A vineyard overlooking the A55 are expecting 2018 to be their best vintage yet.

A hotter than usual summer has resulted in an “exceptional year” for Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard, in Bryn Pydew near Llandudno Junction, and one owners Colin and Charlotte Bennett said will be remembered for years to come.

Owners Colin and Charlotte Bennett said they vineyard has had a "bumper crop" due to the weather this year which had yielded the highest ripeness levels ever recorded.

Last week saw the last of the rondo grapes picked in the vineyards, which will be used to make more than 1000 bottles of their red wine.

Mrs Bennett said: "We picked over a tonne (of rondo grapes) with the help of a willing team of eight to ten volunteers.

"This year has been an exceptional year with the highest ripeness levels ever recorded along with a bumper crop.

"Normally we would have to look at thinning the black grape crop in August to ensure that we get ripe fruit but this year it has not been necessary due to the hot summer.

"The grapes will be in vats today and after fermentation they will be aged in two year old Burgundy barrels and it will be ready to drink in about 18 months.

"We should have around a thousand bottles of red wine."

Mr Bennett said while wine-lovers will have to wait 18 months to sample the bumper 2018 reds, 2017 red and white sparkling wines will be available in November, just in time for Christmas.

While the vineyard's solaris grapes, which produces Gwinllan Conwy's multi-award winning white wine, were picked two week's ago and the wines should be ready by March.

He said: "The Solaris grapes for our multi award winning white wine were picked two weeks ago and we are confident that it will be our best vintage ever.

"That doesn’t require ageing so it will be on the shelves by March next year."

Gwinllan Conwy have capped off a successful 2018 vintage by revealing they have taken over a vineyard in Anglesey.

Mrs Bennett said: "We have also taken over a vineyard on Anglesey from where we are going to produce a new sparkling rose ‘Mon Rhosliw’ to compliment our ‘International Wine Challenge’ silver medal winning sparkling Pefriog.

"All in all a vintage the will be remembered for years to come."

Next month the vineyard's wines will be entered into the Welsh wine awards, which will be held at Llanerch Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The pair added they are hoping to be awarded more medals to add to the twelve they have already achieved.