Hosted by Stephen Skelton MW, a group of sparking wine luminaries recently met for a blind tasting of England's best fizz as well as some well known Champagnes from France. The tasters were (in alphabetical order): Susie Barrie MW (Winchester Wine School proprietor who wrote her MW dissertation on champagne), Dee Blackstock MW (champagne and sparkling-wine buyer for Waitrose), Sue Daniels (MW student and wine technologist for Marks and Spencer), Michael Edwards (journalist and author of several books on champagne), Victoria Moore (journalist, wine columnist for the Daily Telegraph), Jancis Robinson OBE MW (journalist and wine polymath), Julia Trustram Eve (English Wine Producers) and Stephen.
The results were as follows:
| Ranking | Average scores | Vineyard | Wine | Vintage | Varietal blend | Retail price |
| 1 | 17.17 | Ridgeview | Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs | 2007 | Chardonnay 100% | £21.95 |
| 2 | 16.82 | Ridgeview | Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs in Magnum | 2000 | Chardonnay 100% | £63.00 |
| 3 | 16.65 | Sainsburys | Etienne Dumont Rosé (Maison Burtin) | NV | ??? | £18.99 |
| 4 | 16.64 | Gusbourne Estate | Brut Reserve | 2006 | Chardonnay 46% Pinot Noir 41% Meunier 13% | £21.99 |
| 5 | 16.5 | Nyetimber | Nyetimber Rosé | 2007 | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir | £34.95 |
| 6 | 16.46 | Ridgeview | Bloomsbury | 2008 | Chardonnay 54% Pinot Noir 26% Pinot Meunier 20% | £19.95 |
| 7 | 16.43 | Plumpton Estate | The Dean | NV | Pinot Noir 90%, Chardonnay 10% | £20.00 |
| 8 | 16.42 | Sainsburys | JS Blanc de Blancs (Duval Leroy) | NV | Chardonnay 100% | £18.49 |
| 9 | 16.36 | Moet & Chandon | Brut Imperial | NV | Pinot Noir 50%, Chardonnay 10%, Meunier 40% | £30.99 |
| 10 | 16.32 | Sainsburys | Defontaine Premier Cru (Maison Burtin) | NV | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Meunier | £19.99 |
| 11 | 16.25 | Plumpton Estate | The Dean Blush | NV | Pinot Noir 94%, Chardonnay 6% | £20.00 |
| 12 | 16.2 | Chapel Down | Pinot Reserve | 2005 | Pinot Noir 70%, Pinot Blanc 30% | £24.99 |
| 13 | 16.05 | Nyetimber | Classic Cuvée | 2006 | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier | £25.99 |
| 14 | 15.92 | Laithwaites | South Ridge Cuvée Merret (RidgeView) | 2008 | Chardonnay 60%, Pinot Noir 28%, Meunier 12% | £19.99 |
| 15 | 15.86 | Jenkyn Place | Jenkyn Place Brut | 2006 | Chardonnay 61%, Pinot Noir 23%, Pinot Meunier 16% | £25.00 |
| 16 | 15.81 | Hush Heath Estate | Balfour Brut Rosé | 2006 | Pinot Noir 55%, Chardonnay 40%, Pinot Meunier 5% | £26.99 |
| 17 | 15.8 | Davenport | Limney Estate Blanc de Blancs | 2005 | Reichensteiner 100% | £16.50 |
| 18 | 15.78 | Camel Valley | Pinot Noir Brut | 2009 | Pinot Noir 100% | £24.95 |
| 19 | 15.73 | Nyetimber | Blanc de Blancs | 2001 | Chardonnay 100% | £28.99 |
| 20 | 15.7 | Breaky Bottom | Cuvée John Inglis Hall | 2006 | Seyval Blanc 100% | £20.05 |
It is clear that the best UK sparkling wines can now more than hold their own with champagne.
