SPARKLING wine may make you think of France, Spain or New Zealand, but a young vineyard on the edge of Dartmoor is attempting to change that perception.

Richard and Hilary Waller are celebrating the launch of the first sparkling wine produced at Eastcott Vineyard near Northlew, just four years after they quit their city jobs and moved to rural Devon.

The fizz — Eastcott Sparkling Brut — joins their award-winning range of still wines, and the couple believe the Devon climate and geography are perfect for producing excellent wines.

Richard said: 'The best sparkling wines actually tend to be cool climate wines, because it's generally made from slightly under-ripe grapes, and that's certainly something we can do in England.

'Vines also like water, but don't like to be saturated, and so well-draining soil is needed. The local farmers actually tell us we've got the best-drained fields in the area.'

In fact, explained Hilary, it is quite possible that sparkling wine was originally produced in this country. 'The story goes that James I commandeered wood supplies to build up his Navy, causing glass blowers to turn to coal fires, and the hotter fires meant the glass became stronger.

'The stronger bottles meant they could take the pressure of sparkling wines.

'It's a plausible story, and of course British sparkling wines are the best.'

Richard and Hilary moved to Northlew just four years ago, and since then have converted a derelict barn into their winery, planted five acres of vines, and renovated three holiday cottages.

Richard said: 'We're corporate escapees.

'We both used to work in office jobs. We have two children, who have both flown the nest now, and it was either a case of carrying on doing what we'd been doing for another twenty years and get very bored, or make the decision to do something different.

'It's been a steep learning curve, but very enjoyable, and we're constantly learning.'

A grant from the South West Regional Development Agency has helped the vineyard become more environmentally friendly.

The grant paid for equipment allowing the entire fermentation process to take place on-site, reducing 'drink miles', and also paid for roof insulation and a rainwater collection system, used to wash floors and spray vines.

The vineyard is now producing around 4,000 bottles of wine per year, and the couple hope to increase this to around 10,000 bottles per year in the future.

Local people have helped the vineyard on its journey to success.

Hilary said: 'The locals have been fantastic. They're excited about the fact someone is doing something different, and they're very interested and keen to help out.

'The last picking was announced at very short notice, and they all came out and helped, which is lovely.'

The wine is available from the farm gate, local shops, and also at http://www.eastcottvineyard.co.uk">www.eastcottvineyard.co.uk The National Trust has recently begun stocking the wine at nearby Castle Drogo.

Richard said they have found the whole experience hugely rewarding.

'I think one of the things that really attracted us to wine-making is that it's a way of producing something from start to finish that you can be proud of.

'The result is certainly worth drinking, and of course we had a bottle of Eastcott Sparkling Brut on the table for Christmas Day.

'There was also a certain theme to the gifts our friends received this year!'

There are around 30 vineyards in Devon — information on English vineyards is available at http://www.englishwineproducers.com">www.englishwineproducers.com