Is Wales your next wine destination?

Wales is producing some fantastic wines. As a country known for its natural beauty, you’ll now find vineyards alongside the spectacular mountainous and coastal landscapes. And the great news is there’s plenty open to the public for tours, tastings, food and accommodation.

Whilst you’ll now find vineyards in almost every corner of Wales, there are a few clusters in the South that are easy to discover. The border county of Monmouthshire is home to several vineyards open to the public. Parva Farm Vineyard near Chepstow offers self-guided tours taking in beautiful views of the Wye Valley. Half an hour away by car is the Dell Vineyard near Raglan, which opens seasonally at weekends for tours & tastings with food pop-ups available on the first Saturday of every month.

Just 20 minutes from the Dell Vineyard is White Castle Vineyard in Llanvetherine near the foodie hotspot of Abergavenny. Their first vines were planted in 2009, and they now boast an extensive range of award-winning wines including the UK’s only port-like (can’t officially call it port!) fortified wine, 1581. Visit the vineyard and find out how it got its name.

There’s also The Sugar Loaf Vineyards nearby which has a holiday cottage and a cute café for a lunchtime snack or a coffee stop.      

Another cluster of vineyards are situated not far out of Cardiff in the Vale of Glamorgan. Llanerch Vineyard Hotel offers luxury accommodation, an award-winning restaurant and a new Sky Lounge overlooking the vines. You can enjoy tours, tastings and wine flights. It’s a fabulous location and having enjoyed a Sunday lunch there for Mother’s Day I can highly recommend it.

Just 15 minutes away heading towards the market town of Cowbridge, you’ve got two boutique vineyards both offering self-catering accommodation as well as tours & tastings. Glyndwr Vineyard is the oldest in Wales. Here you’ll discover a family blending heritage and innovation to create a range of award-winning wines. 

Moving on from the oldest, there’s an opportunity to discover one of the newest. A few miles away from Glyndwr Vineyard you’ll find St Hilary Vineyard, planted in 2021. Whilst their traditional method sparkling wine develops on the lees visitors can try their fantastic rose wine.

Also nearby is Tair Gafr Wines an organically certified vineyard specialising in natural wines. Alongside their range of still wines they also offer animal experiences including walks with mini sheep, alpaca and pygmy goats. Think of what a fun couple of days you could have exploring what the Vale has to offer.

If you’re visiting Pembrokeshire, you should definitely take the opportunity to discover Velfrey Vineyard near Narberth. I fell in love with their award-winning sparkling and still wines at a Welsh Wine Week tasting in Cardiff and could think of nothing nicer than experiencing them amongst the vines. If you want to taste the Welsh Vineyard Association's 2024 Best Sparkling White Wine, this is the place!

Just a short distance away in Carmarthenshire, nestled away in a tranquil spot, you’ll find Jabajak – an award-winning vineyard, restaurant and rooms where you can wine, dine and stay.

There are some hidden gems in north Wales too. With breathtaking views of Snowdon and the surrounding mountains, as well as views of the sea across Caernarfon Bay, Pant Du vineyard’s café is a great stop-off point for breakfast or lunch. Gwinllan Conwy, near Llandudno Junction, offers tours and tastings, including ones with food or cheese pairings. (For those who don’t know, Gwinllan is the Welsh word for vineyard).  

That’s my whistle-stop tour over. It’s not an exhaustive list, it’s some of the fabulous places that have caught my eye whilst taking a closer look at the vineyards of Wales. Every vineyard has its own unique story which you can hear from the passionate people that have taken on the challenge of producing wine here. I certainly plan to visit more.  

Cheers to exploring Welsh Vineyards. Lechyd Da!  

One final practical issue - do check opening times and booking requirements for each individual vineyard before visiting!  

Photo credits: l to r  Velfrey Vineyard, Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Glyndwr Vineyard