Record year for entries from across Wales in their annual competition

The 2023 Welsh Wine Awards took place at the iconic Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, Hensol on November 6.

The awards were sponsored by Vigo, a part of the Rawlings Group, and organised by the Welsh Vineyards Association (WVA) which celebrates its tenth anniversary this year. There were 50 wines from across Wales, from 12 different vineyards, making this a record entry.

All 50 wines were sampled by a panel of expert judges, with the tasting divided into five different flights consisting of white and rosé sparkling, followed by rosé, white and red still wines. The judges were tremendously impressed by the quality, awarding a total of 20 bronzes, 26 silvers and 3 golds.

The winning wines were as follows:

• Best sparkling white (sponsored by Levercliff Associates Ltd): Montgomery Vineyard’s 2020 Demi-Sec
• Best sparkling rosé (sponsored by Halfpenny Green Wine Estate): Vale Vineyard’s 2021 Debut Sparkling Rosé
• Best still rosé (sponsored by Food & Drink Wales): The Dell Vineyard’s Y Lleidr 2022
• Best still white (sponsored by Plas Dinas Country House & the Gunroom Restaurant): Parva Farm Vineyard’s Tintern Parva Bacchus 2019
• Best still red (sponsored by Food & Drink Wales): White Castle Vineyard’s Harry 2021

Harry, from White Castle Vineyard, was chosen as the best wine with PDO/PGI (an internationally recognised standard certifying its provenance and quality). This award was sponsored by inprint.org.uk. The same wine was also chosen as the Best Overall Wine (sponsored by John Buchan Agronomy Ltd), with Robb and Nicola Merchant from White Castle Vineyard being presented with the Thomas Davies Memorial trophy in recognition by Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS.

The Minister said: “A huge congratulations to all the nominees and winners at this year’s Welsh Wine Awards, and especially White Castle Vineyard on having the best overall wine for 2023.

“Welsh wines are an important part of our food and drinks industry which continue to gain increasing worldwide interest.

“It is now a multi award winning industry and I am proud of the hard work and commitment which takes place to make the best possible products for people to enjoy at home and abroad.”

WVA Chair Andy Mounsey concluded by thanking everyone involved who had come together to make the event such a success. This included Llanerch for hosting, all the participating vineyards, the judges, the sponsors and WineGB (the national association representing UK vineyards, whose CEO was present). Finally, in particular, thanking the Minister for being present to make the awards and demonstrating once again her personal support and that of her department for this vibrant, growing and exciting sector.

Image L-R: Andy Mounsey (Chair of WVA); Nicola Merchant (White Castle Vineyard); Lesley Griffiths MS; Robb Merchant (White Castle Vineyard)