A NORTH Yorkshire Vineyard has been named Wine Maker of the Year as it scoops four other titles at a national awards ceremony.

Yorkshire Heart Vineyard and Brewery, based in Nun Monkton, picked up the prizes at the Mercian Vineyard Association Awards held in Leicester.

Located between York and Knaresborough, the family run firm was awarded Best Sparkling Wine, Best Wine from another Vintage, Best Northern Wine, Best Label and Wine Maker of the Year.

Owners Chris and Gillian Spakouskas said: "We went there with the hope of winning one award but are ecstatic to announce that we have come home with not just one award but five awards.

"After years of hard graft and much needed appreciated help from friends and family it has been a long slog to get our wines to the high standard that has made it award winning, as you can imagine we are all absolutely thrilled."

Yorkshire Heart focuses on producing ales in cask and bottles from its micro brewery, as well asEnglish wines from its vineyard and winery.

The vineyard was born from a love of making wine from fruits found in hedgerows and gardens and now boasts 12,500 vines and 17 varieties of grape.

Yorkshire Heart Brewery was established relatively recently on the back of the success of the vineyard, with a micro-brewery developed near by the vineyard. just a short hop and a skip from the vineyard.