Known for its luscious landscapes kept well fed by a hearty mix of rain and shine, Wales is overflowing with incredible places to visit. Adding a bit of lip-smacking fun to the day out roster, Wales has, in the last 20 years or so, become something of a wild card in the world of wine, with new and exciting wines pouring forth from small, juvenile vineyards that are just starting to establish themselves in the wild countryside.
These hardy producers are working at the cutting edge of viticulture (the cultivation of vineyards) to help things flourish in the often unpredictable climate, but the result is absolutely worth it as they produce fresh, clean-tasting reds, whites, rosés, and sparkling wines that are scooping up awards - you’ll even find the odd Welsh orange wine!
While many of these intrepid vineyards are too small to open up to the public just yet (but you can buy from them online), there are a few who have made deep strides in the last few years and are happy to open their doors to visitors, offering tours and tastings, often accompanied by fabulous food – something that’s great to do after a morning walking or time spent on the beach.
Here’s a fantastic selection of Welsh vineyards for you to explore, sample and, come away with a bottle (or a dozen) to take home with you, ensuring you’ll always have a taste of Wales at home that’s just a corkscrew away…
Top tip: We heartily recommend booking your visits beforehand due to the small, sapling size of the vineyards.
Velfrey Vineyard, Pembrokeshire
Lampeter Velfrey, Narbeth, Pembrokeshire SA34 0RA
Established back in 2016, Velfrey Vineyard lies on a south-facing slope of Lampeter Vale in the beautiful Pembrokeshire countryside. Just 3 acres in size and home to 4,000 vines, it shares the same kind of soil (clay loam) found in the world’s most prestigious wine growing regions, enabling it to grow Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, and Solaris varieties. Tours of the vineyard take place on Thursdays and Saturdays throughout the season and include a tasting of two of their wines.
Alternatively, you can attend a tour followed by food, where you can sit down with a Welsh grazing board showcasing Monmouthshire charcuterie, locally-baked focaccia and artisanal cheeses from west Wales. For something a little different, why not adopt a vine? As well as certification and a bottle of wine, you also get an invitation to their harvest event where you can pick your own grapes! Paired with a visit to the beach at nearby Amroth, this makes for a great day out.
Jabajak Vineyard, Carmarthenshire
Banc Y Llain, Llanboidy Road, Whitland SA34 0ED
Previously a working farm, the fantastically-named Jabajak lies on the border between Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire on the edge of the Bluestone Mountain range. Producing four award-winning wines – a red, a white, a sparkling brut blush and a sparkling brut, the vineyard offers two types of tours. The Cellar Door tasting is a 60-minute event starting at 5.30pm where you’ll learn all about the history of the vineyard and wine making in the area, take a walk around the vineyard (weather permitting), and, of course, enjoy some wine tasting!
The Blind Wine Tasting Experience will see you tasting six different varieties of wine and enjoying a spot of healthy competition trying to guess the providence and type of wine – definitely a fun and educational way to spend a couple of hours! There’s also a fantastic restaurant and bar on site, making this a fantastic place to visit later in the day to make an evening of it – why not build up an appetite by taking a walk in the nearby Preseli Hills beforehand?
Red Wharf Bay Vineyard, Anglesey
Llain Gam, Lon y Traeth, Pentraeth, Anglesey LL75 8YG
This fantastic micro vineyard lies in the stunning Traeth Coch Area of Outstanding National Beauty on Anglesey. Greatly influenced by Spain, with connections in Córdoba, this is very much a vineyard at the beginning of its journey, with most of the vines (Solaris and Rondo varieties) planted in 2016.
Red Wharf Bay Vineyard offers a tour that starts in the vineyard, going into the do’s and don’ts of producing grapes, an insight into their connection with ‘The Potter’s Village’ in Spain, and finally introducing you to three delicious wines to taste. The wine is accompanied by ‘Anglesey Tapas’, which you can enjoy while sitting in their garden, overlooking the vines and Red Wharf Bay. This is a great day out, especially when combined with a visit to nearby Beaumaris Castle.
Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard, Conwy
Y Gwinwydd, Llangwstenin, Llandudno Junction, Conwy LL31 9JF
Planted in 2012, this flourishing vineyard in Conwy has over 3,000 vines across 3 acres. With special hybrid grapes carefully selected to cope with the cooler and less predictable weather conditions, the wines are fresh and delicate and comprise six still and two sparkling wines. Gwinllan Conwy Vineyard offers tours during which you’ll learn the history of the vineyard, be taken around the vines and discuss the grape varieties, and what it takes to run the estate.
