A spirited debate has erupted over what name could be put on to the printed labels of wine produced in the UK that would make it instantly recognisable to connoisseurs.

Currently, Italy has prosecco and Spain has cava, but home-grown fizz only has the moniker English sparkling wine.

Christian Seely from Coates & Seely told the Telegraph he thinks Britagne - pronounced to rhyme with Britannia - should be chosen.

"[This]communicates the fact that it is a sparkling wine produced in Britain but rivalling that of its Gallic neighbours," he explained.

However, Ridgeview chief executive Mike Roberts thinks the name should be Merret, after historical figure Dr Christopher Merret.

A meeting called by English Wine Producers is to be held later this month in order to decide once and for all which generic term will feature on all printed labels for English sparkling wine.

It is thought that fizzy wines comparable to those produced in France have been made in England since the 1750s, EnglishSparklingwine.co.uk states.

Denny Bros Ltd, 06 July 2011