Alpaca walking is just one of the unusual treats on offer as vineyards across Wales throw open their doors to visitors to celebrate Welsh Wine Week (May 26-June 3).
Wernddu Vineyard at Peny-y-Clawdd in Monmouth produces white wine, perry and cider, but also keeps a small herd of alpacas - two of which are specially trained to be walked.
The organic vineyard, that names their drinks after the alpacas, will also be offering the more traditional tastings and tours, like many vineyards across Wales.
Welsh Wine Week aims to spark interest in Wales’ wine producers and vineyards across the country will be offering tastings, tours, and special promotions in order to show the quality of Welsh wine.
Although a relative newcomer to wine production, Wales’s viticulture industry is growing in size and gaining respect and acclaim from the wine world.
The weather is also having an impact, with the rise in average temperatures in Britain fuelling growth in the Welsh wine industry.
There are now more than 20 vineyards in Wales producing around 100,000 bottles of wine each year. The majority is white, but red and rose wines are on the increase as well as sparkling white varieties made by the Champagne method.
Vineyards are often tourist attractions in their own right, and many have their own cafes and shops
The following vineyards will be open to the public and holding special events during Welsh Wine Week (May 26 - June 3)
Wernddu Vineyard, Pen-y-clawdd, Monmouth
Contact - Leigh Strawford 01600 740104
www.wernddu-wine.co.uk
Organic vineyard is opening Saturday 26 May - Sunday 3 June
Monday - Friday 12 - 7pm
Weekends 2 - 7 pm
Produce white wine, also cider and perry from locally grown fruit, on sale in shop
Local arts and crafts are on sale
Wine tastings, vineyard tours and opportunity to walk an alpaca (weekends only - ring to book)
Tea and coffee
Bouncy castle (weather permitting)
Parva Farm Vineyard, Tintern, Monmouthshire
Contact - Judith Dudley 01291 689636
Visit the vineyard for tours, wine tastings and sales 10.30 - 6.30pm every
day. Also visit the art exhibition with works by local artists which are on
display between 26 May - 3 June
Special discounts and a new wine, a sparkling ros? Tintern Parva
Tastings of Welsh cheeses
Gwinllan Padig, Cemaes, Anglesey
Contact - Tom Barlow 01407 710416
www.llanbadrigvineyard.com
Produce white wine, with red and sparkling wines planned for the future
Open 12 - 6pm every day for vineyard tours and to see the winery with wine
tastings in the shop and a cup of coffee in the cafe.
Llanerch Vineyard, Hensol, Pendoylan, Vale of Glamorgan
Contact - 01443 225877
www.llanerch-vineyard.co.uk
New 2006 Cariad Ros? available to try
The shop is open every day 10 - 4
Wine tasting session £4
Coffee shop offering light lunches, tapas, cream teas
Gelynis Vineyard, Morganstown, Cardiff
Contact - Roger Watt 02920 844440
www.gelynisfarm.co.uk
There is an acre of vines on this fruit farm which produce white and
sparkling wines for you to sample and buy when you visit. Open 11am - 5pm
every day.
Pick your own strawberries from 26 May
Sugar Loaf Vineyard, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Contact - Louise Ryan 01873 853066
www.sugarloafvineyards.co.uk
Produce 3 whites, 1 red, 1 ros? and 1 sparkling
Open bank holiday Monday, Tuesday - Saturday 10.30am - 5pm and Sundays 12 5pm for tours, wine tastings, wine sales and the coffee shop
Cwm Deri Vineyard, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire
Contact - Michael Caine 01834 891274
www.cwm-deri.co.uk
The vineyard is open Monday - Saturday 11am - 5pm and Sunday 12 - 5pm for
vineyard tours, pets’ corner, the cafe and wine tastings of the
wines and liqueurs they produce. The restaurant, which must be booked
in advance, is open Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday lunchtime.
MORE DETAILS: Leigh Roberts on (01656) 788336
