RidgeView wins gastronomic prize

English sparkling wine producer RidgeView has been awarded the prestigious Grand Prix of Gastronomy. The award, given each year by the British Academy of Gastronomes, which was founded by Egon Ronay, rewards the person, venture or product that has done most for gastronomy in the UK in the previous 12 months.

RidgeView founder and director Mike Roberts, who received the trophy from Egon Ronay at a awards ceremony at London’s Dorchester earlier this week, said, ‘It was a wonderful honour from such a prestigious group of people. It is a fantastic mark of respect for our family company and English sparkling wines in general.’

RidgeView, which has been producing sparkling wine in Sussex for the past eight years, is already no stranger to success. The company has won 80 medals and 16 trophies and one of its wines was served at the Queen’s 80th birthday banquet.

Previous winners of the gastronomic trophy include cookery writer Jane Grigson, Albert and Michel Roux, Somerset Cheddar as well as Price Charles for the revival of mutton.