Glass of Bubbly - Welsh Sparkling Wine special issue

West of Offa’s Dyke

WELsh Sparkling Wine

£5 / S$5 / €5

GLASS of BUBBLY

Glass of Bubbly estGLarrivé!

ASS BUBB L Y

g Wine

Proscecco region U

GOG

GLEBOX Watch th is

NO 18 WINTER 201 9 £5 / S$5 / €5

of

Champagne Cr emant Cava Espumate Asti Prosecco Sekt English Sparklin

NESCO World He

rita

NAPOLEON ALB ge Site IO andy Cry God N FIZZ

More then Br

for England

The World’s Fine

st Glass of Bubb ly

Glass of Bubbly is back, fizzing with super content! As well as a list of the Gold, Silver and Bronze winners of The World’s Finest Glass of Bubbly 2019, you can celebrate Napoleon’s 250th birthday, the answer to any Champagne question you have had and some of London’s best Sparkling Wine winelists. Oh, and there is some Sekt Appeal as well.

Vive L’Emperur!

T

here remains a fascination, bordering on fandom, about Napoléon Bonaparte 250 years after his birth and almost two centuries after his death.

Rheims-based craft Champagne house Frerejean Brother has released its “homage to the great man” who ruled France with “a cuvee worthy of our savoir-faire.”

The cuvee is made from 50% Pinot Noir and 50% Chardonnay, all from premier cru vineyards. It has spent five years on lees in the cellar. Once disgorged, the house left it resting for around six months. It is a limited run of 8,000 bottles, all numbered, and

priced at €49 from the vineyard’s website. This Champagne offers aromas of dried fruits, some honey, almonds, with fresh notes of apple and pear, creamy brioche.

It is ideal as an aperitif and with aged Iberico ham or risotto.

Here’s the thing. The Revolution wasn’t working out too great for France. The beheading of the King was only the beginning of the Robespierre reign of terror. Revolutionary France was an incredibly violent place, and no solid government was able to maintain power.

There was a lack of good government, full of corruption and orchestrating more killings.

Napoléon was not a violent dictator who killed a beloved group of leaders and gained power.

A Corsican of middle status, the French Revolution allowed him the opportunity to rise up through the ranks of the French army and gain more power that would not have been possible in pre-Revolutionary France. Once he gained power, he restructured the entire country, combining ideals from both the Revolution and the monarchy in order to create a powerful, more unified France.

It is this legacy that this wine is celebrating.

According to Thomas Jequece, Frerejean Brother marketing and communication manager, almost ten percent of production was sold in little more than two months after release. He says: “For now approximately 700 bottles have been sold but the number is growing day by day.

“If we could sell all the bottles for €49 it would be amazing but a lot of them will be sold to worldwide distributors. We won’t get a €400,000 income for this cuvee but we will still obtain a significant share of revenue for our business.”

With 30 years of Champagne expertise, the Frerejean Brother team is rooted in the region. That’s why they are “proud to call Avize home.” The company was created in 2005. Founders, Guillaume, Richard and Rodolphe Frerejean-Taittinger, live between Paris and Champagne, with their families. The family has a direct link with Napoleon: they are the latest generation in a line of cannon-makers who supplied the French army defending the region against the Prussians, during the Napoleonic Wars.

18 GLASS of BUBBLY

Jequece says: “We are small producers and we are not looking to do millions of bottles, the quality of the grapes we are using (Premier and Grand Cru) have a really small yield and even if we wanted we could not produce as much bottles.

“We are a niche house looking to provide the best wine of Champagnes we could craft to the consumers and to give them transparent cuvees, low dosage, a long aging in cellar, late disgorgement.”

Most of wine sold so far has been in Australasia and France.

The Frerejean Brothers developed this cuvee along with the largest association relating to Napoléon Bonaparte, Le Souvenir Napoléonien.

Among its members are the heirs of Joachim Murat and Napoléon Bonaparte who agreed to let the house to develop this cuvee in partnership with the Association, allowing it to be enjoyed by history lovers and collectors.

