Wales might not be the first destination you think of when it comes to wine, but the cooler climate allows us to produce crisp-tasting wine and there are now close to 30 vineyards across the country.
Whilst visiting South Wales recently, I discovered Llanerch Vineyard which produces grapes for their Cariad wine each year and offers a one-hour tour and wine tasting. In this article, I’ll share my full review of the tour along with some photos from around the
What is Llanerch Vineyard?
Llanerch is one of the oldest vineyards in Wales, growing grapes which are used to produce around 10,000 bottles of their Cariad wines each year, including white, rose, and sparkling. If you’ve not come across Cariad before, that’s because they only produce enough wine to sell onsite so you’ll have to visit to try it.
As well as the vineyard, they have recently expanded the site to include an award-winning restaurant and a hotel which has shot to the top of the rankings as one of Wales’ best hotels.
Is the Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting Worth it?
If you don’t want to read the full review, let me tell you that the tour is absolutely worth doing. You’ll be taught how to taste wine and get a tour of the vineyard where you’ll learn how wine is made. There are three very decent-sized glasses of Cariad wine included with the tour, plus a special gift!
Overall, it’s great value for money and one of my favourite things to do in South Wales.
How Much Does the Wine Tasting and Tour Cost?
You don’t have to be a hotel or restaurant guest to sign up for their Vineyard tour where you’ll see how the grapes are grown and get to taste the final product for yourself.
The cost of the Vineyard tour and wine tasting is £25 per person. Tours are run multiple times per day and can be booked online via their website or at reception if you are staying there.
Some of the experiences, such as their Wine and Dine Escape, already include a vineyard tour in the price so check this first.
My Review: What To Expect On the Llanerch Vineyard Tour
Our tour was led by Jack who was extremely engaging and had a wine qualification from WSET so was extremely knowledgeable and able to answer all of our questions. He kept everything simple which made the information easy to follow.
We were fortunate that it was only the two of us on the tour, although Jack advised that you can be in much larger groups during the peak visitor season.
We began the tour in their newly built Tasting Lodge where Jack taught us how to taste wine. Using one of their own Cariad white wines, he told us what to look for when you are asked to taste the wine in a restaurant and the different tasting notes to look for.
After around 25 minutes in the Tasting Lodge, we headed out into the vineyard itself. We were lucky to have a dry day, but when the weather is bad, the entire tour takes place inside and you can then visit the vineyard by yourself after.
As we wandered the vineyard, Jack told us the history of Llanerch and explained how it evolved from a functioning farm through many owners into the vineyard we see today. Of course, we were able to listen to this whilst sampling our second glass of wine, this time a Cariad rose.
On the final part of the tour, Jack explained how the grapes are grown and how wine is produced. He told us how different types of wine are made and, unsurprisingly, he had a third sample for us in his backpack, this time a Cariad sparkling wine.
The tour lasted just under an hour and included a free gift at the end, but I won’t spoil what that is.
Other Things To Do at Llanerch Vineyard
The tour is not the only thing you can do at Llanerch Vineyard, here are a few other activities that took my eye:
- Stay overnight – If you can’t get enough of the stunning surroundings of Llanerch, why not stay overnight? Their hotel has recently been expanded to include over 30 bedrooms, some of which have full-length windows overlooking the vineyard. The four-star hotel was crowned AA’s Best Hotel in Wales in 2022. Check prices and availability here.
- Sample more wine at the bar – If you have time, you can sample even more of their wines from the onsite bar. On a sunny day, the outdoor area overlooking the vineyard is a great place to sit and in the evenings, some of the vineyard lights up too.
- Dine at the restaurant – Llanerch have an award-winning restaurant that serves up incredible meals using locally sourced ingredients. It’s best known for its steak although there’s a good selection on the menu. It’s not the cheapest restaurant with a two-course evening meal costing £37 per person, but very much worth it if you’re a foodie like me.
- Enjoy an afternoon tea – During the afternoon, you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea with stunning views across the vineyard. The afternoon tea is served in their Garden Room or Dog-Friendly area of the restaurant and costs £30 per person. Keep in mind that the afternoon tea does not include wine as standard, although there’s no reason why you can’t enjoy both.
Published: 14 June 2023