Blue Moon Wines: A Radnorshire Vineyard Reviving a Roman Legacy
Nestled in the rolling green heart of Radnorshire, deep in the Powys countryside of Mid-Wales, Blue Moon Wines is a small, family-run vineyard that has spent the last decade quietly turning what was once barren, bracken-covered hillside into a thriving, productive wine estate. Since the first vines went into the ground in 2014, the project has grown from a speculative 1,200 plants to a flourishing holding of more than 2,200 vines, producing still red, white and rosé wines that carry the unmistakable character of this ancient corner of Wales.
A Vineyard Born Out of a Problem
Like many of the most romantic vineyard stories, Blue Moon Wines did not begin with a grand plan to enter the wine industry. It began with a problem. The founders owned a steep, southwest-facing bank that was covered in bracken and gorse. The ground was harsh and unforgiving, and after soil tests were commissioned, the land was officially classified as marginal - poor soil, challenging conditions, and little obvious potential for conventional agriculture.
Rather than let the land lie fallow, the family chose to experiment. Why not try growing vines? The south-west-facing slope, the elevation, and the relatively dry Welsh microclimate offered intriguing possibilities, and vines - unlike most crops - are renowned for thriving in exactly the kind of poor, well-drained soil that defeated other agricultural uses.
Planting the First Vines (2014)
In 2014, the first 1,200 vines were planted across the slope, in two principal varieties:
- Solaris - a hardy, early-ripening white grape variety bred in Germany, prized for its resistance to cool, wet climates and its ability to produce fragrant, fruit-forward white wines.
- Cabernet Cortis - a dark-skinned, disease-resistant crossing bred from Cabernet Sauvignon, capable of producing deeply coloured red wines even in marginal climates.
These two varieties were carefully chosen to suit the unpredictable Welsh weather, the thin hillside soil, and the family's desire to make wines that genuinely reflected the land rather than relying on imported grapes or concentrates.
A Steep Learning Curve
The early years of any vineyard are a baptism of fire, and Blue Moon Wines was no exception. The family quickly discovered that the natural world had opinions about the project. After a weekend away, slugs and rabbits invaded the young vines, forcing the replacement of approximately 20% of the crop in its first season. Lessons were learned - and protections were put in place - but the experience cemented a hands-on, problem-solving approach that has shaped every vintage since.
The First Crop (2017)
After three years of careful nurturing, 2017 brought the vineyard's first harvest. Encouraged by the results, the family pressed on, expanding the planting and refining their viticulture. The real breakthrough came in 2018, when the vineyard produced its first successful commercial crop of red, white and rosé wines - the triple that would go on to define the Blue Moon range.
Homegrown Grapes from a Radnorshire Vineyard
Today, the vineyard counts well over 2,200 vines flourishing across the once-barren land. The range of varieties has been carefully expanded to include Pinot Noir, alongside the original Solaris and Cabernet Cortis, giving the winemaking team the flexibility to produce three distinct styles of still wine - a red, a white and a rosé - all from estate-grown fruit.
A Roman Legacy in Mid-Wales
What makes Blue Moon Wines' location particularly special is the ancient winemaking pedigree of the area. In AD 48 - just five years after the Roman conquest of Britain - Roman settlers were reportedly growing their own vineyards in this same part of Mid-Wales. The Romans cultivated grape varieties that, by an extraordinary coincidence, overlap strikingly with the varieties being grown today: Solaris, Cabernet Cortis and Pinot Noir.
The family leans into this heritage proudly. Their tagline, "We're continuing their legacy," is more than a marketing flourish - it is a genuine statement of intent. Roughly two thousand years after the Romans first identified this corner of Britain as suitable for viticulture, Blue Moon is proving them right.
The Name: "Blue Moon"
The name of the vineyard is drawn directly from the family's life and surroundings. A Blue Moon is a rare and special event, appearing only every few years. The family wanted to capture that sense of rarity, magic and quiet wonder in every bottle they produce. The name also ties into Radnorshire folklore, the night sky, and the rolling countryside that surrounds the vineyard.
The Radnorshire Cat on the Label
Look closely at a bottle of Blue Moon and you will spot a cat silhouette gazing up at the moon. This is a portrait of one of the family's own cats - Dylan or Seren - and is described as a subtle nod to all the beautiful animals they share their lives with. Alongside the cats, the family keep sheepdogs (Joe and Bella), chickens and a horse called Kyla, all of whom play their part in the rhythm of life on the vineyard.
The Blue Moon Wine Range
Blue Moon Wines produces a small, focused range of three still wines, each made from estate-grown fruit in Radnorshire. The full range is available to purchase directly from the Blue Moon Wines online shop.
Red Wine - Blue Moon
The estate red, produced principally from Cabernet Cortis grown on the Radnorshire slopes. Bottled at 11.9% abv, this is a Welsh red wine that reflects the cool-climate character of the vineyard.
