Pant Du Vineyard and Orchard: North Wales Wines, Cider and Apple Juice on the Slopes of Snowdonia
Pant Du Vineyard and Orchard: North Wales Wines, Cider and Apple Juice on the Slopes of Snowdonia
Nestled on the slopes of Dyffryn Nantlle in Eryri (Snowdonia), Pant Du is one of the most distinctive small wineries and orchards in the United Kingdom. A family business founded by Richard and Iola Huws in 2007, the estate has transformed former farmland into a working vineyard and orchard that produces wines, ciders, single-variety apple juices and honey, all under the shadow of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and with panoramic views across Caernarfon Bay. Pant Du also runs a popular on-site café and bar, an award-winning online shop, and Saturday/Sunday guided vineyard tours with tasting, making it a year-round destination for visitors exploring North Wales.
Where Pant Du Sits in the Landscape
Pant Du is located at Ffordd Y Sir on the edge of the village of Penygroes in Gwynedd, just a mile from the A487 between Caernarfon and Porthmadog. The postcode is LL54 6HE. Brown tourist signs lead visitors up from the main road, and the sat-nav-friendly location sits within easy reach of the A4085 (Lon Eifion), the historic Ffordd Brailsford cycling climbs through the heart of Snowdonia, and the 50- and 75-mile loop routes that pass the Pant Du entrance. Cyclists and walkers exploring the quarries and peaks of Dyffryn Nantlle are warmly welcomed at the café.
The setting itself is a huge part of the Pant Du experience. The vineyard and orchard look north toward Yr Wyddfa and its sister peaks, while the slope falls away to the south-west with views out to the sea across Caernarfon Bay. It is hard to imagine a more dramatic backdrop for a glass of chilled dry white wine or a flight of Pant Du ciders.
The Story Behind Pant Du
Pant Du was established in 2007 by Richard and Iola Huws as a family-run vineyard and orchard. The site has been transformed by 9 acres of vines and 18 acres of apple trees planted on the slopes above the Nantlle Valley. Over the years Pant Du has won a number of awards for its Welsh wines and ciders, and was notably the first vineyard and orchard in Wales to be powered by solar energy.
Richard remains very much the public face of the business, personally leading the guided tours and telling visitors the story of how an exposed Welsh hillside came to host vines and 3,200 apple trees. The Huws family continues to operate the winery, café and shop together with a small seasonal and weekend team, and Pant Du recruits local staff through its vacancies listing.
The Vineyard
Nine acres of vines are planted on the slopes of Pant Du, with six different grape varieties chosen specifically for the soil and maritime climate of North Wales:
- Seyval Blanc - a hardy French hybrid that produces a dry, fresh white with elderflower on the nose and green apple and citrus on the palate.
- Siegerrebe - a Germanic cross prized for intensely aromatic whites with tropical fruit aromas and a gently spicy finish.
- Sauvignon Blanc - the well-known international variety, used here in the still white blend.
- Pinot Noir - one of the classic Champagne varieties, contributing structure to the sparkling wines.
- Frühburgunder / Early Pinot Noir - an early-ripening Pinot clone that performs reliably in cooler sites.
- Rondo - a red hybrid bred for northern Europe, the backbone of the Pant Du red wine.
From these varieties Pant Du produces three still wines - a white, a rosé and a red - plus two traditional-method sparkling wines.
The Pant Du Wines
The still and sparkling wines are released in numbered vintages. Pant Du produces:
Still White, Rosé and Red (£17.95 per 75cl bottle)
- Gwin Gwyn - Siegerrebe (Vintage 2021): a richly aromatic white with tropical fruit aromas and a soft, spicy finish.
- Gwin Gwyn - Seyval (Vintage 2021): a dry, fresh white with delicate apple aromas and a light citrus finish on the palate.
- Gwin Rhosliw / Rosé (Vintage 2021): a full-flavoured rosé with vibrant summer fruit and wild strawberry on the nose.
- Gwin Coch / Red (Vintage 2023): a very light, fruity red with strong red berry aromas, low in tannin and packed with easy-drinking summer fruit flavour; made from Rondo grapes.
Traditional Method Sparkling Wines (£32.95 per 75cl, 11.5% ABV)
- Sparkling White: traditional-method fermented with hints of green apple and stone fruit, complemented by classic biscuit and brioche character. Fresh, rich and complex.
- Sparkling Rosé: traditional-method rosé with soft summer-fruit notes, again supported by biscuit and brioche complexity. Fresh, rich and layered.
