Vineyards and wineries in Clwyd

Vines in the Vale of Clwyd, in the rain shadow of Snowdonia.

The Davies family call themselves the first grape farmers of the Vale of Clwyd. Gwen and Rhys Davies grew up on farms within five miles of Vale Vineyard – Gwinllan y Dyffryn and planted its first vines in 2019, in an area known more for livestock; their Lleyn sheep graze the rows from after harvest until the end of February.

The vineyard, at Llandyrnog, is ten miles from the coast, in a rain shadow cast by the mountains of Snowdonia, with the Clwydian Range to the east. It stands on the lower slopes of the range, between 60 and 80 metres above sea level, and has never had a problem with frost. On the right night the frost can be seen lying in a pocket below the vines; it rolls down to the River Clwyd, between the vineyard and Denbigh. Rhys Davies says Dr Alistair Nesbitt told them this part of Wales, along with an area of Anglesey, is of significant climatic interest.

The grapes are made into wine at Halfpenny Green, two and a half hours away, so harvest is picked on weekend mornings and the trailer leaves by early afternoon. Tours can be taken in Welsh.

The vineyard points visitors to walks on the Clwydian Range, Denbigh castle and the towns of Ruthin, Denbigh and St Asaph.