We are also downing more ‘new world’ wines than those from the centuries-old producers in Europe.

French wine, once the most dominant on British shelves, has slid to fifth behind Australia, California, Italy and now South Africa in volume sales.

In the past year, sales of South African labels have swelled by 20 per cent to 12.27million cases while French sales have plummeted 12 per cent to 12.266million.

The difference between fourth and fifth spot is just four cases of 12 bottles each but is in South Africa’s favour, said industry analysts Nielsen.

‘In 1994, we couldn’t have dreamed that we would sell more wine in Britain than the French,’ said Jo Mason, UK marketing manager of Wines of South Africa. And Michelle Smith, Sainsbury’s wine buyer, added: ‘This is amazing progress in a short space of time.’

Sales have been helped by the pound’s strength against the rand which means Saffa wines have become cheaper, not just against the European makers but also the Aussie and US labels. The average South African bottle in Britain sells for £3.86 against an overall average of £4.32.

France still sells more in Britain by value but this is falling, down five per cent to £726million in the 12 months to the end of January, while SA sales were up 21 per cent to £568million.

With more tourists being introduced to South African wines during the football World Cup in June this year, the gap in volume sales is going to continue to grow, experts claim.

Although wine has been made in South Africa for 350 years, it only started to export on a large scale in 1994 after the break-up of apartheid led to free trade with the world.