Welsh Wine Week Reflections

So a week has passed since we visited the Parva Farm Vineyard in Tintern to see at first hand the excellent work undertaken by Colin and Judith in creating a product, in their Tintern Parva Bacchus 2009 dry white, that is an award winning wine.

Judith is also trying to advance the concept of 'Welsh Wine Week' to a wider audience and to this end we were pleased that the Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food (& European Programmes), Alun Davies, was able to come along and see what the vineyard was doing and see how the Welsh Government can help further.

We were also joined by the local Assembly Member and Conservative Leadership Contender, Nick Ramsay AM - who is a strong supporter of the industry in Wales and a member of the Assembly's All Party Group on Beer and the Pub.

In July 2010, an Assembly Committee Inquiry into 'The Wine, Beer, Cider and Spirit Industries' made several recommendations with an impact on the Wine industry in Wales, namely that:

• The Welsh Government should examine examples elsewhere, such as the New Zealand wine industry where massive growth has been achieved over a short period of time, to learn lessons about how the sector in Wales can be developed to its full potential. 

• Specific guidance should be issued to local planning authorities, clarifying the manner in which the planning system should operate with regard to vineyards, brewers and pubs to ensure consistent application of guidelines throughout Wales.

• The Welsh Government should lobby the UK government to introduce a progressive duty for wine producers so as to give a boost to the development of small vineyards. 

• The Welsh Government should draw up a distinct strategy for promoting and marketing the wine, beer, cider and spirits sectors. As well as cross-cutting activities, the strategy should include action plans tailored specifically to the needs of each sector. This strategy should link into the Welsh Government’s strategies for food promotion and for tourism.

•  The Welsh Government should work with industry to investigate the benefits of introducing a recognisable emblem indicating that produce is a drink of Welsh origin. Combined with a campaign promoting the quality of Welsh drink produce, the emblem should become a guarantee of both origin and quality.

•  The Welsh Government should improve its own expertise and capacity to support the Welsh wine, beer, cider and spirit industries by appointing an official within its Food and Market Development Division with dedicated responsibility for developing and promoting the sectors in Wales.

• The Welsh Government should establish a forum bringing together producers and associations in the wine, beer and cider sectors to exchange ideas and identify priorities for collaborative working within their respective sectors.

So this was an opportunity to ask the Deputy Minister for his thoughts on those issues, as the previous Minister, Elin Jones had not been totally convinced of the need for these items to be addressed.

The Deputy Minister took on board the concerns of Judith and Colin, and those raised by myself, and has promised to follow up on these matters. He is this week meeting with the authors of the Welsh Government's Food Strategy which is being prepared, to see how the drinks industry can be properly represented in that strategy.

He has asked that we make written representations to him on these issues, which I will do, and I will keep you informed of the outcomes.

So it's a case of wait and see at the moment. The moves so far have been positive, and we can only hope that this is a change in thinking at the highest level which will see greater support for the industry in Wales. 

Welsh Wine Week in Tintern

Just a quick pic of the Deputy Minister, Alun Davies AM at the Parva Fam Vineyard in Tintern with owners Colin and Judith Dudley.

Full story to follow (when the local paper sends me the pics they promised !!lol)

Off to the Vineyard !!

So it's a big thank you to several people !

Upon reading the blog this week, the Welsh Government's Deputy Minister with responsibility for the industry, Alun Davies AM, contacted us and immediately arranged a visit to a Welsh Vineyard to celebrate Welsh Wine Week - he had cleared some space in his extremely tight diary to make this a priority so tomorrow (Thursday 2 June) we will visit Parva Farm Vineyard who have agreed to host the visit tomorrow.

So a big thank you to Alun, and a big thank you to Judith Dudley at Parva Farm for arranging it at short notice.

Hopefully we will also be joined by the local Assembly Member, diary permitting.

I'll report back tomorrow on the visit !!

Open Government in action......

Welsh (and English...) Wine Week

So hands up if you knew this week was English and Welsh Wine Week ?

