Major champagnes beaten to prestigious wine accolade by Cornish bubbly
Cornish vintner Camel Valley picked up three awards at the recent International Wine Challenge (IWC) Awards, surprising many with triumphs over some of France's finest champagne houses.
The 2008 Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rose Brut picked up the Sparkling Rose Trophy and English Sparkling Trophy.
It is the first time an English wine has ever triumphed in an international category, having maintained its English Sparkling crown for a second year in a row for this vintage.
The vintner also picked up the English Trophy for its Bacchus 2007 white wine.
Speaking to the Telegraph, IWC co-chairman and wine critic Charles Metcalfe underlined the significance of the success.
He said: "It's an amazing achievement because it's up against the might of champagne.
"To have beaten wines which have far bigger reputations and at much higher prices is an astonishing feat for a small English producer."