The English wine sector is gaining ground, as tipple made in the UK becomes more popular and may find its way into Christmas hampers.

According to the BBC, homegrown varieties of white and red have won international contests in recent years, beating off competition from more established markets such as France.

As the reputation of English wine strengthens, growers are forecasting a good year for the grape harvest, boosted by an Indian summer, which could produce a strong vintage.

Halfpenny Green Vineyards owner Martin Vickers told the news source this year "the amount of sugar is off the scale", which is likely to produce alcohol levels of 15 per cent without having to add agents and "the intensity and colour of a full-bodied red wine".

Wine from India may also feature in Christmas hampers in 2011, as a recent recommendation on the BBC's Saturday Kitchen resulted in a surge in sales of the tipple, particularly praised as an accompaniment to curry.