As this a limited edition, the brothers will sell it for no more than two years. That is why Jequece hope that all bottles will be sold from this year to end of the next one. In addition, the brothers also launched 38 Jéroboams (3 litres - 100% chardonnay - Blanc de Blancs) of the cuvee.

TRAVEL

An appetite for St Emilion RestauRant Review

WITH torrential rain and the pool out of action, we looked further afield for some entertainment. Saint Emilion did just that, so much so that we went three times that week. On one of the visits, our group of 10 had the pleasure of eating at Logis de la Cadène.

For the main course, again we had fish, but I was thrilled to see a bottle of red making its way around the table. And what a phenomenal pairing.

We had pan fried Hake with potatoes done four ways – With its one Michelin star and foamed, crushed, mashed, being owned by the Boüard and tiny crispy curls. And truffle everywhere. de Laforest family living in nearby Château Angélus I don’t mean it was too much, since 2013, we couldn’t resist I just mean it really wasn’t a the wine pairing with the token shaving; you couldn’t Menu du Jour. After some mini delights of fois gras balls miss that this dish really showcased the truffles. Possibly it and garlic flower and was this truffle element that cauliflower puree cups, we made the pairing with Chawere presented with a wonderfully colourful bowl of teau Bellevue Grand Cru white fish ceviche with bright Classé 2012 seem so natural. radish and carrot salad, on Many people wouldn’t put celeriac espuma decorated red wine with fish, but such an with edible flowers. earthy flavour lent itself well to the pairing with this mediThis was paired with um bodied wine that opened Château Bel Air la Royère Blanc 2018. It had citrus and up from peppery notes to give chocolate and plum apricots coming through to give a bright and fruity wine, flavours with earthy under-

2 GLASS of BUBBLY - FAB FOUR #1 2 GLASS of BUBBLY - FAB FOUR #1

tones. Sadly no wine with pudding but a double espresso helped us finish our picture-perfect fig cream and sponge slice, with fresh fig and fig leaf ice cream, and gave us enough energy to remove ourselves from the stunning private dining room and back out for more wine tasting!

One on my list for next time I come back, as the Menu du Jour rarely the same – Chef Baumard is a real talent, and the restaurant itself inviting and cosy with an exceptional level of service.

Champagne Armand de Brignac debuts Blanc de Noirs Assemblage

The iconic champagne brand, owned by Shawn ‘JAY-Z’ Carter, announces the UK release of its rarest cuvée

points from Decanter Magazine.

Only 3,535 bottles of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A3 were created for the world, disgorged on April 9, 2019 after resting on lees for six years. Produced by 13th-generation champagne growers, the Cattier family, the cuvée is made from 100% Pinot Noir grapes carefully sourced Armand de Brignac announces the UK from some of the best Pinot Noir producarrival of its Blanc de Noirs Assemblage ing Three (A3), the third assemblage of its villages in the Montagne de Reims includultra-prestige cuvée. The highly-anticipated ing Bouzy, Verzenay, Chigny-les-Roses, debut follows the inaugural blend, awardLudes and Rilly-la-Montagne. ed #1 Blanc de Noirs champagne in the A winemaking signature of all the Armand world in 2016, following a blind tasting of de Brignac champagnes, only the very first 250 cuvées as part of the annual rankings and freshest portion of the cuvée press is

by FINE Champagne Magazine and used to create the Blanc de Noirs A3, and Tastingbook.com, and the Blanc de Noirs a trio of vintages (2009, 2010, 2012) create Assemblage Two (A2), which received 96 more depth and character than a singular

Champagne

GLASS of BUBBLY 19

62 GLASS of BUBBLY - WINTER 2019

Free download from

which was light enough not to overpower the delicate fish dish.

red fruit with notes of strawberry, blackberry, blackcurrant, pastry, cherry and plum. Hints of lemon and walnut create a complex wine with elegant freshness while kindling aromas of chocolate, blackcurrant and pepper provide extraordinary length.

