Ace quaffer Rob Hayward is toasting his success after scoring top marks in a national exam for wine experts.

Mr Hayward, 22, finished in the top 25 nationally out of more than 3,600 who entered the Wine & Spirit Education Trust Advanced Certificate course run by the Tourism Better Business Scheme.

Now he is hoping to build on his build on his achievements by taking part in a scholarship competition tomorrow.

The corks will be popping if Mr Hayward, who works at the Summertown Wine Cafe in Summertown, North Oxford, manages to win again as the prizes include trips to European wine-producing regions like Burgundy, Champagne and Rioja.

And as one of 30 entrants competing for the 17 prizes and scholarships, he stands an excellent chance.

Mr Hayward said: "It has been great to do so well, although it is a surprise.

"If I manage to pass this one then I want to do the Institute of Masters of Wine exams as there are only 257 Masters of Wine in the world."

Mr Hayward, originally from Sussex, has always enjoyed drinking wine but it was not until he took a job in charge of the wine list in a hotel during a gap year between school and university that he became fascinated with it.

As a result, he turned down an internship with finance giant KPMG to stay at the hotel.

He added: "I fell in love with wine and working at the hotel was a fantastic way to learn."

After that he came to Oxford to study Modern History at Brasenose College and was also president of the Oxford University Wine Circle and after graduating was offered a job by the Summertown Wine Cafe.

He said: "Ultimately I would love to own my own restaurant."

Mr Hayward was one of 11 people from Oxfordshire to be presented with Advanced Wine Tasting Certificates.

Debbie Rouget, Tourism Better Business Scheme's project manager, said: "We are absolutely delighted Robert has done so well. He has been a credit to the course and we wish him every success in the future."