A sparkling wine produced in England has come top of its category in the Decanter World Wine Awards, even fending off competition from some top Champagnes.

Ridgeview, from East Sussex, took the International Trophy for Sparkling Wine Over £10 at the awards, to the complete surprise of founder Mike Roberts.

"We were looking at it simply as a good night out," he told decanter.com.

"We'd won the Regional Trophy and had absolutely no idea we'd got the International."

Runners-up in the contest included respected wines such as Taittinger Prelude NV, Charles Heidsieck Millesime 2000 and Thienot's Brut Rose NV.

Decanter's tasting director Christelle Guibert described the result as a "truly remarkable win".

"Up against a clutch of Champagne's finest, Ridgeview has produced a stupendous wine that defeated them all," she commented.

In July, it was announced that Hampshire-based Wickham Vineyard has won a total of 14 awards and trophies in three wine competitions this year.