“We first released a Blanc de Noirs in 2015, almost exactly one year after our owner acquired the brand”, says Sebastien Besson, CEO, Armand de Brignac.

“The first release of this extraordinarily rare cuvée, was the result of our winemakers’ first ever attempt to create a 100% Pinot Noir prestige champagne.

We are fortunate to have achieved exceptional critical acclaim for both the first and second assemblages of Blanc de Noirs, and having tasted the A3 with our winemakers, we are confident it is perfect and ready for release now, and will certainly not disappoint.”

“Because of the power that comes from using 100% red fruit, it can be challenging to achieve a balanced Blanc de Noirs,” says Chef de Cave, Jean-Jacques Cattier. “Because we do not have any pressure to create volume, we are able to be extremely selective. Using small parcels of only the very best Pinot Noir, we’re able to meticulously balance the acidity and sugar, achieving a Blanc de Noirs with integrity to the powerful style, but with balance and elegance,” he adds.

“The Blanc de Noirs A3 is an extraordinarily gourmet wine with richness, intensity and length but it is not too heavy, as some can be,” Cattier notes.

“This wine is in harmony with its duality; think sugar and salt pairings with spice, richness, and sweetness. Pair this cuvée with Foie Gras, tagine of lamb or a roast chicken with cranberry sauce.”

Every bottle of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs A3 is inscribed with its

Camilla Jennings of Jenkyn Place vineyard in southern England recently packed a bag for a trip to Bordeaux for a friend’s wedding that proved somewhat wetter than planned.

GLASSofofBUBBLY BUBBLY 63 39 WINTER 2019 - GLASS

44 GLASS of BUBBLY

vintage expression.

Fruit reigns supreme in this cuvée, chiefly from the 2012, which is the principal part of the blend. 2012 was an exceptional vintage that is at its peak now, and brings wonderful complexity, red fruits and notes of butter to the A3. The 2009 gives intensity and richness, while the 2010 provides structure and good balance. Altogether, this trio produces a whole far greater than the sum of its parts, a bouquet that is rich and complex with notes of apricot, blackberry and gingerbread.

The wine opens luminously, complemented with elegant touches of white flowers, light tobacco, chocolate, strawberries, plum and orange blossom. On the palate, vibrant

unique nuuber (1 to 3,535), in addition to its disgorgement date, showcasing the rarity, exclusi ty and collectability of this ultra-prestige cuvée. As a signature mark of all Armand de Brignac cuvées, each dark metalized bottle of Blanc de Noirs A3 is finished by hand with the application of a French pewter label and a final hand polishing before being placed in a handcrafted wooden lacquered gift box.

A highly-trained team of just 18 craftspeople touch each bottle throughout the process from pressing the fruit to departure from the cellars in France.

A highly-limited number of bottles of Armand de Brignac Blanc de Noirs Assemblage Three were launched exclusively at Harrods, available for purchase from 16th September 2019.

The Champagne Armand de Brignac collection is available in limited quantities around the world and is comprised of Gold Brut, Rosé, Demi Sec, and the ultra-prestige single varietals, the Blanc de Blancs and Blanc de Noirs.

750ml RRP: £1,095

GLASS of BUBBLY 45

https://issuu.com/glassofbubbly18

EDITOR’S LETTER

F

irst things first: remove any idea from your head that Welsh wine is somehow a sub-sect, a division, in the shadow of English wine. Not that there is a shortage of Welsh wine producers west of Offa’s Dyke to point this out.

Instead, Welsh vineyards can stand on their own two feet. Wales exists as a wine region under EU law. There are Welsh PDO [Welsh Quality Wine] and Welsh PGI wines [Welsh Regional wine] Welsh Regional Quality Wine is a protected term under the PGI regulations which are based on EU law.

Forget the legalities, look at the spirit and skills of those who produce Welsh Sparkling Wine.

