A Pembrokeshire-based vineyard has been praised by a local politician for being nominated for a ‘rural Oscar’.
The Awards are the Countryside Alliance’s annual celebration of British food and farming, enterprise, and heritage through our small hard-working businesses.
Challenging in the ‘best local food/drink’ category - Velfrey Vineyard located at Lampeter Velfrey, Narberth specialises in the production of award winning sparkling and still white Welsh wines.
Winners will be chosen via a public vote and our Welsh judging panel in January and announced at the The Senedd, Cardiff Bay on Tuesday, February 27.
The winners of the Welsh final will go on to represent Wales at the House of Lords in the national champions reception in June of 2024.
The Rural Oscars are now in their sixteenth year and have become the definitive rural business award to win.
They are set apart from other award schemes because they are driven by public nomination, offering customers the chance to tell us why their favourite businesses are worthy of national acclaim.
The Rural Oscars received thousands of nominations this year, so Velfrey Vineyard have done extremely well to reach the regional final.
Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member, Samuel Kurtz, said: “Velfrey Vineyard's passion for our community shines through in everything they do.
“Reaching the regional finals is a well-deserved recognition of Andy, Fiona, and the team's hard work.
“I've seen firsthand how they go the extra mile, and I urge everyone to log on to the Countryside Alliance website, vote for Velfrey Vineyard and raise a glass of their PGI-status sparkling brut, to toast their deserved recognition.”
Countryside Alliance Awards Director Sarah Lee commented: “We have been overwhelmed by nominations this year.
“The secret to the Rural Oscars’ popularity is that they honour the people involved in these businesses and not just their produce or services.
“They exist to sing the praises of those who work hard to keep our communities and rural economy ticking, but don’t seek the spotlight.
“Our local produce is second to none and there are many community heroes and businesses worthy of national recognition.”
More information about the awards can be found here: https://www.countryside-alliance.org/campaigns/countryside-alliance-awards