Llaethliw Vineyard

Tucked into the rolling green farmland at the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains, just a stone's throw from the Cardigan Bay coast, Llaethliw Vineyard has quietly become one of the most respected family-run estates in Welsh wine. Multi-award-winning and rooted in a clear sense of place, the vineyard combines a modern, climate-aware approach to cool-climate viticulture with the warm hospitality of a working farm that has welcomed visitors, holidaymakers and stockists for nearly two decades.

A family vineyard born on the Ceredigion coast

Llaethliw is the kind of project that begins with one farmer's hunch and grows into a multi-generational family business. The estate was bought in 2008 by Richard and Siw Evans, both of whom grew up locally in the Teifi and Aeron valleys. Richard had been exploring ways to diversify the family farm, and as he considered how a changing climate might open new possibilities for cropping in West Wales, the idea of a commercial vineyard began to take shape.

The first 8,500 vines were planted in 2009, and Llaethliw has been growing and evolving ever since. Their son Jac later studied viticulture at Plumpton College from 2010 to 2012, returning home to put his training into practice on the family's own land. In 2012 the vineyard expanded again with an additional 10,000 vines, and in 2020 Jac and his wife Charley built their own home on the vineyard, completing the picture of two generations living and working among the rows.

The vineyard is also a proper family affair in the canine sense. Jet the Cocker Spaniel arrived in 2010 as the estate's first official pest-control employee, and she was joined in 2020 by her enthusiastic assistant, Bernie the Bernedoodle. Today, Llaethliw is home to more than 15,000 vines, two families, and two very happy dogs - and a steadily growing reputation for award-winning Welsh still and sparkling wines, alongside their increasingly popular cider, Hansh.

Where the vines meet the sea

Llaethliw sits on the coastal plain at the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains in Neuaddlwyd, near Aberaeron, on the west coast of Wales. The combination of mild, maritime weather, free-draining soils and the moderating influence of Cardigan Bay gives the site a long, even growing season - conditions that suit the cool-climate, fungus-resistant grape varieties now thriving in the rows.

This part of Ceredigion has become one of the most talked-about pockets of new-wave Welsh viticulture. The breezes off the Irish Sea help keep disease pressure low, while the Cambrian backdrop shelters the site from the worst of the inland weather. It's a setting that produces wines with bright natural acidity, clean fruit character and a refreshingly saline edge - qualities that show clearly in the Llaethliw range.

The estate's address - Llaethliw, Neuadd Lwyd, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA48 7RF - places it within easy reach of the colourful Georgian harbour town of Aberaeron, the market town of Lampeter and the wider Cambrian coast, making it a natural stop for anyone touring West Wales.

The grapes: a cool-climate, modern portfolio

Across the vineyard, the Evans family grows a deliberately diverse portfolio of red and white grape varieties chosen for their performance in the Welsh climate.

White varieties

• Solaris - an early-ripening, disease-resistant German variety that produces aromatic, full-flavoured wines.
• Orion - clean, crisp and reliable, a backbone of the still and sparkling white wines.
• Seyval Blanc - a versatile traditional variety valued for its citrus and mineral character.
• Bacchus - often described as a Sauvignon-style variety, prized for its herbal, elderflower aromatics.
• Phoenix - a robust cross that gives riper fruit and a touch of body to blends.
• Madeleine Angevine - a fragrant early-ripener that adds lift and floral perfume.

Red varieties

• Rondo - the mainstay of the still red, giving generous plum and dark-cherry fruit.
• Regent - deeply coloured, with soft tannins and good resistance to disease.
• Pinot Noir - the classic cool-climate variety, used here to add finesse and structure.

Together, these varieties underpin a focused range of five wines - white, red, rosé, sparkling white and sparkling rosé - plus the cider that rounds out the cellar door.

The Llaethliw wine range

Llaethliw keeps its range deliberately tight and concentrated. Each wine is built around a clear idea of style, with vineyard-fresh fruit and the cool West Wales climate doing the talking.

Llaethliw White Wine - £19.00

A blend of Orion and Phoenix from the 2023 vintage. Pale yellow in the glass, it bursts with fresh green apple, gooseberry, stone fruit and meadow grass on the nose, followed by crisp green apple and ripe nectarine on the palate. A generous citrus acidity carries through to a mineral finish. 11.5% ABV, screwcap closure. Tasting notes are courtesy of Mumbles Fine Wines.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Red Wine - £19.00

Made from Rondo (2023 vintage), this is a light, early-drinking red with aromas of ripe plum, dark cherries, blackberry, cassis and a soft earthy undertone. The tannins are smooth and gentle, making it easy to chill slightly for a summer BBQ or to enjoy with roast chicken, game or lamb. 12% ABV, screwcap closure.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Rosé Wine - £19.00