Seven years, ago, a Welsh sparkling wine beat competition from some of the world’s top fizz to clinch a world award at an Italian wine competition. Ancre Hill Estate’s 2008 Sparkling Wine was judged better than top champagnes to win the title of world’s best sparkling wine at a leading wine competition in Verona, Italy. The Monmouthshire vineyard was up against wines from producers including Bollinger, Feuillete, Paul Bara and Champagne de Saint Gall, which came in second.

The Welsh wine industry is going from strength to strength. There are also at least 23 vineyards in Wales, producing both still and sparkling wines that continue to pick up awards for quality, showing Welsh producers can go toe to toe with some of the best winemakers across the globe.

Welsh vineyards produce around 100,000 bottles of wine each year, meaning a million pound output in the Principality.

Cheers.

Cover photo: Llanerch vineyard

James Graham, Editor

@GoBmagfizz WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 3

Wine east of offa’s dyke

4

GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

contacts EDITORIAL

james.graham@glassofbubbly.com 07443 598925

SOCIAL MEDIA Catherine Thomas

PRODUCTION

inside

3

EDITOR’S LETTER

6

KEEPING A WELCOME

9

VINEYARD HOTEL

10

WALES ROAD TRIP

11

A FAMILY AFFAIR

14

WORD OF MOUTH

15

VINEYARD DIRECTORY

Alex Brown

BRAND AMBASSADORS Fran Bridgewater Nathan Meyers All rights reserved, No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Multiple copying of the contents of the magazine without prior written Material sent to the editor, whether commissioned or freely submitted, is provided at the contributor’s own risk.

Glass of Bubbly cannot be held responsible for loss of damage however cause.

The opinions and views expressed by authors and contributors within Glass of Bubbly magazine are not necessarily those of the editor or Glass of Bubbly.

We are unable to guarantee the bona ideas of any advertisers. © G+Wmedia 2019 Registered Office: Glass Of Bubbly Limited C/O (Your OK Limited) 6 Queen Street Coggeshall Colchester Essex CO6 1UF United Kingdom

© Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright

WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 5

By Ryan Mounsey

The Keep at Cardiff Castle

© Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright

We’ll keep a welcome in the vineyard SPARKLING WINE IN WALES

IF you were asked to hazard a guess as to which re- sparkling. However, in terms of quality, Welsh spargion in the United Kingdom was home to the first kling wine has a proven track record of competing commercial vineyard, I’d wager that the majority if on the international stage that belies its stature. For not all of you would say, the South East of England.

Readers might be surprised to find that not only had they suggested the wrong region but also the wrong country altogether!

The actual answer is South Wales where, in 1875, Castell Coch was planted under the instruction of the Marquis of Bute. Far from being the folly of an eccentric aristocrat, the initial three acre planting grew to 13 acres over two separate sites and by 1893 was producing a respectable 12,000 bottles a year.The end came with the advent of the First World White Castle vineyard War which made sugar for fermentation impossible to example in 2012, Ancre Hill of Monmouthshire won come by. the prestigious Bollicine del Mondo, when their Nowadays, there are 2008 sparkling white was voted the best sparkling approximately 30 Welsh wine in the world, while Gwinllan Conwy’s ‘Pefriog’ vineyards continuing Cas(Welsh for ‘sparkling’) white achieved a silver medal tell Coch’s legacy, with a in the 2017 International Wine Challenge Awards. total of over 60 hectares Perhaps the single distinguishing feature of Welsh under vine, equating to less sparkling wines is the absence of a single distinthan 2% of the total for guishing feature!

While the majority of English Great Britain, but rapidly expanding. In almost direct Sparkling Wine comes from traditional varieties planted in the South East and East, with much being contrast to the English wine industry, approximately made of the similarity of the chalky soils to those found in the Champagne region, Welsh vineyards 70% of the grapes grown are spread more evenly across the Principality. in Wales are used to make still wine with only 30% Reaching all four corners of Wales these vinegoing to the production of yards encompass a diverse range of soils and 6

GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

Tintern Parva vineyard climates, each imparting a subtly different flavour. The range of grapes used across Wales also results in a unique drinking experience being presented by each vineyard.

From the ten or so vineyards that currently produce sparkling wine in Wales a total of as many different grape varieties are used.

