Bumper crop for wine newcomer (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Bumper crop for wine newcomer

A COTSWOLD gardener's grape harvest has been so successful that has applied for a licence to sell his latest vintage of wine.

Hamish Cathie of Barton-on-the-Heath House planted his vines in 2000 and produced his first vintage of Chateau Barton two years later - a small number of bottles that he gave away to friends and neighbours.

Last year's harvest has yielded 760 bottles, which Mr Cathie hopes to sell when he opens his gardens for charity on Sunday.

In order to sell the wine Mr Cathie had to go through the process of gaining a justice's licence. "It meant sitting for hours in Stratford Magistrates Court but because I got it before the law on licensing changed I will have 'grandfather's rights' which means I will be able to continue selling it in the future," he said.

Mr Cathie's six-acre garden will be open between 2-6pm as part of the National Gardens Scheme. Three quarters of the proceeds will go to the scheme's funds to be distributed to good causes, and one third will be donated to the village church.

As well as his 250 vines, Mr Cathie's garden also includes the largest collection of rhododendrons in the Cotswolds and an impressive display of azaleas along with a wide range of rare plants.

Bottles of the house wine, both red and white, will be on sale in the newly-licensed coach house. Prospective buyers will be offered the chance to take part in a free testing session. Other attractions include teas, plants and other stalls.