Tair Gafr Wines

Tucked into a quiet south-facing field in the hamlet of Treguff, in the Vale of Glamorgan, Tair Gafr Wines is one of the most charming small vineyards in South Wales. Run by two full-time teachers who planted, pruned and trained every vine themselves, this organically certified estate pairs low-intervention natural winemaking with a sprawling menagerie of alpacas, pygmy goats and Ouessant mini sheep. The result is a working farm-vineyard that feels less like a commercial wine business and more like a joyful family project rooted in music, biodiversity and Welsh culture.

The Story Behind Tair Gafr Wines

Tair Gafr Wines was established in 2019 on a stretch of gently sloping Welsh farmland in Treguff, near Cowbridge. The site was chosen because of its ideal aspect and free-draining soil - a south-facing field with just enough relief to drain cold air away from the vines. In the three years that followed, the team subsoiled, ploughed and harrowed the ground before planting 3,000 vines with precision GPS accuracy and erecting a galvanised trellis network to support the young plants as they grew.

The founders describe the early years as a "steep learning curve", balancing the demands of full-time teaching in local schools with the practical realities of viticulture. Almost every vineyard task in the establishment phase - from planting to training - was carried out by hand.

Where the name comes from

The vineyard's name is taken directly from the opening line of a traditional Welsh folk song, Cyfri'r Geifr ("Counting the Goats"), taught in primary schools:

"Oes gafr eto? Oes heb ei godro? Ar y creigiau geirwon mae'r hen afr yn crwydro."

The chorus of the song celebrates goats of different colours - a red one (gafr goch), a white one (gafr wen) and a pink one (gafr binc). Three colours of goat, three colours of wine - and that is exactly how Tair Gafr Wines' early range reads on the shelf. Each of the wines you can buy today takes its name from one of these folk-song goats.

The Vineyard and Its Approach to Nature

From the start, Tair Gafr Wines has been built around one clear principle: sustainability. The team want the land to remain "healthy and flourishing 100 years from now", and they believe that is only possible if vineyard management and nature are allowed to support each other. To that end the vineyard is organically certified with the Soil Association.

• No synthetic pesticides or fertilisers are used anywhere on the site.
• All vineyard sprays are homemade, brewed from nettles, willow and horsetail harvested in and around the vineyard.
• The resident alpacas, goats and sheep are given specific jobs to minimise the use of machinery between the rows.
• The whole farm is alive with native wildflowers, pollinators and insects - the visible reward of this approach.

This combination of organic certification, home-made plant teas and grazing animals does more than protect biodiversity. It is also what gives the wines their strong sense of terroir: every bottle is a snapshot of the soil, climate and ecosystem of this particular corner of the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Wines

Tair Gafr Wines produces a small, deliberately focused range of natural wines. All of the grapes are grown with zero synthetic chemical intervention, and the winemaking is handled by David Morris of Mountain People Wine, a respected producer known for minimal-intervention techniques. Native yeasts from the grape skins are used to ferment the must, no finings are added, and the wines are gravity-cleared before bottling. The result is a cellar-door range of three colours, all named after the goats in the Welsh counting song.

2022 Oes Gafr Eto - Rosé (£SOLD OUT)

The very first vintage, made from a blend of Orion and Regent grapes. "Oes Gafr Eto" (pronounced "Oys Gavr Ehto") takes its name from the opening line of Cyfri'r Geifr. The 2022 growing season was extraordinarily challenging - a brutal drought hit the young vines and slashed yields, making this a very rare bottling indeed.

• Whole-bunch carbonic maceration; native yeast fermentation; nine days on the skins for colour extraction.
• Aging in stainless steel with malolactic fermentation, gravity-cleared without finings.
• Tasting notes: medium-depth pink; red currant and honey on the nose with a hint of lemon zest; flavours of sour cherry, delicate nectarine and blackcurrant.
• Pairings: summer salads, grilled chicken, wild mushroom risotto.
• Status: this vintage has now sold out.

2023 Gafr Binc - Rosé (£20.00, cellar-door collection)

The 2023 rosé - Gafr Binc ("Gavr Bink") - is also a Regent-Orion blend, but 2023 was a different story. Two-thirds of the Orion grapes were hit by botrytis following a wet, windy summer and a sudden outbreak of spotted wing drosophila fruit fly, so the team made the decision to vinify what survived as a rosé. The Regent, fortunately, was largely unscathed.

• Whole-bunch carbonic maceration; nine days on skins for partial colour and tannin extraction.
• Stainless-steel ferment and aging with malolactic fermentation; no finings.
• Tasting notes: medium salmon hue; aromas of strawberry, green apple and lemon balm; flavours of nearly ripe raspberries, green apple and a subtle pink-peppercorn spice on a medium finish.
• Pairings: goats' cheese salad, salmon in a light cream sauce.
• Available from the cellar-door shop for £20.

