Sussex is quickly becoming the king of winemaking after an unprecedented ten vineyards scooped international awards.

Out of 38 International Wine Challenge awards that went to English producers, 25 went to Sussex wines.

Breaky Bottom Winery, near Lewes, took home three bronze awards and one gold.

Peter Hall, from Breaky Bottom Winery, who won top prize with his Cuvée Reservé, Brut, 2010, made with seyval blanc, said the county’s porous chalk helped Sussex sparkling rival Champagne.

He said: “It’s worth remembering that Champagne made the meanest wine in France before bubbly came along. After that it went from meanest to the most prestigious in the world.

“It was always on the cards that we could do that but it’s taken a bit of time to realise.

“Wine making is an up and coming activity and it’s here to stay. We have the potential to run parallel with Champagne because of our climate and chalky, free-draining land.

“I’m half-French and when people come over from France and tasted the wine they couldn’t believe how good it was. Then they realised I was half-French and tried to take credit for it.”

The Wines from Sussex won more International Wine Challenge awards than all the other English counties put together.

Ridgeview Wine Estate, near Ditchling, won three bronzes, two commendations and one silver, while Nyetimber, near Pulborough, took a clean sweep of bronze, silver and gold for its Classic Cuvée, 2009.

Albourne Estate won a bronze and silver, Henners, near Herstmonceux, also won a bronze and a silver and Redfold Vineyards, near Pulborough, won a silver.

Meanwhile Charles Palmer, in Winchelsea, Court Gardens Farm, in Ditchling and Digby, at Pulborough, received commendations, as well as Hoffmann and Rathbone, in Ansty, which received a silver and a commendation.

Michael Anderson, of Butlers Wine Cellar in Queens Park Road and Kemp Town, said: “English sparkling wine continues to improve year on year, with 2009/10 a particularly good vintage.”