stake is more than branding: the Annie Power release illustrates how ownership narratives can extend a racing operation’s reach into lifestyle and retail markets. The Riccis’ wines already reference their top horses, creating a continuity between racing performance and consumer offerings. The Annie Power launch reinforces that connection and offers a tangible way for followers of the stable to mark a remembered victory. Orders can be placed online now, and the wine will be available from April, positioning the release ahead of the spring racing social season.
Expert perspective: Susannah Ricci on Annie Power Cuvée 21
Susannah Ricci, owner of Yotes Court farm, described the motivation behind the cuvée in personal terms: “Annie Power was a truly special mare, who gave our team some of the most thrilling and emotional moments in racing. Her Champion Hurdle victory at Cheltenham remains one of the highlights of my life as an owner, and it felt fitting to honour that achievement with something equally elegant and celebratory. Annie Power Cuvée 21 is a tribute to her spirit – refined, vibrant and unforgettable. ”
The statement underscores the dual rationale for the bottles: commemoration and hospitality. For collectors and patrons who follow the stable, wines named after horses become commemorative artifacts that carry provenance tied to specific victories and seasons. At the same time, the move broadens the Riccis’ engagement beyond the racetrack into agricultural production and direct-to-consumer sales.
Regional and wider ripple effects
Locally, Yotes Court’s decade-plus winemaking operation showcases an adaptive use of estate resources, converting acreage into a long-term artisanal product line. For the racing community, the practice of naming wines after horses offers a replicable model for monetizing heritage while deepening fan engagement. The Annie Power release will likely draw interest among those who remember the mare’s Champion Hurdle success and among purchasers seeking bottles with a clear provenance linked to a high-profile equine career.
There are limits to what the announcement reveals: pricing, production volume and distribution plans beyond an April retail window have not been detailed. Those commercial details will determine whether the initiative remains a boutique commemoration or scales into a broader commercial venture that leverages the Riccis’ racing profile.
As the racing calendar turns toward spring festival fixtures, the interplay between vineyard and race yard raises a question about legacy-building in modern ownership: will commemorative products such as these strengthen long-term bonds between stables and their supporters, or will they become routine extensions of brand management? For followers of rich ricci horses, Annie Power Cuvée 21 offers an immediate, tangible answer—one that will be judged both on taste and on the memories it is meant to evoke.