2023 Gafr Goch - Red (£20.00)

The estate's only red, "Gafr Goch" ("Gavr Goch" - the ch is pronounced as in Bach), is a single-varietal Regent. 2023 produced the biggest Regent yield to date thanks to a hot, sunny spring that completed pollination in just two weeks, despite the wet and windy summer that followed.

• Whole-bunch carbonic maceration; 30 days on skins for maximum colour and tannin extraction.
• Aged in oak barrel with malolactic fermentation; gravity-cleared, no finings.
• Tasting notes: deep ruby; aromas of red plum, basil and clove; flavours of red cherries, summer berries and cracked black pepper; low, round tannins; "like a Pinot Noir but with more impact and juiciness".
• Pairings: high-cocoa dark chocolate, chargrilled fish, charcuterie boards.
• Available from the shop for £20.

2024 Gafr Wen - White (£20.00, cellar-door collection)

The 2024 vintage introduced the estate's first white, "Gafr Wen" ("Gavr Wen"), made entirely from Orion. It was a tricky year: wet and windy throughout, poor fruit set after a cold spring, and no Regent was harvested at all because it never ripened sufficiently.

• Direct-press whole-bunch fermentation; no skin contact at all.
• Stainless-steel fermentation with native yeasts, then transferred to a second-use Chardonnay barrel for maturing and malolactic fermentation.
• Tasting notes: medium straw-yellow; aromas of lemon, asparagus and a peppercorn base note; flavours of grapefruit, gooseberries and lemon balm - a crisp, balanced white that will gain complexity with age.
• Pairings: lightly spiced aromatic curries, prosciutto and other cured meats, charcuterie.
• Available from the cellar-door shop for £20.

Each of these wines is also available to taste in person at the vineyard's Tour and Tasting afternoons, alongside the chance to meet the animals and pick up bottles to take home.

Animal Experiences at Tair Gafr

Animals are not window dressing at Tair Gafr Wines - they are working members of the vineyard team. The same regenerative, low-mechanisation philosophy that shapes the winemaking also drives the menagerie: every animal has a job, the welfare of the animals is the priority, and visitors are warmly welcomed to come and meet them in the vineyard where they live.

Ouessant Mini Sheep Walks

The Ouessant sheep (sometimes called Brittany dwarf sheep) are among the smallest sheep in the world, and the Treguff flock loves a gentle stroll through the rows. Because they don't cover much ground, this walk is suited to younger children, older children and adults alike.

• Adults and children aged 13+: £10.
• Children aged 7 - 12: £7.50.
• Children under 7: £5.
• Under 3s: free.

Children under five will need an accompanying adult or older child to lead their sheep.

Alpaca Walks

Two handsome boys - Chewie and Oreo - lead the alpaca walks through the vineyard. Be warned, they cover quite a bit of ground, so this experience is not recommended for under-fives.

• Adults and children aged 13+: £15.
• Children under 13: £7.50.

Because alpacas are deceptively strong, every child under 13 needs an accompanying adult or older child on the halter with them.

Pygmy Goat Walks

The pygmy goat walk is the most relaxed of the three. Some visitors walk them through the vineyard; others prefer to sit with them and let the goats come and go. There's plenty of room for everyone in between.

• Adults and children aged 13+: £10.
• Children aged 7 - 12: £7.50.

This walk is not recommended for under-sevens.

If you can't decide between animals, the team are happy to put together a package deal.

Meet the Herd

The wider family of animals on the farm includes:

• Marble - the matriarch of the alpaca herd, mother to Luna and Chewie, and the herd's self-appointed security chief.
• Blizzard - a striking blue-eyed girl, the most watchful of the group, and Oreo's mum.
• Luna - the one-blue-one-brown-eyed character who loves her food and is often seen prancing around on sunny days.
• Merlin - the quiet leader of the goat herd; makes the big decisions but is a big softie.
• Oz - the most mischievous of the goats and very food-motivated.
• Potter - the youngest goat, easily led astray by Oz.

Visitor reviews consistently mention the welfare of the animals first: "You can see that the animals are well looked after and happy" and "It's clear from the beginning the animals' best interests are at the heart of what they do here."

Adoption Packages

Looking for a gift for a wine lover, an animal lover, or both? Tair Gafr Wines runs two popular adoption packages.

Adopt a Vine - £80

The Adopt a Vine package is designed as a year-long, hands-on relationship with one named vine in the Treguff vineyard. Each package is personalised and educational.

• A personalised adoption certificate.
• A Welsh slate plaque hung on your vine.
• A vineyard experience day for you and a guest.
• Two tickets to a Tour and Tasting afternoon.
• Two reserved places on a Harvest Experience day.
• Two bottles of Tair Gafr wine.
• 10% off all wine and animal experiences for one year.

