ONE of the county's top wine merchants has said British drinkers have to be more patriotic if our industry is to grow.

Colin Munday, owner of the English Wine Centre in Alfriston, called on this country's wine lovers to be more like the Germans and French in favouring their own products.

His comments come after Prime Minister David Cameron praised Sussex winemaking in an exclusive piece for The Argus on Saturday.

He used the column to warn of the negative impact on the industry if we vote to leave the EU in the summer.

Mr Cameron said an increase in import tariffs and a lack of input on regulations would hold vineyards such as Ridgeview, Nyetimber and Rathfinny Estate back.

But Mr Munday, who is one of the country’s leading retailers of about 170 purely home-grown varieties, said: Frankly I don’t believe in an open market it makes a great deal of difference.

“What matters is the demand for the wine on offer.”

He added: “It’s a bit contradictory for the Conservatives to say there would be trade barriers when they are big supporters of a free market.

“The English wine market is growing and growing and I don’t see that changing.”

He instead pointed towards increased consumption at home as enabling Sussex wine to flourish.

He said: “In France they have centuries of wine production and drive French cars. In Germany it’s the same with German wine and cars.

“We have only been producing wine for about 50 years. If we were more patriotic here in drinking it that would be good.”

Julia Trustram-Eve, marketing director of English Wine Producers, a body that oversees and promotes the UK market, said: “People are being much more patriotic in their wine choices and are much more confident in English wines.

“There’s a lot to offer and sellers are getting behind it.”

Ms Trustram-Eve did not wish to comment on the political aspects of remaining in the EU.

Mr Cameron's comments have received a mixed response since appearing in the paper on Saturday.

David Carr Taylor, who runs Carr Taylor Wines of WestField near Hastings, said the Prime Minister was talking "absolute rubbish".

But Mardi Roberts, from Ridgeview in Ditchling Common, welcomed the Prime Minister's comments.

She said: "We are exporting 30 per cent of our production and being in the EU is strong for this."