MONMOUTHSHIRE vineyards were among award winners at the Welsh Vineyards Association’s (WVA) annual wine competition.

The competition, held in the Vale of Glamorgan, saw 42 wines entered by nine vineyards ranging from north to south Wales.

Awards were split into five classes, with ten bronze and five silver awards made especially for the national competition. The best wine in each class also received a trophy.

Of the Monmouthshire entrants, Tintern's Parva Farm vineyard scooped four awards, with its Bwthyn Rhosyn 2015 rosé and Dathliad 2013 sparkling white earning the Three Choirs Salver and the Smarts Salver respectively.

The vineyard, which is owned by Colin and Judith Dudley, also registered a further silver award and a bronze award for two white wines offerings.

Mrs Dudley said she was particularly pleased with the performance of their sparking wine, adding: "It's always a boost when you win such awards."

Abergavenny-based White Castle's had two entries in the red wine category, earning a bronze award as well as the Three Choirs Salver for its Pinot Noir Précoce 2014.

Monmouth's Ancre Hill vineyard earned a bronze for its Blanc de Blancs 2009 in the sparkling white wine category.

The climax of the competition was the awards dinner – which was televised on S4C - and attended by the event’s sponsors and representatives from the Welsh Government’s Food Division.

Robb Merchant, chairman of the WVA, said: “The interest in Welsh Wines is growing as the quality improves, presently Welsh vineyards produce around a 100,000 bottles a year and this is set to double by 2020.

"The awards this year have been judged to international standards and those vineyards who have won awards can very proud of their achievement."