With sales of English wine on the up, here's how to make the most of those sparkling pinots and elegant reserves with some tasty international food fare...

English wines are experiencing a surge in sales with 2011 seeing a record year. To be sure of choosing the best of the bunch, we asked Simon Field MW, English Wines Buyer at 300-year-old wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd, to give us his top picks and get some advice about the best foodie treats to match them with.

1. 2004 Chapel Down, Pinot Reserve Brut, Kent, £23.95

An impressive sparkling English wine, made in the Méthode Champenoise by Owen Elias and the team at Chapel Down. Biscuity notes are finely integrated with the red fruit from the pinots (Noir and Blanc) and the ensemble is rounded and long. Try this Chapel Down with a smoked trout terrine as a starter as it will stand up to the strong smoky flavour. Or you could go to the other end of the meal and try it with fruit puddings – a pavlova or tarte tatin.

Cool Britannia: top English wines