What a corker! Shropshire wine is an international winner
A Shropshire vineyard is feeling on top of the world after winning big in a major competition.
Rodington Vineyard has been given a silver award for its White Solaris 2014 in the International Wine Challenge.
Set up just outside Telford, the first grapes were planted at the farm just seven years ago.
Jai Chahal, owner of the vineyard, said: "As a local vineyard, we are absolutely thrilled and grateful to have been given this recognition at an international level.
"We have proved that English wine is classed as a high quality wine on an international level.
"We are absolutely delighted, over the moon, grateful and proud to be given such a prestigious award, shows recognition for the class and quality for our wines.
"We are proud to put Shropshire on international wine map, to show our support for the county on an international level."
The vineyard was only set up in 2009, when they planted the grapes, but officially opened in October. It sells its products under the Blue Tractor label – a label chosen as a tribute to the one piece of machinery on the land when Mr Chahal's parents first bought it.
Mr Chahal said he was inspired to start a vineyard because of the quality of the land.
He added: "We have had so much support from Wroxeter Vineyard and Halfpenny Green Vineyard, they have been so supportive, it has been great.
"We're still learning, we've got a lot to learn yet and have had to overcome many hurdles and I'm sure there will be many more in future as well.
"It has been a lot of hard work, but it has been a labour of love, it is our passion and it shows."
The vineyard also won a silver and bronze medal at the Mercian Vineyards Association competition 2015 for its Bacchus 2014 and Solaris 2013 respectively.
Mr Chahal said: "We're very lucky to have won a number of national awards for our wines."
Blue Tractor Wines are sold at D'arcys in Ironbridge, Greenfields in Donnington, Fordhall Farm in Market Drayton, the Tayleur Arms and Tanners Wine Merchants.
Mr Chahal and his wine will also be at a number of food festivals later this year, including Shrewsbury and the Greenfields Summer Food Fair in Donnington.
