THE QUEEN christened a new cruise ship with a bottle of Sussex wine.

Sparkling wine from the Wiston Esate Winery was smashed against the side of the new P&O vessel Britannia at the formal naming ceremony.

Four giant nebuchadnezzar bottles of Wiston Estate Brut NV, the equivalent of 20 normal bottles, were sent to the ceremony - one of which was used in the christening.

The 141000-ton Britannia, which cost £473 million, is the largest ship designed for the British holiday market.

The wine estate, near Pulborough, has been run by the Goring family since the 18th century.

Richard Goring said: “Our family has been the custodian of the Wiston Estate in West Sussex for hundreds of years. However, it is only recently that we have realised our long-held dream to make sparkling wine here in the South Downs.

"We are delighted that Wiston Estate Brut has been chosen to name Britannia on the historic occasion of her launch.”

The Brut NV and also bottles of Rosé Vintage 2011 were also served at the event - which were specially selected by P&O.

Olly Smith, wine expert for P&O, said: “I selected Wiston Estate to launch Britannia thanks to its impeccable quality and for its poise between modernity and tradition.

"Wiston stands for passion and pride as a technically masterful English sparkling wine producer since 2006 with heritage as a farming estate stretching back to 1743.

"But the main reason is because its bubbly is irresistibly delicious.”