13 Welsh vineyards you can visit after lockdown

While English wine has been hogging the headlines, it’s important to acknowledge the achievements of producers across the border. We’ve rounded up a selection of Welsh vineyards that are leading the charge.

Like its English counterpart, the Welsh wine industry has been growing in recent years. There are now some 30 vineyards in the country, planted over an area of 57 hectares.

Still, sparkling and even fortified wine is made, with soils ranging from sandy loam through to slate shingle. The oldest vineyards were established in the 1970s, while the newest were planted just last year.

While Pinot Noir is grown in Wales, other traditional Champagne varieties, such as Chardonnay and Meunier, are less abundant than they are in England.

Instead, many vineyards are planted with a range of hybrid and disease resistant grapes.

Following on from the success of The Big English Good Friday event, WineGB has launched Welsh Wine Night, which is due to be held this Friday (24 April) at 7pm on social media.

Wine lovers are encouraged to take photos and videos of what they’re drinking and share them on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and Youtube using the hashtag #WelshWineNight. The aim is to draw awareness to the often overlooked category, and encourage direct purchasing from vineyards and participating retailers.

More information can be found here.

Scroll through to see a selection of Welsh vineyards that you can buy from and visit.

White Castle Vineyard, Monmouthshire

White Castle Vineyard in Monmouthshire in south Wales was first planted in 2009 by owners Robb and Nicola Merchant. Robb is also the chairman of the Welsh Vineyards Association. The Merchants, who are Plumpton College graduates, marked the vineyard’s 10-year anniversary last year by planting an additional 2,000 Pinot Noir and Cabernet Franc vines. White Castle also grows Regent, Rondo, Seyval Blanc and Phoenix.

The producer makes still red, white and rosé wines, as well as sparkling, and in 2018 bottled what it claimed was the nation’s first fortified wine. Called 1581, the wine was made from Regent grapes from the 2014 harvest and has an ABV of 19%.

The vineyard offers regular tours and you can also adopt a vine for £46.50.

Contact: 01873 821443, info@whitecastlevineyard.com

Address: White Castle Vineyard, Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8RA

Montgomery Vineyard, Powys

Montgomery Vineyard is a family-run affair located in Powys in mid-Wales. Planted in 2012, the producer is owned by members of the Lennard family and makes wine from Pinot Noir précoce, Rondo, Solaris, Bacchus and Seyval Blanc grapes. It produces several still whites, a rosé and a red, as well as two sparkling wines.

Contact: 01686 670 301 / info@montgomeryvineyard.co.uk

Address: Montgomery Vineyard, Montgomery, Powys, Wales, SY15 6LR

Ancre Hill, Monmouthshire

Another Monmouth wine estate, Ancre Hill was established by Richard and Joy Morris in 2006. Working biodynamically since 2010, the estate includes 12 hectares set over two vineyard sites with a total of 30,000 vines. Ancre Hill gained official Demeter certification in 2014 and organic accreditation a year earlier in 2013.

In 2014, the estate bought the neighbouring Newton Court Farm, where it planted 8,000 further vines.

Served at the likes of Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons and nearby Michelin-starred eatery Restaurant James Sommerin, Ancre Hill’s wines include three traditional method sparklers; a still Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and rosé; an Albarino orange wine; and a pet nat made from the Triomphe grape – an Alsatian creation from 1911.

Contact: +44 (0)1600 714152 / info@ancrehillestates.co.uk

Address: Ancre Hill Estates, Monmouth, NP25 5HS, Wales

Llanerch Vineyard, Vale of Glamorgan

Llanerch Vineyard, which was bought by Ryan Davies in 2010, dates back to 1986 when the first vines were planted. Located to the north west of Cardiff, just outside Hensol, it claims to be the first vineyard to have opened a dedicated hotel in the UK.

The 26-bed facility opened last year after the vineyard secured a £2 million loan, aiming to simulate successful oenotourism models found in New Zealand and Australia.

