A GOVERNMENT minister gave his backing to the Sussex wine industry during a visit to an award-winning estate.

Owen Paterson, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, praised wine-making as a growing industry with strong export potential and minimal impact on the environment.

He was visiting Ridgeview Wine Estate, near Ditchling, and heard from winery owner and chair of English Wine Producers Michael Roberts MBE.

Mr Roberts explained how the UK drinks far more than it produces – but predicted production would rapidly grow and consolidate.

Ridgeview exports to 12 countries and received Government funding for upgraded cellar and bottling facilities, plus support from UKTI for exports.

The minister heard from Chris Foss, head of wine at Plumpton College, Samantha Linter of Bolney Wine Estate and Ullrich Hoffman of Vivid Wines.

Mr Paterson said: “Food and drink is now our largest manufacturing sector and wine-making is a fantastic example of import substitution [replacing foreign imports with domestic production].

"It's hard to think of an industry that ticks more boxes.

"But I think we're underselling oursleves. Are we really doing justice to how good this product is?

"This is an absolutely world-class operation."