STAFF at Astley Vineyard are raising a glass to toast a haul of successes in a national wine contest.

The prestigious 2001 Wine of the Year Competition saw the vineyard presented with four awards to mark its achievements in wine making. Astley Vineyard owner Jonty Daniels nurtures this year's grapes for his next batch of wine.

The vineyard was awarded bronze medals for its Astley Kerner 1999 still white wine, and Astley Vintage Brut 1998, a sparkling white wine.

Owner Jonty Daniels also received highly commended certificates for the Astley Kerner 2000 and Astley Severn Vale 1999 at a ceremony earlier this month at the House of Lords in London.

Mr Daniels said: "Since the first bottle of Astley wine left our Stourport vineyard in 1984, 85 per cent of the wine we have produced has won both national and international awards.

"Over the years Astley wine has been in the company of many thousands of bottles from the great grape growing countries in the world, from Australia, South Africa and Chile in the Southern Hemisphere to the traditional wine producing regions of Europe.

"For many years English wine has not been taken seriously. I hope the recognition it is now receiving will encourage more people to try the many fantastic flavours of English wine."