A vineyard in New Zealand has started to produce the official wine of Watford Football Club.

Lifelong Hornets fan Peter Clark moved to New Zealand 30 years ago where he set up his own winery with his wife Jane.

He has now completed his dream of launching his own Hornets Sauvignon Blanc, and shared a glass with club chairman Graham Taylor during the 2-2 draw with Coventry City earlier this month.

Peter, 61, said: “I'm absolutely delighted. I created it for the fans so it will be great to see the fans drinking it.

“The club were very keen to get involved. As far as I know, it's the first wine associated with a football club. It's unique in a way.”

Peter, who was “born and bred” in Watford, joined the Army aged 18 and graduated from Sandhurst, before moving to New Zealand 12 years later.

His wife's family, who were originally from Borehamwood, had already relocated there.

Peter then joined the Army in New Zealand, bringing his total military service to 25 years.

But when the couple's youngest child left school, they decided to leave their jobs and work for themselves.

He said: “We wanted to be part of the export business and wanted to grow something, anything. We'd never grown anything before in our lives. We looked a kiwi fruit but grapes were sexier.”

Peter and Jane looked first at buying their own vineyard but when this proved to be too expensive, they bought 20 acres of land in 1998 and started growing Sauvignon Blanc, Pignot Gris and Reisling grapes.

The Clark Estate now sells its range of wines – Clark Estate and Boreham Wood - in New Zealand while also exporting the two brands to Australia, the US, the UK and South Korea.

The family business produces about 120,000 bottles every year and has expanded its site to 33 acres in the Awatere Valley region of the country, on the northern tip of the southern island.

As a devoted Watford fan, following club news and match commentaries on the Watford Observer website, Peter has always wanted to create a new Watford FC brand.

He first approached the club with his idea in February this year and the Hornets Sauvignon Blanc will now be available in independent retailers across the town.

“I tried to do it four years ago but we weren't sophisticated enough to do our own importing, which we can now,” said Peter, who has three children and five grandchildren.

“I think about Watford football club an awful lot and I don't know why that is. I was brought up on it and it's part of your life. So I hope the wine proves popular.”

For more information see www.clarkestate.com