A York vineyard and brewery is embarking on a period of expansion after uncorking a funding package to support its plans.

Yorkshire Heart has agreed a deal with Barclays as it looks to invest in new premises at its site at Nun Monkton.

Established in 2000, the vineyard started life with 35 vines planted by husband and wife team Chris and Gillian Spakouskas.

They produced their first official wine five years later and now have 35,000 thousand vines and grow seventeen different varieties of grapes.

The business then grew further when the family launched its award winning brewery in 2011 and son Timothy now produces seven core beers with two different craft beers each month using water from the farm’s own natural spring.

Following a succession of awards and seeing demand rocket, business is now investing in a visitor centre which will enable it to offer wine tours and tastings together with other functions throughout the year.

Gillian Spakouskas, director at Yorkshire Heart, which works with hybrid grapes, bred for northern Europe, said: “We need to continue with our investment programme to meet the increasing demand for our wines and beers and be able to host events in our new visitor centre.

“We were short listed in the White Rose Awards in both 2015 and 2016 and winners at the Harrogate Business Awards in both 2015 and 2016. This seems to have helped to spread the word about our products and we’re very grateful that Barclays has provided funding for the future and has been able to support our investment plans.”

The company anticipates the new visitor centre will increase the turnover and also help add to their wedding trade.

Sarah Broadhurst, Barclays business banking manager, said: “Chris and Gillian were previously seeing visitors in a marquee which made winter trade difficult so it made good business sense for them to invest in a purpose built visitor centre so they can operate all year round.

“This is a great example of a well-run family business and the new facilities will take them to the next exciting chapter for the future.

“I am confident we will see this fast growing and ambitious business going from strength to strength and with craft ales going mainstream, the business is well placed to succeed in this exciting market.”

The family has also gone on to plant its first cider orchard in May 2014, and looks forward to making its first cider product in the next few years.