Country Life together with Hotel du Vin and Waitrose sponsored this year’s UK wine awards to ‘bring long-overdue recognition to what Susie Barrie calls ‘one of the most exciting wine regions in the world’.

The 12-strong judging team was co-chaired by Barrie and her fellow TV presenter, broadcaster and wine writer Oz Clarke, with the remaining experts being Masters of Wine David Bird, Richard Hemming, Alex Hunt and Phil Tuck, as well as Christine Parkinson from Hakkasan, Rebecca Hull MW from Waitrose and Hamish Anderson from Tate restaurants.

They were joined by writer and broadcaster Jane Parkinson, M&S wine buyer Elizabeth Kelly and Corney & Barrow buyer Rebecca Palmer.

Over 300 wines were entered for the competition with seven available trophies. The tropies were for:

Best Sparkling Blanc de Blancs

Best Sparkling Rose

Best Sparkling Classic Cuvee

Best single varietal white

Best Still Bacchus

Best Overall Still Wine

Best Overall Sparkling Wine

Best Overall Wine in the UK

Coates & Seely won 4 of the 8 available trophies, with Best Sparkling Blanc de Blancs, Best Sparkling Rose, Best Overall Sparkling Wine and Best Overall Wine in the UK.

Tasting Notes for the Rose read: ‘From its antique gold colour to its rich sour cherry and truffle flavours, this is a graceful, mature rosé to sip and savour.’

Tasting Notes for the Blanc de Blancs read: ‘Fabulously elegant and refined with the seductive toasted brioche and honey notes of age.’