THE South Downs, a bustling festival season, a Premier league football team – and now Sussex can count prize-nominated wines among its many attractions.

Six wines produced in the county’s vineyards have been nominated for the UK Wine Awards, with the winner to be announced on May 31 after a blind-tasting test by a panel of experts.

They are Off the Line, Ridgeview, Bolney, Fox and Fox, High Down Estate and Plumpton Estate. The Argus was invited for a tasting session at Hotel Du Vin, conducted by French sommelier Robin Roux.

We sampled Ridgeview Fitzrovia and Bolney Bubbly, both fruity sparkling wines, and Plumpton Estate Bacchus, a still tipple. Frenchman Robin, who has worked at Hotel Du Vin for four years, said that moving to Sussex had made him appreciate English wine.

Robin said: “English people are taking much more interest in wine now and talented wine-makers are starting to make more money,”

The sommelier joked that there was one significant obstacle to wine produce in Sussex, though – the weather. “You can have all four seasons in one minute.” Robin had some simple advice for those wanting to take up wine-tasting. “You need to go with your instinct.

He added: “Everything is subjective and I like that everyone has different perspectives. Sometimes I disagree with people but the customer is always right.”

One million vines are set to be planted throughout the UK in the next year. Sussex’s Ridgeview in particular has excelled recently, exporting wine to Australia and New Zealand. Earlier this year the estate was commissioned to produce wine for the Queen, no less.

And Nyetimber was drunk at Pippa Middleton’s wedding last weekend.

“Everyone is together here – it’s not like in France where all the wine estates are rivals.” Hotel Du Vin’s general manager Ben Haynes added. “it’s great to have so many wine companies doing well in Sussex”.