A Cottonworth-based winery has claimed top prize for its sparkling wine in a national awards ceremony. Black Chalk Wines, based at The Old Dairy on the Fullerton Estate, picked up the award for best UK sparkling wine in the People’s Choice Drinks Awards for its Black Chalk Classic 2016. It beat off competition from a two-time winner of the awards, Lyme Bay Winery’s Sparkling Rosé. The prizes were handed out in a virtual awards ceremony at Manchester’s Zymurgorium distillery on Monday, February 8. The sparkling wine category of the People’s Choice Drinks Awards was hotly contested, with four finalists, including Lyme Bay Winery, The Wine Society, Dalwood Vineyard and Hillcrest Wines, which owns Black Chalk.