A bright, watermelon-pink blend of Orion, Regent and Phoenix (2022 vintage) with a floral nose, hints of juicy stone fruit and crisp red apple. The palate is generous with citrus acidity, raspberry and sour cherry, made for sunshine and aperitif moments. 10% ABV, screwcap closure.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Sparkling Wine - £31.00

This is the bottle that put Llaethliw on the national map: a dry, citrusy traditional-method sparkling wine made from Orion (2018 vintage) that was awarded the Supreme Champion Wine of Wales. Aromatic and intense, with crisp grapefruit zest and a refreshing finish, it's a perfect match for aperitifs, fresh seafood and finger food. 11% ABV, cork closure. Tasting notes courtesy of Vin Van Cymru.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Sparkling Rosé Wine - £31.00

A sparkling rosé in the same bright watermelon hue as the still version, made from a blend of Orion and Regent (2017 vintage). Floral and citrus-led, with juicy stone fruits, crisp red apple and bags of citrus acidity on the palate, finishing with raspberry and sour cherry. 11% ABV, cork closure.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Special Edition Red Wine - £22.00

A limited-batch red made from Regent (2023 vintage). Smooth and refreshing, with soft tannins and vibrant acidity that give the wine an elegant, easy-drinking character. Pair it with grilled salmon, charcuterie, roasted vegetables or soft cheeses. 11% ABV, screwcap closure.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Special Edition White Wine - £21.00

A dry, vibrant and aromatic limited-batch white from Solaris (2023 vintage), with crisp acidity and exceptional balance. Built for fresh, herbaceous dishes - seafood, salads, grilled chicken, cheeses and lightly spiced cuisine. 11% ABV, screwcap closure.

Available to order online.

Llaethliw Limited Edition Duo - £42.00

A two-bottle bundle that pairs the current Limited Edition Red and Limited Edition White in one gift-ready pack. Limited stock - once a vintage is gone, it doesn't return.

Available to order online.

Still Range - £57.00

The full still trio: one bottle each of the award-winning Red, White and Rosé, hand-picked to show Llaethliw's complete still-wine personality. A good introduction for anyone new to the range.

Available to order online.

Full Range - £107.00 (RRP £119, 10% discount applied)

The complete set of five Llaethliw wines: White, Red, Rosé, Sparkling White and Sparkling Rosé. The bundle includes the automatic 10% saving over buying each bottle separately and is the easiest way to get a full sense of what the estate can do.

Available to order online.

Hansh Cider: turning Welsh apples into a medium-dry classic

Cider joined the Llaethliw portfolio in 2020, the brainchild of Jac, who had noticed the sheer quantity of apples going to waste each autumn across Ceredigion. He began collecting apples from orchards and gardens all over the county and turned them into Hansh Cider.

Hansh is a medium-bodied cider - sweet and fruity with a juicy apple aroma. An initial sweet apple flavour gives way to a remarkable breadth of secondary fruit: lemon, raspberry and lime all show up on the palate, while the medium body keeps the whole thing nicely balanced. The Llaethliw team describe it as “a really refreshing cider, perfect on a summer's day (or in our case, all year round!)”.

The cider is sold as a 330ml can, with a 5.5% ABV, and currently comes in a six-pack for £18.00 - an easy choice for anyone who wants to discover what a Ceredigion cider can taste like.

The Hansh Cider six-pack is available to order online.

Shopping, cellar door and bundles

Wine can be bought directly from the cellar door at Llaethliw, or ordered online through the vineyard's own e-commerce shop. The shop offers 11 products in total, from individual bottles to multi-bottle bundles, with clear pricing and free-delivery thresholds that make stocking up straightforward.

For anyone new to the range, the easiest entry points are:

• Still Range - one bottle each of Red, White and Rosé for £57.00.
• Full Range - all five wines for £107.00 (10% saving).
• Llaethliw Limited Edition Duo - a Red + White Limited Edition pairing for £42.00, perfect as a gift.

Browse the full Llaethliw online shop.

Where to find Llaethliw: UK stockists from Aberaeron to Cardiff

Llaethliw is widely available across Wales and beyond, with a curated mix of independent bars, restaurants, delis and farm shops. The vineyard keeps a current stockist list that visitors can browse.

Bars & restaurants

• Y Seler, Aberaeron
• The Hive, Aberaeron
• The Harbourmaster, Aberaeron
• The Barn, Llanrhystud
• Ystrad Aeron, Felin Fach
• Medina, Aberystwyth
• Diod, Llandeilo
• Tyglyn Hotel, Ciliau Aeron
• Mamgu Welshcakes, St Davids & Saundersfoot
• Yr Orsaf Restaurant, Pembrey Country Park
• Caffi Lolfa, Llanelli
• Coliseum Coffee House
• Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth
• The Tidy Kitchen, Cardiff
• Tofts Dining Rooms, Abersoch
• Llew Glas Café, Harlech
• The Railway Hotel, Nantgaredig

