An award-winning west Suffolk farm and vineyard is expected to change hands next week.

Nick Thomson, the current owner of Lavenham Brook Farm at Brent Eleigh, said the 52.37 hectare site, which includes champion Red Poll cattle, an orchard and a high respected vineyard, is due to be sold to a local buyer.

Mr Thomson, 71, who has owned the site since 2000, said he understood the 75-strong herd of cattle would continue to graze fields in the region and could even return to the show ring.

However, although the vineyard and orchard are expected to continue growing fruit, there is likely to be an interruption in the production of wine and apple juices while the new owners “bed in”.

“We are due to exchange contracts on December 19 and the new owner, who is a local lady, wants to keep the whole thing together which is great,” said Mr Thomson.

He added: “The cows and the vineyard will all remain in place. But they have decided that they need a year out from a year out from wine making and apple juicing making as they sort themselves out. So I imagine they will just be selling the grapes to winemakers, so there won’t be a Lavenham Brook label vintage probably for 2015.”

Mr Thomson said as a result he will be selling the remainder of the wine and apple juice at a closing down sale that will run from today until 4pm on Saturday December 13.

Lavenham Brook’s wines have been steadily gaining recognition at a national level, with their Pinot Noir Symphony Rose 2013 judged “most outstanding still rosé wine” at the Wine of the Year competition 2014 and winning the prestigious Waitrose Trophy. Mr Thomson put the farm on sale in September at a guide price of £1.21million, a price that excluded the land and business, after saying neither of his children wanted to take it on.