AN Ashton on Mersey vintner has extended his wine cellar to include a massive 14,000 bottles.

Tom Davin, owner of Ashton Hall Equestrian Centre in Church Lane, has spent the past six weeks creating an upstairs extension to hold a further 4,000 bottles on top of the 10,000 already stored on site.

The resource houses wine for his importation and selling business, launched earlier this year.

And when it came to naming the burgeoning business – there was only one choice on the table: His name actually contains the French word for wine.

Tom said: “My son wanted to call the business ‘Sovereign’ but, because of my name, I hit on the title Da Vin Wines.

“I have been collecting wine for 40 years. I had a big personal collection but have drunk most of it!”

Tom, 62, knows what he is talking about when it comes to drinking wine, having personally tasted most of his stock.

“I am the sole distributor for small growers from France, Spain and Italy, and know them personally,” he added.

For many years his favourite wine was an Italian red – Barolo.

“Recently I have tasted some unbelievable fine wines and realised that it doesn’t have to cost a fortune to be good.”

He does, however, point out that a bottle costing under £5 only gives 16p of wine after distribution, bottling, labelling and production costs are accounted for. Value for money begins at £7 plus.

His champagne is imported from one grower – Bourgeois Boulonnais who produce only 15,000 bottles per annum compared with Moet and Chandon, who release 33 million a year.

“My customers rate it highly and it sells at the sensible price of £22-£29 per bottle.”

Tom hopes to arrange wine tastings for groups and will supply food and music if required.

Da Vin wines is open to visit from 9 am every day.

To buy or book a tasting, telephone 07860 454 500 or visit info@davinwines.co.uk