The growing success of Wales as a wine producing country was celebrated at the Welsh Vineyards Association’s (WVA) annual wine competition.
Held at Llanerch Vineyard at Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan, the competition saw 42 wines entered by nine vineyards ranging from north to south Wales.
Split into five classes ten Bronze and five Silver awards were made, with the best wine in each class also receiving a trophy. Kerry Vale Solaris 2014 was named as overall Wine of the Competition and received the ‘The Thomas Davies Memorial Trophy’.
The expert judging panel were: Linda Johnson-Bell wine critic, author and climate change analyst; Michael Harrison international wine judge and Bibendum Fine Wine manager; and David Cowderoy wine maker and owner of Bevtec.
This year saw a change in format with the WVA’s first trade and press wine tasting session, giving them an opportunity to meet some of individual vineyard owners and taste their wines.
The climax of the competition was the awards dinner – which was televised on S4C – and attended by the event’s sponsors and representatives from the Welsh Government’s Food Division.
Said WVA Chairman, Robb Merchant, “The interest in Welsh Wines is growing as the quality improves, presently Welsh vineyards produce around a 100,000 bottles a year and this is set to double by 2020. The awards this year have been judged to international standards and those vineyards who have won awards can very proud of their achievement. I would also like to thank the sponsors and organising team who have work hard to raise the profile of Welsh Wines.”
The award winners were as follows:
WHITE WINES
Bronze
White Castle Gwin Gwyn 2015
Llaethliw White 2015
Conwy Solaris 2015
Tintern Parva Afon Gwyn 2014
Silver
Tintern Parva Bacchus 2014
Kerry Vale Solaris 2014 (and winner of the Halfpenny Green Salver)
ROSÉ
Bronze
Conwy Rosé 2015
Llaethliw Rosé 2015
Silver
Tintern Parva Bwthyn Rhosyn 2015 (and winner of the Three Choirs Salver)
RED
Bronze
Kerry Vale Red Kite 2014
Conwy Rondo
White Castle Rondo 2014
Silver
White Castle Pinot Noir Précoce 2014 (and winner of the Three Choirs Salver)
SPARKLING WHITE
Bronze
Ancre Hill Blanc de Blancs 2009
Silver
Tintern Parva Dathliad 2013 (and winner of the Smarts Salver)
WINE OF THE COMPETITION
Kerry Vale Solaris 2014 (and winner of ‘The Thomas Davies Memorial Trophy’)
NOTES TO EDITORS
For more information please contact:
Robb Merchant on 01873 821443 or email robb@whitecastlevineyard.com