It is not known whether the turnaround is because of the perceieved health benefits of red wine, or just a general maturing of the nation's taste.

But whatever the cause, English vineyards are reaping the benefits of a boom in red wine drinking, despite warnings that a record number could close this year because of a poor harvest.

Last year, about 50 English vineyards went out of business because of a slump in profits.

Healthy hearts?

Now vineyards are replacing white grapes with red to keep up with demand.

Red wine has long been thought to protect against heart disease, and some people had attributed a higher consumption of red wine in France to the lower rates of heart disease in the country.

Red is now the colour in front

However, research papers which appeared in the British Medical Journal last month said that this theory had long been disproven.

Certain types of red wine have also been associated with helping to prevent cancer.

The South West is one of England's biggest wine regions.

High domestic taxes and small yields mean its produce is always more expensive than imports - but its red wine is still a sell-out.

Growers say in recent years, the shelves have cleared before the next harvest is ready to bottle.

Hybrid wine

Once considered vinegary and over priced, new growing techniques mean it is establishing its own niche in the market.

One vineyard in Devon is now having to graft red grape varieties onto white roots in order to cash in quickly on the new fashion.