The first commercial vineyard in Wales was planted in 1875 near Castell Coch, a 19th-century Gothic castle built on the outskirts of Cardiff by industrialist Lord Bute. Now Wales has a Wine Trail with over twenty active vineyards. Some with American roots.
Jabajak Vineyard
Five of the first six presidents of the United States of America were of Welsh ancestry. John Adams, the first occupant of the White House, and his son John Quincy Adams were the grandson and great-grandson of David (“Dai”) Evans, a yeoman farmer’s son from Llanboidy in the blue mountain range of west Wales. He (before emigrating to the US) was a tenant farmer on the drover’s farm on the Banc-y-Llain” estate. Although not originally white, John Adams called it that in memory of his roots. Nearby Whitland was Ty Gwyn ar Daf, meaning White House on the river Taf.
Now Julian and Amanda Stuart-Robson produce quality wines at the Jabajak vineyard named after the Christian names of the family members – Julian. Amanda, Buddug, and Joanna, Alexandra, and Katie. They also offer stylish accommodation.
Ancre Hill Estates
Two thousand years after the Roman introduced wine-making to Wales, Monmouthshire’s Ancre Hill Estates’ 2008 vintage was voted best sparkling wine in the world at the Bollicine del Mondo International Competition in Italy.
Close to the Rockfield Studios, where Queen recorded, Ancre Hill is one of the few UK vineyards using the ecological methods of bio-dynamic growth. Richard and Joy Morris planted their first vineyard in 2006. The wines are vinified in Wales’s only winery, made out of straw bales covered with lime mortar– and with a grass roof, opened in 2015 by the Duchess of Cornwall. The unique Wye Valley meso-climate produces top quality wines.
Parva Farm Vineyards
Overlooking the ruins of Tintern Abbey, Colin and Judith Dudley’s Parva Farm vineyard has produced several award-winning wines. They started with fifty-six bottles, made their first rose to celebrate the Millennium, launching their first red Pinoir in 2001, and sparkling rose in 2005. They now grow 4500 vines of seventeen grape varieties. They also Welsh produce “siedr” (Welsh cider). They have recommended: Dathliad Sparkling or Bacchus Red.
White Castle Vineyards
Robb and Nicola Merchant converted an old milking parlor to live in, and have gone on to become highly respected winemakers at their White Castle Vineyards, even producing “1581”, a fortified wine excellent with dessert and cheese. They are the contact for the Wales Wine Trail.
Sugar Loaf Vineyards
At the foot of the Sugar Loaf Mountains in the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Sugar Loaf vineyard of Dummar Farm near Abergavenny offers panoramic views over the Usk Valley and seven varieties of grapes planted on five acres of south-facing slopes. Recommended: The flowery Loire grape Sugar Loaf Mountain Madeleine Maes wine.
Meadow View Vineyard
A pesticide-free production process and Seyval Blanc and Madeleine Angevine grapes produce three white wines named “Gwin Y Fro” (Wine of the Vale). The rich clay loams of the Vale of Glamorgan, thirty minutes from Cardiff, result in fine wines like their superb melony medium dry.
Glyndwr Vineyard
Established in 1979 near Cowbridge in South Wales, Glyndwr Vineyard is the largest and oldest vineyard in Wales producing two white wines, a rosé, a red and two vintage sparkling wines, gracing the tables at European state banquets and the House Of Lords. And the Ryder Cup. The intense ruby early ripening matured Rondo and Regent is aged in American oak barrels.
Penarth Vineyard
Penarth Vineyard in mid-Wales as well as award-winning sparkling and pink sparkling wines the riverside located Penarth produces Wales’ first grape brandy. Situated on a unique riverside location in Powys.
Pant du Vineyard and Orchard
Planted on the south-facing glacial slopes of the Nantlle Valley in Caernafon, Snowdonia, there are six different varieties of vines planted at Pant Du – Seyval Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Siegerrbe, Pinot Noir, Frühburgunder / Early Pinot Noir, Rondo.
Montgomery Vineyard
The Lennard family is achieving great things for GB Wine, the flagship association for Welsh and English wines. The Powys north Wales vineyard first started producing in 2012 and is a multiple award-winner.
Llaethliw Vineyard
Although Llaethliw means white water after a local froth stream, the Llaethliw Vineyard bottle logo is of an 1846 schooner built for the squire of Llaethliw Estate. She carried supplies of coal to coastal ports. In 1882 she swept ashore near Fishguard. The lifeboat rescued all the crew. Richard and Siw Evans produced their first 2000 bottles of white, red, and rosé came in May 2014.
Llanerch Vineyard
The south-facing slopes of the Ely Valley offer the perfect conditions to produce “Cariad” (“love”) wines. The eighteenth-century farmhouse, the UK’s first hotel and vineyard, is the ideal base to explore Welsh wines.
