White Castle Vineyard: Award-Winning Welsh Wines from the Heart of Monmouthshire
White Castle Vineyard: A Family Dream Crafted from Welsh Soil
Tucked into the rolling countryside near Abergavenny in Monmouthshire, White Castle Vineyard is one of the most talked-about family-run vineyards in Wales. Established by Robb and Nicola Merchant, the estate has grown from a south-facing paddock into a 13,500-vine operation complete with a brand-new on-site winery, cellar door, and a beautifully restored 16th-century barn. Visitors who book a vineyard tour are warmly received by the owners themselves, whose story has become woven into every bottle of estate-grown Welsh wine.
The philosophy at White Castle is straightforward: sustainable viticulture, distinctive terroir, and uncompromising quality. The wines have been recognised at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the International Wine Challenge, and the Welsh Vineyards Association competition, and Robb Merchant received a King's Birthday Honours distinction for services to viticulture. Whether you arrive for a tasting, a tour, or one of the popular summer supper clubs, the experience is rooted in the same values the couple brought to the land in 2009.
The Story of the Vineyard
Robb and Nicola's journey into wine began in 1993, when they purchased a 12-acre smallholding at Llanvetherine and converted an old milking parlour into their family home. The south-facing slope of the land inspired Nicola's dream of owning a vineyard. Soil tests were carried out, vines were ordered, and in May 2009 the first 4,000 vines went into the ground, marking the formal birth of White Castle Vineyard.
Ten years later, in May 2019, the couple expanded the vineyard by planting a further 2,000 vines, including Wales's first Cabernet Franc vines. White Castle now counts 13,500 vines, all tended by hand by Robb and Nicola, who both trained formally at Plumpton College in East Sussex. In 2024 the project reached its most ambitious milestone yet: the opening of Y Gwindy, the estate's own winery, allowing the team to oversee every step of production from grape to glass.
Sustainable Viticulture from the Ground Up
Sustainability is at the heart of the operation. Grape varieties are chosen to suit the unique microclimate of the site, and every vineyard task is planned to protect the soil and surrounding wildlife. Estate-grown fruit, careful canopy management, and minimal intervention winemaking define the house style. The team's mission is to produce high-quality Welsh wines that authentically reflect the land, and the cellar door experience is designed to share that story with visitors.
The Croft Barn: A 16th-Century Welsh Treasure
Standing at the foot of the vineyard is the Croft Barn, a Grade II* listed cruck-truss barn dating from the sixteenth century. Once at risk of being lost, the barn was saved through a community-led restoration supported by Cadw grant funding and the Village Alive Trust. Today it is available as a venue for weddings, private dining, and special events, offering a striking backdrop of ancient timber and craftsmanship against the vines. Enquiries about Croft Barn hire can be made by contacting the vineyard directly.
The Wines of White Castle Vineyard
The current release list showcases seven estate-grown wines, spanning sparkling, white, red, and fortified styles. Each wine is shaped by the Welsh climate and the careful winemaking of Robb and Nicola, with the new Y Gwindy winery now producing the still wines on site. Tasting notes for each cuvée are available from the White Castle wine shop.
Sparkling Wines
- Cabernet Franc Sparkling Rosé 2023 - £38.11. A first for White Castle, for Wales, and for the UK, this elegant traditional-method sparkling rosé is made from hand-harvested Cabernet Franc grapes with 18 months on lees. Ripe wild forest berries, a clean crisp profile, and a luxurious creamy mousse. Released August 2025, 11% ABV.
- Sparkling White 2022 - £38.11. A blend of Phoenix and Seyval Blanc, made by the méthode champenoise with 28 months on lees. Pale straw with elderflower aromas, vibrant green apple and citrus, and a clean mineral finish. Released August 2025, 11% ABV.
White Wines
- Siegerrebe 2025 - £26.50. A dry white with light straw hues, layered aromas of peach, orange blossom and nectarine, and a long soft spicy finish of ripe lychee. Released 2 April 2026, 12.5% ABV.
- Gwin gwyn 2025 - £26.40. A dry and delicate Phoenix, pale straw with floral elderflower notes, apple and pear on the palate. Released 2 April 2026, 11% ABV.
Red Wines
- Pinot Noir Précoce 2023 - £37.11. A light, ruby red with vanilla and red fruit aromas and a bold palate of blackberry, blueberry and clove. Hand-harvested in September 2023 and aged in oak barrels.
- Harry Rondo 2023 - £28.11. A classic medium-bodied red from Rondo grapes, deep ruby in colour with dark berry and cedarwood aromas, hints of chocolate and liquorice on the palate. Released 7 December 2024, 11% ABV.