Adopt an Animal - £15

For the animal lover in your life, the Adopt an Animal package lets you sponsor one of the alpacas, pygmy goats or Ouessant sheep. Each package includes:

• Your choice of a magnet or keyring.
• A personalised adoption certificate.
• A sample of alpaca fibre or sheep wool from your chosen animal.
• A printed picture of your sponsored animal.
• A mixed-fibre alpaca dryer ball.
• Use of the hireable picnic table (up to six people) for an hour, so you can come and see your animal in person.

Sponsoring an animal or vine gives no ownership over the animal or vine. Postage applies if you cannot collect in person. The picnic table can be reserved for an hour, but no food or drink is provided, only the use of the picnic area.

Wool and Fibre Products

The animals are also the source of a small range of wool and fibre products, made on the farm and available to buy online.

Alpaca Dryer Balls - from £4

The Alpaca Dryer Balls are made from 100% alpaca fibre harvested from Tair Gafr's own herd. Place them in your tumble dryer to:

• Aerate your laundry, reducing drying time and saving electricity.
• Act as a natural fabric softener.
• Reduce pilling on knitwear and other garments.

Two varieties are available:

• Mixed-fibre alpaca balls - £4 each, or 4 for £14.
• Sheep-face / alpaca-silhouette / heart-shaped balls - £6 each, or 4 for £20.

Sheep Wool and Alpaca Fibre Rugs - from £110

The team also produces thick sheep-wool rugs, made from a range of carded Welsh sheep wool from the farm's own flock. The standard rug measures roughly 63 × 58 cm and costs £110. Rugs can be made to order in specific sizes, colour combinations, or fibre mixes.

Events and Tours at the Vineyard

Tair Gafr Wines runs a small but well-loved programme of in-person events, with a regularly updated calendar.

Tour and Tasting - £12.50 per ticket

The flagship Tour and Tasting experience is a two-hour guided walk through the vineyard, ending with a tasting of Tair Gafr's three current wines. The next listed date is:

• Saturday 29 August 2026, 14:00 - 16:00, Treguff Farm, Cowbridge CF71 7UE.

The tour commences at 14:15, when everyone has arrived. Along the way you will learn about organic viticulture, natural winemaking and the story of Tair Gafr Wines itself. After the tour, you'll taste the estate's natural wines with the opportunity to buy bottles and other products to take home. You will also meet the alpacas, pygmy goats and Ouessant sheep that live among the vines.

Children are free at this event and don't need a ticket, though the team asks you to let them know how many children are coming. Parking is in an adjacent field, with a short 200-metre walk to the vineyard. Tickets cost £12.50 each.

Harvest Experience - Free, expression of interest

The vineyard's biggest day of the year is the annual harvest. The Harvest Experience brings together volunteers for a full day of grape picking in the vineyard, after which everyone shares in the team's famous cawl (a traditional Welsh soup) and Welsh cakes, along with a special first tasting of the newest wine.

Harvest dates are not fixed in advance - the team waits until just before the event to confirm exactly when the grapes are at their optimum ripeness. Anyone wishing to attend can RSVP for the Harvest Experience to join the harvest mailing list and will be sent the date and a follow-up ticket link once it has been set. The harvest is a free event, though visitors are asked to book a ticket once dates are confirmed so the team can manage numbers and catering.

Visiting Tair Gafr Wines

The vineyard is at Treguff Farm, Cowbridge CF71 7UE, in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. You can find the gate using the what3words reference from.bless.crows.

Visitors can:

• Come along on a Tour and Tasting afternoon (booking required).
• Book an alpaca, pygmy goat or mini sheep walk (year-round, by arrangement).
• Reserve the picnic table when adopting an animal, to spend an hour on site.
• Buy wine and gift packages through the online shop, with collection available from the cellar door.
• Pick up mixed-fibre alpaca dryer balls and order made-to-measure sheep wool rugs.

Tair Gafr Wines is active on Instagram and Facebook.

Why Tair Gafr Wines Stands Out

There are now dozens of vineyards scattered across Wales, but very few offer what Tair Gafr does in one visit. In a single afternoon you can:

• Learn about organic viticulture on a vineyard that has been Soil Association certified since planting.
• Taste three very different, very low-intervention wines - a Regent-Orion rosé, a Regent red and an Orion white - each named after the goats in a traditional Welsh folk song.
• Meet a working herd of alpacas, pygmy goats and Ouessant mini sheep whose presence is part of the vineyard's regenerative approach.
• Take home laundry balls or a sheep-wool rug made from fibre harvested on the farm.

It is rare to find a vineyard so thoroughly woven into the biology of its site, and even rarer to find one where the wine is so clearly a by-product of an integrated farm. The wines are small-batch and often extremely limited - the 2022 vintage of Oes Gafr Eto has already sold out - so planning ahead, both for tastings and for bottles, is wise.

If you're looking for a memorable afternoon in the Vale of Glamorgan that combines natural wine, Welsh culture and a herd of very happy animals, Tair Gafr Wines is hard to beat.