Raising a glass to Sussex wine

With its microclimate, chalky soil and sun-soaked slopes, Mid Sussex is a working landscape for winemaking.

Now, wine producers in the district are raising a glass to Sussex wine after the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs announced that it is to be designated as a UK Geographical Indication.

The recognition means Sussex wine will have Protected Designation of Origin status, the same as products such as Cornish clotted cream and Stilton cheese.

Under the designation, still and sparkling wines can only be called Sussex if they are grown in the region and meet a strict set of conditions.

It will help local producers such as Bolney Wine Estate and Ridgeview Wine to demonstrate the quality of their products and will boost the profile of the district's viticulture sector.