I can hardly say me neither as I am writing this - but it is a bit of a well kept secret isn't it ? I don't remember our Assembly telling us about it much or promoting it ? Or am I wrong ?

Mind you, they have been run off their feet over at the Senedd mind what will all these sessions since the start of the election period.. perhaps they were just too busy !

Notably however the Deputy Minister, Alun Davies, did notice and issued a press release where he said

“Compared to some traditional wine growing regions Wales may be a relative new-comer, but in terms of quality and potential, Welsh wine is certainly making a name for itself at home and abroad.”


So to celebrate Welsh Wine week a number of Welsh vineyards are opening to the public and hosting special events up to the 6th June.

So where are these vineyards and what are they doing ? Let's start in Monmouth with Parva Farm Vineyard

This vineyard, near Tintern, will be open every day during Welsh Wine Week with self-guided vineyard tours - also a treasure hunt for the children – and wine tastings. Also, for wine lovers who want to learn more there will be special guided tours with tutored wine tastings on Thursday (June 2nd) at 5.30pm costing £5.

Parva Farm is also an award winner as it tasted success last week at the 2011 International Wine Challenge, where its Tintern Parva Bacchus 2009 won a silver award, and it will this week be releasing Afon Gwy 2010 - a medium dry white - the first of its 2010 wines to be on sale.


Judith Dudley, who runs the vineyard with her husband Colin said they were “delighted with our win,” and are “very much looking forward to welcoming people to our vineyard and telling them about Welsh wine.”

Staying in Monmouth, Ancre Hill Estates, which picked up two trophies at the 2010-11 Wales the True Taste Food and Drink Awards, will be releasing its first sparkling wine during the week.

The Monmouth vineyard’s owners, Richard and Joy Morris will be opening the vineyard every day to visitors between 10.30am and 4.30pm and offering twice daily vineyard tours with Welsh cheese platters available for lunch.

It's going to be a particularly special week for Pant Du Vineyard at Penygroes, Gwynedd. The Hughes family has planted a variety of vines on eight acres of the Nantlle Valley’s south facing slopes, and hope to officially launch their first wine during the week.

Named after the 400 year-old farmhouse from which the vineyard also takes its name, Pant Du is a red wine produced from four year-old Rondo vines. Early tastings have proved very positive indeed – the first bottle having raised £45 at a charity auction - and around 260 bottles will be produced in this first year with a potential 12,000 bottles in the future.

2011 will be a special year too for White Castle Vineyard, at Llanvetherine near Abergavenny, where owners Robb and Nicola Merchant expect to pick the vineyard’s first crop of grapes this autumn. Their vines were planted in 2009 and they aim to eventually produce around 10,000 bottles a year.

The vineyard will be open for visits between 3pm and 6pm Monday to Friday (May 30th – June 3rd). For more information call 01873 821443.

And for something completely different, visit Wernddu Wine, with Alpaca walking, a bouncy castle, as well as teas and cakes will be on the list of things to do.

The Monmouth vineyard will be releasing its 2010 organic dry white wine, which visitors will be able to taste. Owners Frank and Leigh Strawford will be opening the vineyard to the public on Wednesday to Friday (1st - 3rd June).

So that's a flavour of what's happening this week - other vineyards in Wales include (with the best links I can find ..)

Bryn Ceiliog Vineyard in Penarth
Penarth Vineyard in Penarth
Glyndwr Vineyard  in Cowbridge
Llanerch Vineyard in Hensol
Jabajak Vineyard in Llanboidy
Sugar Loaf Vineyard in Abergavenny
Celtic Wines in Beulah
Cwm Deri Vineyard in Narberth

And if any of you guys are doing something special for Welsh Wine Week get in touch and I'll let people know !!

Cheers......

Open Government

A big thank you to the Deputy Minister, Alun Davies AM, who has already read the blog and responded by arranging a meeting with Drinks from Wales next week !!

This is really positive and I need you input if you want me to raise issues on your behalf - please do let me know.

So far we have already met with Edwina Hart and this will mean we are getting the ears of those in charge at the earliest opportunity - so let me know you priorities.