Producers from cider making heartlands were beaten by the Welsh team

Andrew Gronow, 38, took gold for his cider which he makes with his uncle Bill George in Llantwit Fardre near Llantrisant.

The drink called Gwynt Y Ddraig means The Dragon's Wind in English and is made using traditional methods.

The men say the secret of their cider is the quality of the fruit used.

"We were absolutely thrilled when we heard we had won," said 38-year-old Mr Gronow.

"We started making it about five years ago as a hobby because both Bill and I had spent a lot of time in Somerset and liked the cider, so we thought we would have a go ourselves."

The cider is made using traditional methods

The pair began making their cider in a barn on Mr George's farm and after many batches have perfected the resulting drink.

"We use good quality fruit which we search for far and wide and then we press the apples and let the juices ferment in oak barrels for about eight months.

"Nothing else is added just the juices and its natural sugars."

And the drink impressed judges at the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) National Cider and Perry of the year who awarded the drink first prize.

"We are both really passionate about cider and when the telephone call came through to say we had won, we were jumping all over the place.

"It is fantastic to have won against the likes of cider makers from Somerset and Herefordshire.

"I really think that this could be the beginning of cider making in Wales."

The pair made 1,400 gallons of the drink last year but have had orders which will push their production up to 6,000 gallons this year.

The juices of apples are left to ferment in barrels

"We really hope to start a business in cider making and are going to be seriously looking into it this year," added Mr Gronow.

Gillian Williams, the director of cider and perry with CAMRA said: "This is a wonderful result and the first time a Welsh cider has been crowned National Gold Champion."