The vineyard also hosts tours, tastings, weddings and corporate packages. It operates a restaurant and bistro and produces a total of 10,000 bottles of wine a year under the brand name Cariad Wines.

Contact: 01443 222716 / info@llanerch.co.uk

Address: Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan, CF72 8GG

Jabajak Vineyard, Carmarthenshire

Foodie hotspot Jabajak is a vineyard and a restaurant with rooms. It takes its name from the initials of members of the Stuart-Robson family (Julian, Amanda, Buddug and Joanna, Alexandra and Katie), who bought what was then a rundown smallholding in 1998. Having worked abroad, the family returned to Wales in 2004 and opened the site as a hospitality business. The vineyard was planted in 2007 and wine is released under The White House label.

Planted with almost 2,000 Seyval, Phoenix, Rondo, Rheichenstiener, Huxelreber and Pinot Noir vines, the grapes are used to make wines including a still white and a blush sparkling.

Jabajak offers tours and tastings. Guests can also stay in one of eight bedrooms and make use of the restaurant facilities.

Contact: 01994 448 786 / info@jabajak.co.uk 

Address: Banc Y Llain Llanboidy Road, Whitland SA34 0ED

Glyndwr Vineyard, Vale of Glamorgan

From the picture, you may have guessed one of Glyndwr Vineyard’s unique selling points. The other is that it lays claim to being the oldest vineyard in Wales, having been established in 1979.

Founded by Richard and Susan Norris, the estate produces a range of Welsh wines including a vintage sparkling, red, white and rosé made from varieties including Seyval Blanc, Triomphe d’Alsace, Rondo, Regent, Pinot Noir and Reichensteiner. It also makes a brandy made from handpicked Seyval Blanc grapes that were distilled and then aged in oak barrels for four years.

Guests can tour the vineyard and can book one of two self-catered rooms in the grounds.

One for the animal lovers, the vineyard also has its own ‘menagerie’ of chickens, ducks, pheasants and llamas.

Contact: 01446 624759.

Address: Glyndwr Vineyard, Llanblethian, Cowbridge, Vale Of Glamorgan CF71 7JF.

Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard, Conwy

Moving northwards, the Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard is located not far from the north coast, close to Colwyn Bay and Llandudno. Planted in 2012, the vineyard has 3,000 vines over more than three acres, and grows Solaris, Ortega, Phoenix, Regent and Rondo vines.

The estate, owned by wine enthusiasts Colin and Charlotte Bennett, produces two still white wines, a rosé and a still red, as well as a white and pink fizz.

The vineyard holds regular tours and tastings with cheeseboards and other Welsh sharing platters available.

Contact: 01492 545 596 / conwyvineyard@btinternet.com

Address: Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard, Y Gwinwydd, Llangwstenin, Conwy, LL31 9JF

Velfrey Vineyard, Pembrokeshire

Moving right the way down to Pembrokeshire in the south west of the country, Velfrey Vineyard, which was established as recently as 2017, claims to be the largest in the county.

Boasting over 4,000 vines planted across three acres, the vineyard is situated on a south-facing slope in the Lampeter Vale. It grows Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc and Solaris grapes and offers guided tours and the option to adopt a vine. The family-owned vineyard brought in its first harvest in October last year and intends to produce a range of sparkling and still wines.

Contact: 01994 240002 / info@velfrey.com

Address: Velfrey Vineyard, Plas y Coed, Velfrey Road, Lampeter Velfrey, Pembrokeshire, SA34 0RA

Parva Farm Vineyard, Monmouthshire

Parva Farm Vineyard, planted on the slopes of the Wye Valley in Monmouthshire, just outside of Tintern, is set over 2.5 acres. Planted with Bacchus, Seyval Blanc, Muller Thurgau, Pinot Noir and Regent, plus a “demonstration plot” featuring Huxelrebe, Ehrenfelser, Regner, Scheurebe, Reichensteiner, Ortega, Kerner, Auxerrois, Pinot Blanc & Pinot Gris and Gewurtztraminer, it is one of the most viticulturally diverse vineyards in the country.

