Four types of wine produced at a Budleigh Salterton vineyard have scooped awards at the prestigious Winemaker of the Year competition.

Lily Farm Vineyard owners Alan and Faye Pratt, both 57, were celebrating this week after learning they scooped silver and three bronze awards for their wines.

Competing against other wine growers in the UK and Wales, the vineyard’s white Bacchus 2010 wine was awarded silver, while a red 2010, rose 2010, and red table wine 2009 all won bronze.

Alan, of Moormead, said the awards had put the vineyard, at Knowle, on the map - achieving nationwide recognition.

He praised the vineyard’s winemaker for helping the couple achieve prize-winning status.

The vineyard owner said: “It’s nice that a vineyard this small can compete. These medals are a real triumph for a site as small as ours.

“Now we have got these awards we feel as though we are established.”

The couple will be presented with their awards next month at a ceremony at the House of Lords.

The vineyard first hit the headlines in 2007 when Mr and Mrs Pratt’s crop caused nationwide amazement when their grapes were ready for harvesting a month before anywhere else in the UK.

They were unaware of the phenomenon until Mr Pratt posted the news on the UK Vineyard Association web forum and received a flurry of emails from stunned growers.

Since then the vineyard’s reputation has gone from strength-to-strength and its growing reputation prompted the couple to apply for a licence to sell their wine on-site.

Now open five days a week, Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm, the vineyard also offers summer tours and free wine tasting.

Mr Pratt said: “Our reputation is growing. We have had people coming to our shop who have heard about our wine. and we have got people returning.”

For more information about the vineyard visit: www.lilyfarmvineyard.com

To book a tour, contact Faye Pratt on 07977057864.