These include the traditional champagne varietals as well as some lesser known hybrids which thrive in cool climate regions.

Ancre Hills uses Chardonnay and Pinot Noir but also Triomphe in its sparkling wine range. The sparkling rosé offering of Tintern Parva vineyard in the south east of the country is made from 100% Pinot Noir, whereas their Robb Merchant, white sparkling named ‘Dathliad’ (left), chairman (meaning ‘celebration’) which in 2016 won best Welsh wine, of the Welsh is made from Seyval Blanc and Vineyards Association Continues over

WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 7

SPARKLING WINE IN WALES Huxelrebe. Velfrey Vineyard in Pembrokeshire will use Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir for white and rosé sparkling wines, beginning with grapes from its first harvest taken in 2019.

ethliw, near Aberaeron in Ceredigion, West Wales, opts for Orion and Regent for it sparkling offerings, with their 2014 scooping the best white sparkling wine in Wales for 2019.

The award winning Pefriog from Gwinllan Conwy on the north coast is made from the Solaris grape and aged for only a few months on the lees to preserve its crispness and exotic fruit notes.

The current cream of the crop however, comes courtesy of Montgomery Vineyard whose 2017 sparkling rosé was crowned the best overall wine in Wales 2019. Llanerch Vineyard near Cardiff not only makes some excellent wines, winning in both the white and rosé sparkling classes at the Welsh wine awards in 2018, but is also home to the UK’s first vineyard hotel.

Phoenix and Seyval Blanc make up the sparkling white wine of Whitecastle Vineyard, Monmouthshire, home of Robb Merchant, chairman of the Welsh Vineyards Association while Carmarthenshire vineyard Jabajak uses Seyval Blanc and Phoenix tinted with Rondo for its Blush Sparkling.

Glyndwr in the Vale of Glamorgan uses Seyval Blanc and Triomphe d’Alsace while the delightfully named Sugarloaf Vineyard near Abergavenny also uses Seyval Blanc. Lla-

8

Whilst still a fledgling region, particularly in relation to sparkling wine, there are clearly exciting times ahead for the Welsh wine industry.

GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

FIRST UK VINEYARD HOTEL

The UK’s first vineyard hotel has opened its doors in Hensol in South Wales.

L

lanerch Hotel is the result of a £2 million investment by Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard, which is home to the award-winning Cariad wines.

The two-storey hotel, situated in the heart of the vineyard, which is just 20 minutes from Cardiff, comprises 26 rooms and suites, each with uninterrupted views of the Welsh countryside.

As well as Llanerch’s popular wine tasting and vineyard tours, Llanerch is also home to an award-winning restaurant, which serves lunch, dinner and afternoon teas in the vineyard throughout the week.

As well as the new rooms, including several accessible rooms and dog-friendly rooms, the new hotel includes additional meeting and conference rooms for corporate events.

“To become the first vineyard hotel in the UK is a fantastic achievement for the team at Llanerch,” said Ryan Davies, owner of Llanerch Vineyard. “Across Europe, wine hotels are very popular and we wanted to bring that unique experience to south Wales.”

Davies took over the vineyard, which is one of the oldest in Wales, in 2010 with the aim to replicate the successful wine tourism models he had seen whilst working in

Ryan Davues

vineyards in New Zealand and Australia, where vineyards are tourist attractions in their own right, offering restaurants, weddings and events, in addition to traditional wine tasting and vineyard experiences.

Llanerch is now the largest commercial vineyard in Wales. It attracts visitors with its award-winning restaurant and bar, unique marquee and lodge wedding venues, on site cookery school owned by Angela Grey and wine tasting and vineyard tours.

Llanerch now harvests up to 12 tonnes of grapes and produces around 10,000 bottles of Cariad wine annually. Available as a sparkling blush, a sparkling brut, a dry white, a medium dry white and a rose, the wines are available in Llanerch restaurant and the vineyard shop.

