A CHILLY vineyard in Malton has become Britain’s most northerly commercial wine producer.

Ryedale Vineyards boasts the accolade as no other grape-grower has managed to achieve the latitudinal co-ordinates of Westow, near Malton.

Owner John Fletcher, who is planting 4,000 vines this year alone, said: “We grow grapes to make red and white wine, and even a type of champagne called ‘fizz’.

“I’m not a historian, but we’ve been doing this consistently since 2007 now and we are the most northerly commercial producer on this scale.

“Monks dating back thousands of years have tried to make wine further up the country - but nothing like the commercial scale we have accomplished.

“Until recently, there were very few vineyards north of Watford - but they are popping up across the country now.

“It’s a booming time for wine across the country - and even the French want to buy up our wine territory.

“At our vineyard we literally cannot make it quick enough - people just buy it up as soon as we put it on sale.”

Britain’s wine industry has seen a rapid growth in recent years that has dispelled myths that its vineyards could not compete with their rivals around the world.

John said: “One hazard is wet weather but as the climate improves, we can assume that we can grow wine again like we did in Roman times.

“Roman wine wasn’t good, but it did have alcohol in it and it was preferable to drinking dirty water.”

A million vines are due to be planted in England and Wales this year and more than 5,000 acres are now under vine.