- Price: £15.95 per bottle
- ABV: 11.9%
- Buy: Red Wine - Blue Moon
Rosé Wine - Blue Moon
A deep, savoury rosé that pushes the boundaries of the style. The tasting notes describe it as "deep red for a rosé, almost like tawny port or rose hip syrup," with a nose of rosehip, hints of blackcurrant or crème de cassis, and loganberries. The winemakers recommend enjoying it alone or alongside meals as a savoury alternative to lighter, sweeter rosé styles.
- Price: £15.95 per bottle
- ABV: 12.0%
- Buy: Rosé Wine - Blue Moon
White Wine - Blue Moon
Made from estate-grown Solaris, the white is a delicate, pale wine the family describes as "very pale - reminiscent of dried grass." Floral on the nose with hints of gooseberry and elderflower, it shows a balanced palate of lemon zest and melon. Fresh, light, clean and pure.
- Price: £15.95 per bottle
- ABV: 12.1%
- Status: Currently sold out
- Buy: White Wine - Blue Moon
Cases of 6 - Save on Bulk Purchase
For those who want to stock up - or who simply cannot get enough of the Blue Moon range - the vineyard offers all three wines in mixed cases of six bottles, currently on sale at a reduced price.
Red Wine Case of 6
- Sale Price: £90.00 (original £95.70)
- ABV: 12.0%
- Buy: Red Wine Case of 6 - Blue Moon
Rosé Wine Case of 6
- Sale Price: £90.00 (original £95.70)
- ABV: 12.0%
- Buy: Rosé Wine Case of 6 - Blue Moon
White Wine Case of 6
- Sale Price: £90.00 (original £95.70)
- ABV: 12.1%
- Status: Currently sold out
- Buy: White Wine Case of 6 - Blue Moon
Free Local Delivery Around Llandrindod Wells
Blue Moon Wines is based near Llandrindod Wells, the historic spa town at the heart of Radnorshire. As a small, local producer, the vineyard offers a personal, family-run delivery service on its cases of wine: customers living within a 20-mile radius of Llandrindod Wells qualify for free delivery on case orders.
To arrange free local delivery, customers can contact the vineyard directly by email at bluemoonradnorshire@gmail.com. It is a refreshingly personal touch in a world of anonymous courier networks, and a reflection of the close-knit community that surrounds the vineyard.
Visiting Blue Moon Wines
The team's focus is on producing and shipping their small batches of still red, white and rosé directly to customers through the online shop. Formal vineyard tours, cellar-door experiences and tastings are not currently offered, with all enquiries about the vineyard, bulk orders or local delivery directed to bluemoonradnorshire@gmail.com. The vineyard sits within a landscape widely regarded as some of the most unspoilt and quietly beautiful in the whole of Wales, providing a fitting setting for a wine estate that is, in its own small way, continuing two thousand years of Welsh viticultural history.
Why Blue Moon Wines Matters
Blue Moon Wines is a small project by any commercial measure, but it represents something genuinely significant for the British wine scene. Every bottle is grown, produced and bottled in Wales. Every variety planted on the site has been chosen to suit the challenging Welsh climate. Every label carries a cat silhouette that ties the wine back to the family, the farm and the landscape that produced it.
In an era when "local" and "homegrown" have become marketing buzzwords, Blue Moon Wines is the real thing - a vineyard that took marginal land, planted it with vines, learned the hard lessons of slugs and rabbits, and over the course of a decade built a small winery capable of producing a credible, characterful range of still wines. The first crop was made in 2017. The first commercial red, white and rosé followed in 2018. Today, more than 2,200 vines later, the legacy started by the Romans in AD 48 is being quietly, confidently continued in the hills of Radnorshire.
FAQs About Blue Moon Wines
Where is Blue Moon Wines located?
Blue Moon Wines is a small vineyard in Radnorshire, Mid-Wales, near the town of Llandrindod Wells in Powys.
What grape varieties are grown at Blue Moon Wines?
The vineyard grows Solaris (used for white wine), Cabernet Cortis (used for red wine) and Pinot Noir across more than 2,200 vines on a south-west-facing slope.
When was Blue Moon Wines established?
The first vines were planted in 2014. The first crop was harvested in 2017, and the first commercial vintage of red, white and rosé was produced in 2018.
How much does a bottle of Blue Moon Wine cost?
All three single bottles - Red, Rosé and White - are priced at £15.95 each. Cases of six bottles are on sale at £90.00 per case (originally £95.70).
Does Blue Moon Wines offer free delivery?
Yes. Free delivery is available on case orders within a 20-mile radius of Llandrindod Wells. Customers should email the vineyard directly at bluemoonradnorshire@gmail.com to arrange this.
Can I visit Blue Moon Wines for a tour or tasting?
The vineyard does not currently offer formal tours, tastings or scheduled events. Enquiries can be directed to bluemoonradnorshire@gmail.com.
What is the ABV of Blue Moon Wines?
The Red is 11.9% abv, the Rosé is 12.0% abv, and the White is 12.1% abv.