WINES from vineyards in Conwy and Denbighshire have been recognised by the Welsh Vineyard Association at its 2022 award ceremony.

The Welsh Wine Awards saw Gwinllan Conwy’s Pefriog Phoenix (2019) named Best Sparkling White, while Vale Vineyard, Gwinllan y Dyffryn was awarded Best White for its Vale Solaris (2021) and Best Rosé for its Vale Rondo Rosé (2021).

A total of 12 vineyards from across Wales entered this year’s awards. Around 30 vineyards currently operate across the country.

Gwinllan Conwy is based in Y Gwinwydd, Llangwstenin, Conwy, while Gwinllan y Dyffryn is near Denbigh. 

Andy Mounsey, chair of the Welsh Vineyard Association and owner of Velfrey Vineyard in Pembrokeshire, said: “The Welsh Wine Awards continue to provide a unique opportunity to celebrate and spotlight the fantastic wine produced year-in-year-out across Wales.

“Our esteemed judging panel had a really difficult job selecting the winners as this year’s awards saw 43 wines entered, with a number of new vineyards featuring. The growth of the awards reflects the ever growing wine industry we have here in Wales, and something we’re really proud to be able to celebrate.”

The competing wines were split into seven classes: white, rosé, red, sparkling white, sparkling rosé, best Welsh PDO/PGI and the Best Overall Wine and were judged by a panel of renowned industry experts: Simon Thorpe MW, WineGB; Richard Ballantyne MW, Noble Grape and Deiniol ap Dafydd, Blas ar Fwyd.

Over the past 18 months, with the support of the Welsh Government Drinks Cluster, the vineyards have worked in partnership to develop a strategy for the Welsh wine industry to enable future growth. This strategy is due to be launched by the end of the year.

Lesley Griffiths, Minister for Rural Affairs and North Wales, and Trefnydd, who attended the awards, said: “It is wonderful to see the wine industry in Wales continue to grow and this year’s awards offered a great opportunity to celebrate its achievements.

“The Welsh wine industry is developing a reputation for producing wines of excellent quality as seen by the international recognition it is receiving. I’m looking forward to seeing what our Welsh vineyards produce over the coming years and continue to establish Welsh wine not just in the UK, but across the world.”