Shops & delis

• Deli Lazzaro, Aberaeron
• Watson and Pratts, Aberaeron & Lampeter
• Stordy Wyre, Llanrhystud
• Mumbles Fine Wines, Mumbles
• Dylanwad, Dolgellau
• Stori Wine and Beers, Bala
• Wally's Deli, Cardiff
• Siop y Bont, Pontrhydfendigaid
• Afan Ales & Fine Wines / Siop Y Pentre, Cilgerran
• Cherry Picked, Sarnau
• Carmarthen Deli, Carmarthen
• Caron Groceries, Tregaron
• Medina Shop, Aberystwyth
• Reefresh, New Quay
• Fire & Ice, Narberth
• Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea
• Iechyd Da, Cardiff
• Cwmcerrig Farm Shop, Crosshands
• Village Wine Shop, Saundersfoot

Stay at the vineyard: the cosy Llaethliw Cottage

One of the most distinctive things about Llaethliw is that you don't just have to visit for a tasting - you can stay among the vines. The Vineyard Cottage was introduced in 2023 and is bookable through both AirBnB and Booking.com.

The cottage has a spacious first-floor bedroom alongside an open living and dining area, a kitchen and one bathroom. It was designed with both couples and dogs in mind, with thoughtful touches like dog treats, bowls and poop bags alongside Biscoff biscuits, milk in the fridge, tea and coffee for human guests. Underfloor heating, a log burner for cosy winter nights and an EV charger for visitors with electric cars are all part of the package.

In the summer, guests can pull a chair onto the Vineyard Deck and watch the sun set over the rows; in winter, the cottage is a snug base for walking the coast path, exploring Aberaeron or simply recharging. Recent guest reviews repeatedly highlight:

• Spotless presentation and a “home from home” feel.
• Generous, helpful hosts (Jac and Charley).
• Dark skies and stunning stars on clear nights.
• The on-site EV charger.
• The must-try Llaethliw wines waiting in the cellar.

Bookings are managed through AirBnB and Booking.com.

Visiting the vineyard

Llaethliw is a working family farm, but visitors are made to feel genuinely welcome. The cellar door is the natural first stop, where you can taste the still and sparkling wines and pick up bottles to take home. Past visitors describe afternoons spent being shown round the vines by Siw and Jac, glass in hand, with the rolling Cambrian foothills as a backdrop.

Before planning a trip, it's worth:

• Calling ahead on 01545 571 879 to confirm cellar door opening hours.
• Following @gwinllanllaethliwvineyard on Instagram for the latest harvest, bottling and cottage updates.
• Checking Llaethliw on Facebook for stockists events, tastings and seasonal offers.

For general enquiries, the team can be reached on jac@llaethliw.co.uk. The address for sat-navs is Neuadd Lwyd, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA48 7RF.

Sustainability and the wider Welsh wine scene

Welsh wine is one of the most exciting new categories in British viticulture, and Llaethliw has helped put Ceredigion firmly on the map. By choosing cool-climate, disease-resistant grape varieties - many of which need fewer sprays than traditional Vitis vinifera - the estate is able to work with, rather than against, the local climate. The decision to plant more than 15,000 vines and to build a winery and cellar door on a working family farm is a deliberate vote of confidence in the long-term future of Welsh wine.

Adding Hansh cider to the range in 2020 took that local, low-waste ethos a step further: rather than letting surplus Ceredigion apples go to waste, the team turned them into a craft cider that's now sold across the region and beyond. Combined with the cottage built for low-impact stays - underfloor heating, EV charger, and an emphasis on local food and drink - the estate paints a picture of a small business that's deeply embedded in its landscape.

Why Llaethliw stands out

For a small, family-run vineyard, Llaethliw's trophy cabinet is striking:

• The Llaethliw Sparkling White was awarded the Supreme Champion Wine of Wales.
• The Red, Rosé, White, Sparkling White and Sparkling Rosé have all earned multi-award-winning status across the Welsh and UK wine press.
• Coverage from Wales Online and consistent five-star guest reviews for the cottage round out the picture.

Whether you're a Welsh wine devotee, a Ceredigion holidaymaker or simply curious about how good cool-climate wine from the west coast of Britain can taste, Llaethliw is well worth a visit - and a slot on the wine rack at home.

Key information at a glance

• Winery: Llaethliw Vineyard (Gwinllan Llaethliw)
• Founded: 2008
• Location: Neuadd Lwyd, Aberaeron, Ceredigion, SA48 7RF
• Family: Richard, Siw, Jac & Charley Evans
• Vines: 15,000+
• White varieties: Solaris, Orion, Seyval Blanc, Bacchus, Phoenix, Madeleine Angevine
• Red varieties: Rondo, Regent, Pinot Noir
• Range: White, Red, Rosé, Sparkling White, Sparkling Rosé, Limited Edition Duo, Still Range, Full Range, Hansh Cider
• Phone: 01545 571 879
• Email: jac@llaethliw.co.uk
• Cottage: Available via AirBnB and Booking.com (dog friendly)