ENGLISH wines won a record-breaking seven gold awards at the recent International Wine and Spirits Competition – it’s time to find out more.

This week is English Wine Week – so there’s never been a better time to celebrate home-grown talent.

Ewan Lacey from the IWSC said: “The English climate and soil, particularly in the south, is ideal for the production of sparkling wine using the same traditional method as champagne.”

“These are now producing wines which compete with the best sparkling wines and champagnes around the world.”

THE MIDAS TOUCH – some of the IWSC winners awarded Gold...

1 Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2009, Sussex (£46, harveynichols.com)

Hugely successful, Nyetimber were the first producer to grow the three champagne grape varieties - chardonnay, pinot noir and meunier - and this blanc de blancs is made entirely from chardonnay.

Very fine and elegant, the wine has “floral and lime aromas lead on rich notes of pastry and brioche”.

On the palate, “fresh citrus flavours are balanced with an underlying minerality and a toasty intensity”.

2 Chapel Down Three Graces 2010, Kent (case of 6, £161.94, chapeldown.com)

Chapel Down have been winning critical acclaim for the past decade and this vintage is made from classic champagne grapes.

Fresh and balanced, “ripe apple aromas and red berry characters dominate the nose, and the palate is toasty with a crisp, fresh and elegant finish”.

3 Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs 2013, Sussex (£40, ridgeview.co.uk) Ridgeview’s sparkling wine has been served at state banquets at Buckingham Palace and this medal winner is made from pinot noir and meunier and shows depth and length with lovely red fruits coming through.

“A deep, golden colour with a persistent fine stream of bubbles.

“Rich, earthy red fruit aromas are followed by a complex toasted palate.

“The finish is long-lasting and beautifully balanced.”

n Dorset is home to a number of vineyards producing award-winning wines.

Why not try these: Langham Wine Estate is just outside Dorchester, at Crawthorne Farm Cottages. West Dorset is home to Furleigh Estate Vineyard at Salwayash, Lyme Bay Winery at Axminster. While the east of the county boasts Purbeck Vineyard at Harman’s Cross and Mel-

bury Vale Winery is at Shaftesbury.