All four still wines sell for £17.95 per 75cl bottle and both sparkling wines for £32.95. Stock of the still wines rotates with each vintage, and the full range is available from the Pant Du Wine Shop. Visitors can also taste the wines at the end of every guided tour.
The Orchard and the Ciders
Eighteen acres of orchard at Pant Du contain some 3,200 apple trees. Around 2,000 of these are traditional cider apple varieties; the rest are native Welsh apple trees, including a significant planting of the rare Bardsey apple. The cider is pressed on-site from a blend of traditional cider apples and native Welsh varieties, producing what the Pant Du team describe as a pure craft cider: fresh, fruity and full of natural apple flavour.
The current cider range includes:
- Cider Medium Dry 500ml (5.2%) - £4.00
- Cider Medium 750ml (6.9%) - £6.75
- Cider Dry 500ml (5.2%) - £4.00
- Cider Dry 750ml (6.7%) - £6.75
- Cider Passion Fruit & Lime 500ml (4.0%) - £4.50
- Cider Rhubarb 500ml (4.0%) - £4.50
- Cider Wild Fruit 500ml (4.0%) - £4.50 - blended with small dark plums, raspberries and blackberries
- Cider Strawberry & Kiwi 500ml (4.0%) - £4.50
- Branded Glass - Cider & Apple Juice (oversized 12oz half-pint) - £4.50
The full range is available from the Pant Du Cider Shop. Pant Du ciders are also available by the glass in the café alongside a wide range of soft drinks, draught lager and Welsh speciality beers.
Apple Juice and the Bardsey Apple Story
Of the native Welsh apple trees planted at Pant Du, around 700 are Afalau Enlli - the Bardsey apple, a heritage variety once on the very brink of extinction. By planting so many of these trees Pant Du is helping to secure the future of a fruit historically associated with Bardsey Island (Ynys Enlli) off the Llŷn Peninsula.
Pant Du produces three apple juices:
- Apple Juice - Still 750ml: a hand-picked blend of apples, full of natural flavour - £5.50.
- Apple Juice - Bardsey 750ml: single-variety juice made exclusively from hand-picked Bardsey apples - £5.95.
The full juice range is available from the Pant Du Apple Juice range.
Spring Water and Pant Du Honey
Although not for sale, Pant Du's natural spring water is a remarkable part of the estate. The water filters naturally through Pre-Cambrian rocks more than 500 million years old, emerging exceptionally pure and balanced in minerals, low in sodium and with a near-perfect pH of 7.35.
Since 2017 Pant Du has also produced its own honey. Bees work the orchard through the spring, transferring pollen between apple-tree blossoms - a process vital to producing the apples that go on to become cider and apple juice. The resulting 227g (8oz) jar of Pant Du honey is available for £7.50 in the shop and is a firm favourite with regular customers.
The Pant Du Café and Bar
The on-site café and bar is at the heart of Pant Du. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 10am - 4:30pm, it serves breakfast, lunch, traditional Sunday lunch and a celebrated afternoon tea, alongside home-made cakes and a wide drinks menu featuring Pant Du wines, sparkling wines, ciders and apple juice, plus draught lager, Welsh craft beers and wines from around the world.
The kitchen team is proud to support local Welsh food and drink producers, and the menu features home-cooked classics as well as a dedicated children's menu. Seating is available inside, on the patio, and in the garden, with plenty of space for groups. Booking is strongly recommended, especially at weekends and for Sunday lunch. Tables can be reserved through the Resos booking system.
Menus are available to download in PDF form:
Afternoon Tea at Pant Du
Pant Du's afternoon tea is one of the most popular experiences on the estate. Each serving includes a selection of freshly prepared sandwiches, home-made scones with jam and cream, and a choice of home-made cakes. Tea is served from 2.30pm on weekdays and 3.00pm on Saturdays and Sundays.
Advance booking is essential, and dietary requirements should be flagged at the time of booking. A dedicated Children's Afternoon Tea - one sandwich (ham, cheese or jam) with Teddy crisps, plus cakes and ice-cream - is available for £10.00 per child. For groups of 10 or more, dedicated party terms and conditions apply.
Afternoon tea can also be purchased as a gift voucher via the online shop:
- Afternoon Tea for One - £18.95
- Afternoon Tea for Two - £37.90
- Afternoon Tea & Wine for One - £23.95
- Afternoon Tea & Wine for Two - £47.90
Sunday Lunch and Breakfast
The home-cooked Sunday Lunch is served year-round, with one, two or three courses available. The full Welsh Breakfast is served from 10:00 to 11:30 Wednesday to Sunday, alongside vegetarian breakfast options, toasted teacakes and beans on toast. Booking is essential for Sunday mornings due to the popularity of the lunch service.
