Sussex wine makers could soon be left with a bitter taste in their mouths if a new European Union ban on using sugar to boost booze content gets the go-ahead.

The EU is considering imposing a ban on using sucrose in wine production in a bid to reform its heavily subsidised wine market and reduce the amount of excess plonk that goes unsold every year.

The sugar is used by Sussex producers to increase the alcohol content of their product which is vital in poor summers to produce a decent strength wine.

Industry experts predict the ban will push prices of UK bottles higher and cause damage to businesses, especially those which are emerging and already find it hard to sell their products in the face of foreign competition.

The EU also wants to continue a ban on vine planting to cut back on wasted wine.

Michael Roberts, the co-owner of Ridgeview Wine Estate at Ditchling Common, said: "The majority of the EU proposals we totally support.

"They are going down the right avenue of an unsubsidised free market where we produce what the customer wants.

"But why should we not use sugar when the rest of the world can?"

Mr Roberts said his biggest objection to the new rules is the continuing ban on planting more vines.

He added: "The ban doesn't affect us at the moment and we are already in the process of expanding our business ten-fold.

"By between 2009 and 2011 we would have grown to fit into the ban and we are going to be forbidden from planting any more vines until 2013."

The wine industry currently costs EU taxpayers £1 billion a year, of which £400 million is spent on storing and disposing surplus wine. The rest is spent on subsidising winemakers.

Instead of sucrose winemakers could use 'grape dust', another type of alcohol booster formed from grapes. However this would raise the price of production.

Christopher Ann, the owner of the English Wine Centre in Alfriston, near Polegate, said: "To the industry the main complaint is that we can't really be treated like the rest of Europe.

"To use us to cope with overproduction is unfair.

"We are really being hit by them using sweeping changes.

"There is a real demand for our products and we are not allowed to produce it and that's what doesn't seem fair.

"It will affect growth in our industry and the drinks trade which is of general benefit to the economy."

Sam Linter, a winemaker at Bookers Vineyard in Bolney, near Haywards Heath, said the sucrose ban probably would not have a great affect on their vineyard although the vine planting ban could be problematic when the business wants to expand.

She said: "If anything the sucrose ban is going to raise the quality of wine slightly but it is going to make it slightly more expensive."

Do you think the sugar ban is unfair ro our growers? Leave your comments below.