A PERSONAL knowledge of each individual vine makes for perfect, award-winning wine.

That is Peter Hall’s take on his 40-year success at Sussex-based Breaky Bottom, which celebrated the milestone last week. The winemaker marked the anniversary with his wife Christine and guests at Pelham House Hotel, Lewes, on Thursday, October 2.

Mr Hall, who nurtures 10,000 vines and prunes by hand, has just finished filling thousands of bottles as he prepares for this year’s harvest at the isolated farmstead in Rodmell, near Lewes.

During a drinks reception fellow independent food and drink traders had the chance to taste his handy work – including the opening of their Cuvée Koizumi Yakumo, a 2010 Sevyal Blanc which won the Gold Medal International Wine Challenge this year.

The wine is named after Mr Hall’s great-great-uncle, the writer Lafcadio Hearn, who is also known as Koizumo Yakumo. The reception was in his honour, marking his death 110 years ago, to commemorate his work. And 120 people carried the anniversary celebrations into the evening at a dinner reception which formed part of the Lewes October Feast. Mr and Mrs Hall were joined by family friend and poet John Agard who entertained guests in a nod towards National Poetry Day.

Mr Hall said: “I’m especially pleased we were joined by so many guests to celebrate and I hope we will look forward to an 80th anniversary as Breaky Bottom continues to flourish.”

Vines were first planted in 1974 at Breaky Bottom. But since 2004 Mr Hall has turned his attention exclusively to sparkling wine following the traditional Methode Champenois, a technique used to make champagne. Mr Hall said the area’s climate and soil lends itself to this type of wine making extremely well.

“This wine has a lovely shape in the mouth. It is highly drinkable and not at all aggressive,” he says.

“We’re very lucky to be situated in such a lovely place – and I realised it was perfectly suited to sparkling wine. I believe our success is down to the intimacy of the wine making, and the location of the vineyard. We are a small family business and we pride ourselves in our unique flavours. I live and breathe this. And there is no effort or expense spared in the quality of our wine.”

In its 40 years Breaky Bottom has forged strong connections in the food industry. It now supplies the government cellars at Lancaster House and has been served at official functions such as Olympics celebrations at London 2012 and the Queen’s Diamond JubiIee, as well as a plethora of independent retailers in Sussex.

Brighton restaurant Terre a Terre, in East Street, features a Breaky Bottom creme de cassis made from blackcurrants and each year a team of staff visit the vineyard to help to pick the fruit.

Meanwhile Butlers Wine Cellar, in Queen’s Park Road, Brighton, finds the vineyard’s unique flavours are constantly in demand with customers.

Owner Henry Butler says: “We’ve been selling Breaky Bottom wine since the 1980s and if it sells out customers are always asking when we’ll have more in stock.

“This anniversary celebration prompts people to pay attention again to the great work carried out by independent retailers in Sussex.

“It raises awareness of what Breaky Bottom is doing. They have an enthusiasm for their work we could all share – particularly in such a difficult climate for business owners.”