(Express) - ENGLISH wine has had its best ever year, with sales increasing by up to 300 per cent over Christmas.

And experts are predicting that 2016 will be even more profitable for the domestic industry.

The figures have led to calls for a two per cent cut in excise duty to support UK wine producers.

They come as renowned French champagne marker Taittinger has announced it plans to produce English sparkling wine after buying land in Kent.

Sales of two varieties of homegrown sparkling wine were up 300 per cent at Marks & Spencer over the festive season.

The firm has seen an overall increase of 103 per cent on English wine sales in 2015. And it has more than doubled its range of English and Welsh wine to meet demand following a bumper Christmas period.

English sparkling wine is also popular at Waitrose, where sales were up 188 per cent over the past 12 months.

One in 50 of the company’s shoppers are now opting for domestic rather than foreign fizz. And the growth shows no signs of abating, with specialist wine retailers Laithwaites expecting 2016 to be “the biggest yet” for English wines.

Online suppliers Virgin Wines also predict the next few years will see the sale of English varieties “really take off”.

Elizabeth Kelly, wine specialist at Marks & Spencer, said: “Our English wines have been a hit with customers this year, with sales up 103 per cent on last year.

“Over the festive period, sales of our Chapel Down English Sparkling Brut and English Sparkling Rose Brut [were] both up by more than 300 per cent.”

A spokesman for Laithwaites said: “We’ve been including English wine in our range for many years, so have lots of loyal customers.

“We’ll sell around 20,000 bottles in 2015, including Christmas. Our sales have been growing steadily, and we expect 2016 to be the biggest year yet.”

Andrew Baker, head wine buyer at Virgin Wines, added: “Over the next few years we are expecting to see sales of English wines really take off.