Davies said: “The popularity of Cardiff, which is just 20 minutes away, as an events destination for everything from rugby to concerts has also pushed up demand for high quality accommodation in south Wales.”

The vineyard’s existing courtyard rooms, set in an original stone outbuilding, have also been fully refurbished in keeping with the new hotel.

WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 9

Llanberis Pass, Snowdonia

Welsh road trips ccording to VisitWales, the counA try is a great place to explore by road, with something new around every corner. ere's some locations to help you plan your Welsh road trip.

H Llandudno in North Wales

All photos: © Hawlfraint y Goron / Crown Copyright

Tenby Harbour in Tenby, Pembrokeshire

10

GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

Stained glass window in St Davids Cathedral

SPARKLING WINE IN WALES

A family affair in Welsh wine

By Ryan Mounsey

FIONA and Andy Mounsey moved into their smallholding near Lampeter Velfrey in Pembrokeshire in 2014, and began converting it into a vineyard for the production of sparkling wine in 2016.

They were soon joined in the venture by their son Ryan, who is now a director of the company and day-to-day manager of the enterprise. This article is Ryan’s take on his parents’ madcap scheme.

These are exciting times for Velfrey Vineyard. Planted in 2017, we are one of a handful of new vineyards to recently have been established in Wales, and following our first harvest this October, we will soon be in full production.

Our story differs from the majority of other such enterprises in Wales where owners have usually either taken over an existing vineyard or held a long term dream of setting one up. For us, neither was true. The property we moved into in 2014 came with roughly seven acres of severely neglected land and the thought of owning a vineyard had never crossed our minds. In fact, the first time I suggested it, the response could best be described as one of puzzled bemusement!

However, a short-lived venture into livestock farming brought us to the realisation that keeping a small flock of sheep was a

“grow what you like to drink, and then you’ll be able to sell it”

very time-consuming but efficient way of losing money (and, occasionally, losing sheep too!) So after the idea was rekindled following a pleasant and surprising visit to a local restaurant with its own vineyard, and the subsequent expert confirmation that our site was practically perfect for the planting of vines, we embarked on establishing our vineyard in Pembrokeshire, West Wales.

The second difference we have with the rest of the Welsh vineyard sector is the fact that we have chosen to specialise in the production of sparkling wine; yet, this too was not initially our intention. The advice we had been given on variety selection was “Grow what you like to drink, and then you’ll be able to sell it” and the quality of the Welsh and English wine that we tasted meant there was no shortage of varieties we could have planted. Our first thought was to try and cater for everyone and provide something for all tastes: red, white and rosé, still and sparkling. This is what has been done across the country with growing success and across many of the vineyards of a comparable size in England.

However, this is not a scenario that you witness elsewhere in the most renowned Continues over ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 11

SPARKLING WINE IN WALES

Fiona, Ryan (centre) and Andy Mounsey

wine growing areas across the world.

Regions and vineyards are predominantly known for a certain limited selection of grapes and wine styles; focussing on what they’re good at and perfecting it. So we took the decision that, given the growing recognition and undoubted quality of English Sparkling Wine, we would focus solely on producing a Welsh equivalent.

To that end we decided to plant only two varieties in our first parcel, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir, used to produce a sparkling white and sparkling rosé. The Seyval makes a lovely

“we decided to plant only two varieties in our first parcel, Seyval Blanc and Pinot Noir”

12

base to sparkling wine, with the traditional Champagne variety Pinot Noir adding a depth of flavour to proceedings as well as a blush to the rosé. Both varieties are also later ripening, which allows them to make use of the long growing seasons we have in the UK and fully develop their complexity.

Following a year of preparation involving clearing the scrub from the field that had been untouched for roughly 20 years, draining and mole ploughing to remove water from the site and subsoiling, ploughing and harrowing to prepare a deep tilth, we were ready to plant.