If you are planning a celebration, Pant Du offers a range of home-made celebration cakes and even a 'cakeage' policy for those who wish to bring their own cake in during café hours. Full cakeage terms, party terms and deposit terms and conditions are available to read.
Guided Tours and Tastings
The signature visitor experience at Pant Du is the Guided Tour & Tasting, personally hosted by Richard Huws. Tours run on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30am, from the end of June through to September, and last approximately 60 minutes.
Tour pricing:
- Adults: £15.00 (includes tasting)
- Under 18s: £7.00
- Infants: free
The tour begins at Pant Du Café with the history of the estate, then moves on foot into the orchard to learn about the apple varieties, and continues into the vineyard to discuss the challenges of growing vines in North Wales. The visit finishes back at the café with a tasting of Pant Du produce. Advance booking is essential and can be made online via the Pant Du Resos booking system or by calling 01286 881819. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on the tour (and on the patio, though not inside the café building). The team recommends combining the tour with a light lunch at the café.
Children, Dogs and Accessibility
Pant Du is a relaxed, family-friendly destination. A new outdoor children's play area, featuring a slide, timber bridge, tyres, climbing net, tractor and more, was installed with the help of Creative Play, and offers hours of entertainment for younger visitors. Dogs are welcome on the patio and in the garden on a lead, and can also join guests on the guided tour, but are not permitted inside the café building.
For visitors arriving by electric car, Pant Du also offers three Tesla charging points at a £10 fee per charge.
Visiting Pant Du: Practical Information
Opening hours
- Café and shop: Wednesday to Sunday, 10:00 - 16:30 (closed Monday and Tuesday).
- Office: closed Monday and Tuesday.
- Christmas 2026: the shop will be open on Wednesday 23 December 2026 until 1pm. The kitchen closes on 21 December 2026 and re-opens on Wednesday 6 January 2027.
Contact
- Address: Ffordd Y Sir, Penygroes, Caernarfon, Gwynedd, LL54 6HE
- Phone: 01286 881819
- Email: post@pantdu.co.uk
Getting there
Pant Du is just one mile from the A487 Caernarfon - Porthmadog road on the edge of Penygroes. Follow the brown tourist signs. The estate is on the popular 50- and 75-mile cycling loop routes (Ffordd Brailsford) and a short detour off the Lon Eifion walking and cycling route between Caernarfon and Bryncir.
The Pant Du Shop and Gift Vouchers
All Pant Du wines, ciders, juices and honey can be ordered nationwide via the Pant Du Online Shop. The online shop also stocks slate coasters (£3.95) engraved with the Pant Du logo and made from 500-million-year-old Welsh slate, and a small selection of Welsh gins such as the Afallon Môn Dry Gin (70cl, 42% ABV, £38.00) from Anglesey.
For visitors who would rather choose their own gift, Pant Du offers gift vouchers in £5, £10, £20 and £50 denominations, redeemable in the café, bar and shop and towards the cost of a guided tour. Vouchers are valid for 12 months and can be sent by post or collected in person via Click & Collect. Delivery is via Royal Mail (£1.20 for vouchers) or a courier service (£12.00 for produce and gift packs).
News, Awards and Community
Pant Du has won a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice award, has been featured in poems by Gwyn Thomas and Jan Morris, and was the first vineyard and orchard in Wales to be powered by solar energy. The Pant Du beekeeping project, launched in 2017, is part of a wider effort to increase pollination across the orchard - vital work for cider and apple production. Regular updates from the team include harvest reports (such as the 2023 Rondo harvest, pressed off-site at Three Choirs in Newent, Gloucestershire), Christmas opening details and seasonal menu launches.
The team also supports the wider local food economy through the café menu, partners with Welsh producers, and offers a private room hire service for launches, conferences and small group meetings.
Why Pant Du is Worth a Visit
Whether you arrive for a guided tour and tasting, a long Sunday lunch overlooking the vineyard, an afternoon tea on the patio, or simply to pick up a bottle of Pant Du sparkling wine from the shop, the combination of dramatic Snowdonia scenery, traditional Welsh hospitality and award-winning produce makes Pant Du a stand-out destination on any North Wales itinerary. Plan ahead, book a table, and leave time to walk off lunch in the orchard.