A sparkling wine produced at a vineyard in West Sussex has been named the world's best at the International Wine and Spirit Competition.
Nyetimber Classic Cuvee 1998 made in West Chiltington, won gold for the best bottle-fermented sparkling wine.
Dermot Sugrue, winemaker at Nyetimber vineyard, said the success was partly down to the soil being geologically identical to France's champagne region.
Warm dry weather and fruit which was free of disease also helped, he added.
'Champagne-style wine'
English wine producers won a combined total of 16 medals at the contest, four more than last year.
Lesley Gray, spokeswoman for the competition, said: "England really does have a place producing champagne-style wine."
Mr Sugrue said West Sussex was the best county in England to make sparkling wine.
"It's a combination of the sunshine, soil and dry weather and we are only 100 miles (161 km) from the champagne region," he said.
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