Ancre Hill Estates, Monmouth - 5th May, 2016

Having enjoyed our Sugar Loaf visit, it was on to the next - not far away just outside Monmouth. Memories of Offa's Dyke path walk last year flooding back! Through private gates and up to the Cellar Door with lovely views around the Wye Valley.

We had to wait a while for Richard to open up but he was very welcoming and informative. We sampled the Chardonnay - really very crisp and refreshing. We are getting a taste for whites now - and English whites are really good. Then it was a Rosé which again was very flavoursome - and the case was on special offer! Then the 2 reds! Almost spoilt for choice here - Richard sees no reason why our reds can't be really good to compete with any others. The Triomphe from the Triomphe d'Alsace wine is a really light and fruity wine benefitting from being a little cool and ideal to compete with a rosé for lunch. The Pinot Noir is a little heavier but also very fruity. Currently only 4 grapes are grown, Pinot Noir, Albarino, Triomphe and Chardonnay. In addition to the still wines, 2 sparkling wines are produced -a white and a rosé which I understand have won several awards -some tastings even beating Champagne....

The estate here was first planted in 2006 on the suitably south facing slopes with a following planting in 2007 and so the first vintage produced was 2008. The winery opened in 2015 so currently the wines are registered as organic wines but subsequent years now they have their own winery, their wines are going to achieve the bio-dynamic label.

Bio-dynamism was first introduced as a concept and a way of growing, by Rudolf Steiner in 1924 for general farming and it is now becoming popular in other horticultural interests, including viticulture. To be able to achieve it, the producers pay strict attention to the additives - or in this case, into not adding anything but letting the grapes do their own work using careful measures.

With new land being acquired, the vineyard will soon be up to 12 hectares and luckily Richard's son offers a helping hand having also acquired his skills at college.

So we then wended our way home, stopping for coffee once more at the Hunter's Moon at Llangattock - one of our favourite places! And at home, we enjoyed our first barbecue of the year - accompanied by a bottle of Ancre Hill Rosé -a perfect day!

Sugar Loaf Vineyards, Abergavenny - 5th May, 2016

So Spring has arrived, or is it indeed summer? Brilliant sun forecast and arrived so we took the opportunity for a run out in Sassy now she's all sparkly with new paintwork - and shiny steel wheels!

A suitable route for the day was decided, so we started at Sugar Loaf Vineyard, not too far away from us at Abergavenny. And how lovely it is there!

The owners are celebrating their 20th year here this year. They have 5 acres of vines with 7 varieties of grape.

The vineyards are so beautifully set with Sugar Loaf looking over them - and Skirrid not too far away.

And so far this is the only vineyard we've seen with sheep grazing!

There is a cafe here so we enjoyed a coffee - Chris also partook of a glass of the Madeleine Angevine - and it was lovely. They also produce a blended white, Abergavenny and a rosé.

A dry but refreshing white. We also purchased a bottle of red - from the Regent grape and which is always in short supply. The wine is made and bottled at Three Choirs. A really lovely spot with good products - haven't sampled the red yet so will keep you posted on that but can definitely recommend the Madeleine!

Also, whilst sitting in the hot sun, saw a grey wagtail sitting in the stream!

It wasn't exactly this one - I was too slow with the camera! But it looked like this!!

RHS Wisley Vineyard, Surrey - 26th April, 2016

All goes to show that you can often miss things! We have visited the Royal Horticultural Garden at Wisley since 1990 and although we no longer live close by we do try to visit when we are in the south East with our children. We had seen the now huge orchard planted but had missed the fact that in 2004, over 700 vines, Phoenix and Orion, were planted!

The first wine was produced in 2006 and then in 2007, just over 750 bottles were produced. I am not sure how much is produced in more recent years. The grapes are all sent to Plumpton College in Sussex for production and bottling - the wine course here is second to none I understand and now very popular!

We purchased a bottle of the new vintage - haven't sampled it yet - it is advertised as a light, refreshing white, to enjoy in the garden! Sounds good to me!

Hope they'll introduce a red variety soon!!

Sassy, our red Morgan, is waiting patiently for her next trip out - hoping it may be later this week as we have a promise of sunshine......keep a look-out for the next one...

Pant Du Vineyard and Orchard, Caernarfon - 16th April, 2016

Whilst we were disappointed to have missed the 2 vineyards on Anglesey on our walk, we knew that we would visit Pant Du on our way home. Well we were virtually driving past the door! Sitting on the glacial south facing slopes in the Snowdon foothills of the Nantlle valley, Craig cum Silyn overlooking the vines, this must be one of the most picturesque vineyard sites ever!

Only a short distance also from the magnificent hills of Yr Eifl (if you've read my Walking for Velindre blog, you will know those hills already!) means that this vineyard is also quite close to the sea.

What a location! We were welcomed by Richard Huws, the owner, and his wife and although we were a bit early for opening time, they gave us a lovely coffee in their splendid cafe, with their new coffee machine! Very nice too.

The vineyard was planted in 2007 and now has 8 grape varieties, the first wine bottled in 2010. The red wine was initially made with the Regent grape but they have discovered that the Rondo grape is more successful here. Currently they use Three Choirs vineyard as their winery. Unfortunately for us, we were only able to have a taste from the VERY LAST bottle of their red wine but it was really good. It again is a fruity wine, quite like a Beaujolais but with a little tannin. We brought home some white wine....still awaiting a tasting session!

As well as the vines, Richard was telling us about the apple trees he grows too. Many now are from the old variety which was almost extinct, from the variety that grew on Bardsey Island. This variety is proving more successful than some of the earlier cider varieties her had tried and it is great that it is a local old variety which is being rejuvenated! So they also make cider and an award winning apple juice.
And in addition, they also have produced since 2013, their own spring water.
As well as having innovated all the new products here, Richard is also a film cameraman and has 2 proudly won BAFTA awards in his display cabinet.

Well done to them at Pant Du - it is a fantastic venture and with many great products! Looking forward to their next red wine!
And another visit maybe - it is so beautiful!

Croft Castle Vineyard, Herefordshire - 25th March, 2016

It was an early Easter and eggs were to be hunted at nearby Croft Castle so off we went - with our grandsons of course!

Whilst on the egg hunt through the lovely gardens, we came across the vineyard in the walled garden...

...a really nice surprise as we hadn't seen this on our last visit on a similar Easter egg hunt 3 years ago!

It seems this is the only vineyard on a National trust property and the 450 Pheonix vines were planted in 1979!

It's not really the best time of year to look at vines but they are quite impressive...

And so of course one had to enjoy a glass of wine with lunch. Very nice it is too - quite dry but also fruity. I do seem to be getting a taste for white wine after all!

The wine is available for sale in the cafe here but I guess it is limited so you should get in quick after bottling I would think...

They are holding a "Meet the gardeners" event at the castle on 31st May during English wine week which runs from 28th May - 5th June. May be it should be BRITISH wine week? A programme on TV interviewing a Welsh vineyard owner the other day announced that in the next 20 years the existing 17 vineyards of Wales will have risen to over 40!!! Get those vines planted...

Here is a link to the event if you are interested....and the 2014 vintage will be available for tasting..

Meet the Gardeners, Croft Castle