Cornish vineyard Camel Valley has cleared the first hurdle in a bid to be the first English wine to gain protected status.

The vineyard is applying for Protected Designation of Origin recognition for its Darnibole Bacchus white wine.

Having cleared the initial assessment at the end of May, the application is now at national consultation until 17 August. If successful, it would then be considered by the EU.

The PDO status would apply to wine made from Bacchus grapes grown in Darnibole, a small area of the vineyard.

Last month, Camel Valley co-founder Bob Lindo staged a sit-in protest at Gatwick Airport over a ‘Best of British’ display of bottles of Lanson Champagne.