The initial 3,500 vines, consisting of 3,100 Seyval Blanc and 400 Pinot Noir, went in on May 4 2017 and they were subsequently joined by a further 50 Pinot Noir and 400 Solaris, planted in 2018. The sole focus of the next two growing seasons was to produce strong and healthy plants with a nice deep root system to fully express the characteristics of our

GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

Welsh vineyard listings page 40

SPARKLING WINE IN WALES soil. This involved selecting and nurturing a central cane and removing any inflorescences so that energy resources were not diverted from this essential growth. Then, in 2019 we could switch our attentions to the production of fruit, and by October we had a small first crop ready for harvest.

The grapes were sent to our contract winemaker and here they will go through the traditional method of sparkling wine production, spending at least 12 months on the lees before they are ready for sale.

Finally, by early 2021 (by which time we will already have taken our second grape harvest), our first batch of Welsh Sparkling Wine will be available. It’s been a long journey, and we cannot wait to taste the fruits of our labours. We’ve already designed our brand logo reflecting the rich Pembrokeshire heritage of our site, and have sold several cases of the first vintage on pre-order.

We’re welcoming visitors and volunteers onto the vineyard, and the enthusiasm for this venture, which still has a novelty value on our far-flung corner of Wales, is palpable.

We’re looking forward to welcoming travellers from some of the many cruise liners which call into local ports as the vineyard has been accepted onto the list of shore excursions being offered to passengers from the USA, Canada, Australia and beyond.

Interest has also extended to local and national press, a number of appearances on local and BBC national radio, and an invitation to discuss tourism on BBC television.

It’s quite an adventure for people who could be described as ‘accidental viticulturalists’ (or, less kindly, failed shepherds!)

Exciting times indeed!

WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 13

Word of mouth

If Welsh can seem complex and beautiful, it’s because it’s spent 4,000 years evolving. What’s certain is that it’s Britain’s oldest language, says Visit Wales.

F

rom Indo-European and Brythonic origins, the Romans were the first to commit these words to paper, introducing elements of Latin still present today. Historians see clues in the prose of the earliest Welsh poets, writing between the fifth and eighth centuries. They pinpoint Early Welsh, Breton and Cornish as being related.

The Welsh language Offa’s Dyke was the first clear border between the English speakers of the east and the Welsh speakers of the west. Wales was one of the first countries to use its own language to create laws, and the word Cymry was used to describe its people as long ago as the seventh century.

For the oldest existing set of Welsh tales from the medieval period, pay a visit to the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth – coincidentally the home of the first private Welsh language school, in 1939 – for a look at 14th century tome the White Book of Rhydderch.

Norman invaders brought French to the valleys, and their British followers introduced English. In 1536, Henry VIII decided to pass the Act of Union, prohibiting the use of Welsh in public administration and the legal system. You can imagine Owain Glyndwr, who had instigated a revolt at the start of the 15th century, turning in his grave against the ruling.

Then there was the Act of Uniformity of 1549, which demanded all acts of public worship be conducted in English, and the somewhat contradictory legislation of Elizabeth I, who wanted churches to carry Welsh versions of the Book of Common Prayer and the Bible.

The first book in Welsh was published around this time, and perhaps the peak of the wonderful poetry we know Wales for came in 1792, when Iolo Morganwg established the Gorsedd of the Bards, a protective alliance who played an important part in the rise of the Eistedfodd festivals.

14 GLASS of BUBBLY - WELSH SPARKLING WINE

The Industrial Revolution and World Wars accelerated the language’s decline, not helped by the infamous Welsh Not – signs hung around the necks of schoolchildren who dared speak Welsh during the 19th century.

Modern Wales But more than a fifth of the population of modern Cymru can speak or use Welsh, and that figure doubles among children, helped by two major education acts passed during the 1900s.

You’ll hear and see plenty of Welsh – Radio Cymru launched in 1977, and the television channel, S4C, began in 1982. There are also plenty of newspapers, radio stations and road signs in both English and Welsh.

Welsh language music is celebrated and thriving across all genres today, and we even have a special day dedicated to enjoying it. Dydd Miwsig Cymru, or Welsh Language Music Day takes place on 8 February, and you can find gigs and happenings going on all over the country.