Afterwards, you’re taken to the tasting room for a delicious spread of grazing boards with Welsh cheese, chutney, ham hock, olives, charcuterie and tomato tarte tatin, and of course the wines to taste. Make a day out of it by taking time to visit the beautiful nearby seaside town of Llandudno.
Pant Du Vineyard, Gwynedd
County Road, Penygroes, Gwynedd LL54 6HE
Tucked away on the beautiful slopes of the Nantlle Valley in Snowdonia, this family-run business was established in 2007. Producing wine as well as cider, apple juice, honey and spring water, you can take part in a guided tour between the months of June and September on Saturdays and Sundays. During these tours you’ll learn all about the history of Pant Du and the challenges of maintaining a nine-acre vineyard in north Wales, walk around the 18-acre orchard, learn about the 3,200 apple trees, and pay a visit to Pant Du water fountain where you can taste water that’s passed through 500 million year old Precambrian rock. The tour ends with a wine tasting back at the restaurant, combining the six different varieties of vines grown on the slopes of Pant Du.
Alternatively, you can attend one of their wine tasting evenings where wine is paired with local cheese and cold meats, or enjoy a meal in their restaurant overlooking the incredible valley and the mountains of Snowdonia beyond. If you have time beforehand, pay a visit to the fortress that is Caernarfon Castle, one of Edward I’s defensive edifices.
Hebron Vineyard, Carmarthenshire
Lletty A, Herbon, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0XS
After spending nine years converting an established vineyard and bodega (winery) in Andalucia, Spain into an award-winning organic vineyard, owners Jemma and Paul up sticks and moved back home to a quiet corner of Carmarthenshire and established Hebron Vineyard in 2020. Completely organic, the 4,000 vines grow on the south-facing slopes of the Preseli foothills, which are rich in minerals, while the cool air of the west coast adds to the beautiful flavour.
Working in complete harmony with the vines, wines are completely pesticide, herbicide, fungicide and even fertiliser free and made in ancient amphora (a two handed pot used in Ancient Greece). Tours are run by owner Paul who’ll chat about the vineyard, their regenerative viticulture, and how they run the vineyard, before wine tastings complemented with tasty tapas created using local ingredients.
Llaethliw Vineyard, Ceredigion
Neuaddlwyd, Aberaeron SA48 7RF
Set in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains in Neuqddlwyd on the west coast of Wales, this award-winning vineyard is named after the nearby stream whose waters run white – ‘Llaethliw’ means the colour of milk. Grapes were first picked back in 2013 with the production of red, white and rosé wine starting in 2014.
Growing nine different varieties of white and red grapes, Llaethliw Vineyard welcomes visitors by appointment, and you can also attend a ‘grape picking’ day when the fruit is harvested. A fab day out when combined with a visit to the lovely seaside town of Aberaeron.
Vale Vineyard - Gwinllan y Dyffryn, Denbighshire
Dre Goch Isaf, Llandyrnog, Denbigh LL16 4HY
Situated in the Vale of Clwyd, Vale Vineyard has 7,500 vines on the lower slopes of the Clwydian Range. Creating their first wines in 2022 – a dry white from Solaris grapes, a dry rose from Rondo grapes, a red from their Pinot Noir Precoce grapes and a sparkling wine from Seyval Blanc grapes, they are already award-winning.
Learn all about them on one of the vineyard’s tours, where you’re also told about the history of the site and the process of growing top-quality grapes. After that, you’re taken through the process of creating the wine, before enjoying a tasting where wines are paired with a delicious cheese platter. Create a day of it with a visit to magical Conwy Falls.
Glyndwr Vineyard, Vale of Glamorgan
Llanblethian, Cowbridge, Vale of Glamorgan CF71 7JF
The oldest vineyard in Wales, Glyndwr Vineyard paved the way for viticulture in Wales back in 1979 and today has over 6,000 mature vines in the Vale of Glamorgan. Offering a fantastic range of fine, award-winning wines carefully fermented and blended for over 40 years, pay a visit for a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
It all begins with a sample of their Welsh vintage sparkling wine before being led by a knowledgeable guide through the vineyard, who'll tell you all about the history, the types of vines, and the process of making the wine. You’re also taken through their beautiful wild gardens and around their ponds - you might even catch a glimpse of the resident llamas. At the end of the tour, there’s a freshly-made two course meal to enjoy, with of course more Glyndwr wine to accompany it!
Thirsty for adventure? Take a look at our beautiful holiday cottages in Wales and start planning your vinspired holiday today.
