A VINEYARD in Stourport has celebrated its silver anniversary by scooping a top award.

Astley Vineyards was established in the mid-1970s by viticultural pioneers Michael and Betty Bache and is one of the earlier and longer-lasting commercial English vineyards. Jonty Daniels with the dry reserve wine, the latest in a line of award-winning wines.

It was taken over 10 years ago by Janet Baldwin and Jonty Daniels who are set to launch a new "dry reserve" wine. It won a silver medal and the committee cup for best dry white wine at the South West Vineyards Association Wine Challenge in 2002.

When the five acres at Astley were first planted it became, at that time, the most northerly vineyard in the world.

The production of wine so far north dictates that climatic conditions are marginal but, as Hugh Johnson states: "all good wines are made in marginal conditions. Give the wine-vine all the heat and moisture it can use and its wine will be gross.

"The finest aromas, the crispest, most tingling flavours, the subtleties to die for, result from slow ripening, cool nights, grapes hanging on into the autumn."

A wine is an expression of the site, the variety, the climate and the winemaker's skills.

An over-use of fertiliser and irrigation in pursuit of maximum yields dilutes the qualities of the wine and diminishes the effect of the vineyard site - the factor that confers uniqueness to the wine.

At Astley, the emphasis is in the opposite direction, with a dedication to the production of wine from ultra low yields which concentrate site and variety characteristics.

By combining a careful selection of vine varieties suited to northerly conditions, and "old world" emphasis on "terroir", the benefits of a New World approach to vineyard management, and the talent of international wine consultant Martin Fowke, Astley Vineyards creates some of the finest expressions of English wine production.

More than 85 per cent of all Astley wines ever produced have won awards in international, national or regional competition.

All wines currently achieve English Quality Wine status.

They are not available in supermarkets or multiple retail outlets. The vineyard is set in an idyllic and peaceful setting, rich in bird and wildlife. Entry is free and visitors can taste the wines, enjoy the surroundings and explore the vineyard.

Small parties, of 12 to 20 people, are invited to make arrangements for an informal, personal and informative guided tour. The site is signposted off the B4196 between Stourport and Worcester.