If you've missed the day, don't worry - Welsh language music can (and should!) be enjoyed all year round, and there are a number of Welsh language Spotify playlists for your listening pleasure.

Dydd Miwsig Cymru / Easy Welsh phrases And the phrases you should look out for? Hello easily-remembered: ‘helo’ and thank you is simply ‘diolch’.

Bore da (Pronounced: Boh-reh dah): Good morning Prynhawn da (Prin-houn dah): Good afternoon Nos da (nohs dah): Good night Croeso i Gymru (Croesoh ee Gum-reeh): Welcome to Wales Iechyd da! (Yeh-chid dah): Cheers!

Tafarn (Tav-arn): Pub Diolch (Dee-olch): Thanks Da iawn (Dah ee-aw-n): Very good A postcard home, all being well, might also contain the phrase ‘mae'n heulog’ – it’s sunny.

A selection of Welsh vineyards, many of which produce Welsh Sparkling Wine. Please check before travelling a distance to visit any wine estate.

vineyards Ancre Hill Monmouth NP25 5HS 01600 714152 www.ancrehillestates.co.uk Bryn Ceiliog Vineyard Beggan Farm. Leckwith CF11 8AS 029 2071 1017 Conwy Vineyard Llangwstenin, Llandudno Junction LL31 9JF 01492 545596 www.conwyvineyard.co.uk

Gwinllan Conwy Y Gwinwydd, Llangwstenin, Llandudno Junction, Wales, LL31 9JF 01492 545596 www.gwinllanconwy.co.uk Jabajak Vineyard Banc Y Llain Llanboidy Road, Whitland SA34 0ED 01994 448786 www.jabajak.co.uk Kerry Vale Vineyard Church Stoke, Pentreheyling SY15 6HU 01588 620627 www.kerryvalevineyard.co.uk

Cwm Deri Vineyard Martletwy, Narberth Pembrokeshire SA67 8AP 01834 891 274 www.cwm-deri.co.uk

Llaethliw Estate Vineyard Neuaddlwyd Aberaeron, Ceredigion 01545 571879

Glyndwr Vineyard Llanblethian, Cowbridge,Vale Of Glamorgan CF71 7JF 01446 624759 www.glyndwrvineyard.co.uk

Llanerch Vineyard Hensol Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales CF72 8GG 01443 222716 www.llanerch-vineyard.co.uk

Meadow View Crossways, Llanblethian 02920 515552 or 07973 827524 Montgomery Vineyard SY15 6LR 01686 670 301 www.montgomeryvineyard. co.uk Pant Du Ffordd y Sir, Penygroes Gwynedd LL54 6HE 01286 880806 / 881819 www.pantdu.co.uk Parva Farm Vineyard, Tintern, Chepstow, Monmouthshire NP166SQ 01291 689636 www.parvafarm.com Penarth Vineyard Pool Road, Newtown Montgomeryshire, Powys SY16 3AN 07933 671 495 www.penarthvineyard. co.uk

Red Wharf Bay Vineyard Llain Gam, Lon Y Traeth, Pentaeth, Anglesey LL75 8YG 0791 999 4530 www.RedWharfBayVineyard. co.uk Sugarloaf Vineyard Dummar Farm, Abergavenny NP7 7LA 01873 853066 www.sugarloafvineyard.co.uk Ty Croes Vineyard Dwyran, Llanfairpwll LL61 6RP Velfrey Vineyard Lampeter Velfrey Pembrokeshire SA34 0RA 01994 240002 White Castle Vineyard Llanvetherine Abergavenny NP7 8RA 01873 821443 www.whitecastlevineyard.com

WELSH SPARKLING WINE - GLASS of BUBBLY 15

Glass Of Bubbly is a premium online resource for news and information on Champagne and Sparkling Wines, prestigious industry awards, trade tastings and online sales.

Dedicated to promoting the world of Champagne and Sparkling Wines Unique International Awards London’s biggest annual Trade & Press Tasting Leading Information & News Channel Online Sales with Zero Commission

www.glassofbubbly.com