Rivaling Glyndwr, Parva Farm Vineyard also dates back to 1979, with subsequent plantings made in 1985 and 1989. The current owners, Colin and Judith Dudley, purchased the estate in 1996 and worked to bring the then neglected vines back into production. In 2001, Parva Farm produced its first commercial crop for some time.

The vineyard produces several still wines, as well as fizz, cider, mead and fruit wine. Like with many vineyards in Monmouth, Parva Farm’s wines are made at Three Choirs in Gloucestershire.

Parva Farm offers a self-guided tour of the vineyard, with tastings available at the cellar door.

Contact: (+44) (0)1291 689 636 / info@parvafarm.com

Address: Parva Farm & Vineyard, Tintern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP1 66SQ

Pant Du Vineyard, Gwynedd

Moving north once more, Pant Du is located in the north west county of Gwynedd, virtually equidistant from Porthmadog and Caernarfon. The vineyard and orchard is planted on the slopes of the Nantlle Valley in the Snowdonia National Park.

The family-run business was established in 2007 by Richard and Iola Huws and also includes a restaurant and a shop. The restaurant serves afternoon tea and breakfast and brunch from Friday to Sunday. Guided tours of the vineyard are available to book, and like many Welsh vineyards, the site can be hired out for weddings.

The estate is planted with 9 acres of vines, and 18 acres of apple trees. The vineyard grows six different grape varieties including Seyval Blanc, Siegerrebe, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder and Rondo and makes white, rosé and red still wines.

Pant Du also produces three types of cider, three kinds of apple juice, bottled water, and honey.

Contact: (01286) 881819 / post@pantdu.co.uk

Address: County Road, Penygroes, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 6HE

Red Wharf Bay Vineyard, Anglesey

Red Wharf Bay Vineyard is one of the most northerly in Wales, located on the Isle of Anglesey. First planted in 2010 by owner Kevin Mawdesley, with further vines established in 2016.

Mawdesley describes his project as a Welsh vineyard conceived in Spain. Having dreamed of retiring and planting a vineyard in Andalucia, his plans fell through. However, Red Wharf still has a distinct Spanish flavour. Mawdesley blends Spanish wine with that made from his Welsh-grown grapes to produce a unique product. He also sells Spanish ceramics, olive oil and leather goods at the cellar door.

Guided tours are available to book online.

Contact: 01248 450511 / info@RedWharfBayVineyard.co.uk

Address: Llain Gam, Lon y Traeth, Pentraeth, Anglesey, LL75 8YG

Sugar Loaf Vineyards, Monmouthshire

Located in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Sugar Loaf Vineyards, as the name suggests, is based at the foot of the Sugar Loaf mountains.

The estate, which was established in 1992, grows seven grape varieties including Reichensteiner, Madeleine Angevine, Seyval Blanc, Rondo and Regent, and is planted over 5 acres on south facing slopes.

Sugar Loaf makes white, rosé and red still wines, as well as fizz. It offers tours, operates an on-site café and also boasts accommodation..

Contact: enquiries@sugarloafvineyard.co.uk, +44 (0)1873 853066

Address: The Sugar Loaf Vineyards, Dummar Farm, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, South Wales, NP7 7LA

Llaethliw Vineyard, Ceredigion

Bought by Richard and Siw Evans in 2008, Llaethliw Vineyard was planted in the following year with a total of 3,000 Solaris, 1,000 Rondo, 1,000 Regent and 275 Orion vines. A further 7,000 vines over 10 acres were planted in April 2016. The couple’s son, Jac, studied viticulture at Plumpton College and now manages the estate.

Llaethliw now grows nine varieties and will be planting a further 4,500 vines this year. Currently it produces two sparkling wines, as well as a still white, rosé and red.

Contact: 01545 571 879

Address: Neuadd Lwyd, Aberaeron, Llaethliw SA48 7RF