IN a nod to English Wine Week, we’ve picked out our favourite white wines (plus an award-winner that we couldn’t get our hands on) from across the country… including a couple of local drops from the Purbeck Vineyard and Setley Ridge.

Kimmeridge Mist NV 2008, £8.50, vineyard.uk.com Blending their Chardonnay, Phoenix and Seyval Blanc grapes, the Purbeck Vineyard have produced this delightfully crisp white, which has subtle fruit flavours making it the ideal accompaniment to seafood. Although 2008 was a challenging year for English wine, you wouldn’t tell from this drop. Sadly they have sold out now, but the 2009 will be even better.

Setley Ridge Medium Dry 2007, £6.50, setleyridgevineyard.co.uk While its name is uncomplicated this rich, fruity medium dry from Hampshire is most certainly not. Blending Seyval and Muscat grapes, this well-balanced white has long been a favourite of mine. Not only does it tread the line between sweet and dry perfectly, but the flavour is layered and harbours subtle hints of honey.

Ashcombe Hill 2009, £8.99, Sainsbury’s and Laithwaits Proving that last year was in fact a vintage for English wine is this drop from the Denbies Estate in Surrey. An award-winning producer, the producers will be confident in scooping more accolades with this dry white. It has the freshness of Sancerre and the steely elegance of Chablis and the price is right too.

South Ridge Cuvée Merret 2007, £19.99, Laithwaites This sparkling wine is taking the Champagne world by storm after it stole the show (much to the horror of French Champagne producers) at the International Wine and Spirit Competition. In a blind taste test it scooped the award for Best Sparkling Wine, but unfortunately we couldn’t get our hands on a bottle at time of press.

Theale Vineyard Chardonnay 2005, £22.99, Laithwaites Another special bubbly, but this time from Sussex. Grown in a manicured vineyard in Berkshire, this wine is every bit as elegant as its origin. Light bodied but with complex flavours, this wine is perfect for a special occasion.