Fortified Wine
- Fortified Wine 2021 - £28.18. Deep ruby Regent, fragrant brambly aromas and a rich, round, smooth palate. Aged in oak barrels, 19% ABV. Perfect with cheese, dessert, or as an after-dinner pour.
Vineyard Tours and Wine Tasting
White Castle Vineyard offers three core experiences, all personally hosted by Robb or Nicola. Visitors can purchase Vineyard Tour Vouchers from £20 to £48 to gift or to use directly.
Conducted Wine Tasting
No booking is required for the relaxed cellar-door tasting, available Friday, Saturday and Sunday (including Bank Holidays) from 10:00am until 5:00pm. Guests taste four of the quality Welsh still wines at their leisure.
Conducted Vineyard & Winery Tour
The signature tour takes place at 11:30am and 3:00pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays (including Bank Holidays), with booking advised. The experience covers the vineyard, the Y Gwindy winery, and finishes with a tasting of four quality Welsh wines. Visitors should allow approximately 2.5 hours for the full experience.
Deluxe Vineyard & Winery Tour
The Deluxe Tour is an upgrade for serious wine lovers, held at 3pm on the last Friday of each month from April to September. It includes a glass of sparkling wine on arrival and a tasting of six quality Welsh wines, with in-depth discussion of the winemaking process.
Adopt a Vine Experience
The Adopt a Vine gift scheme is one of the most distinctive offerings among UK vineyards. Priced from £60 to £65, the package includes a personalised twelve-month certificate, a plaque bearing the chosen name on a chosen vine, a conducted tour for one, tasting of four wines, an invitation to handpick the grapes at harvest, and a bottle of wine made from the adopted variety. It is positioned as a memorable gift for wine lovers and a way to feel personally invested in the vineyard's story.
Food and Platters at the Cellar Door
Visitors can pair their tasting or tour with local Welsh food, enjoyed in the cellar door or on the terrace with views across the vineyard. Platters are priced from £40 to £45 and include:
- Cheese Platter - four artisan Welsh cheeses with local chutney, rocket and sourdough.
- Artisan Meat Platter - cured and smoked chicken, duck and ham, with local preserve, rocket and sourdough.
- Artisan Charcuterie - traditionally cured charcuterie with a local artisan preserve, rocket and sourdough.
All platter vouchers incur an additional £4 postage charge for UK Mainland.
Summer Supper Clubs
From May through September, White Castle Vineyard runs a series of Summer Supper Clubs, each themed around a different cuisine and paired with the estate's wines. The 2026 programme marks the latest edition of these increasingly popular evenings, with tickets priced from £35 to £45. Guests arrive at 6:30pm for 7:00pm dining, with seating available at mixed tables of up to eight.
- Italian Evening - bruschetta, porchetta, salads, focaccia, garlic and rosemary potatoes, plus a vegetarian option, tiramisu and a cheese board.
- Welsh Wine Week Celebration - canapés, spit-roasted Welsh lamb with garlic, rosemary and salsa verde, summer vegetables, roasted new potatoes, a vegetarian option, desserts and a cheese board.
- Live Fire Kitchen - fire-roasted meats and vegetables, a vegetarian option, and strawberry pavlova with a cheese board.
- Mediterranean Live Fire Kitchen - Trealy Farm charcuterie boards, seafood, chicken, slow-cooked and fire-roasted meats, salads, a vegetarian option, dessert and a cheese board.
- Tapas - chicken and chorizo paella, seafood paella, vegetarian option, crème Catalan and a cheese board.
Tickets for the Summer Supper Clubs can be purchased directly from the vineyard, and each event is ticketed as a single evening rather than a standing booking.
Vouchers and Gift Ideas
The vineyard's online shop stocks gift vouchers suitable for any occasion, priced from £25 to £100. These can be redeemed against tours, tastings, platters, wine purchases, or supper club tickets, in person at the cellar door or by phone on 01873 821443. Vouchers are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash, but they remain valid for twelve months from purchase.
Visit White Castle Vineyard
The cellar door is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday (including Bank Holidays) from 10:00am to 5:00pm at The Croft Farm, Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, NP7 8RA. What3Words reference: perform.permit.visits. Day visitors can drop in for wine tasting, vineyard and winery tours, or to walk the grounds and enjoy the views; tour bookings are advised and can be made by booking online or by calling 01873 821443.
For general enquiries, the team can be reached on info@whitecastlevineyard.com or by phone on 07810 563084. Updates on harvest, awards and forthcoming events appear in the vineyard news feed, and visitors are encouraged to follow the team on Facebook, X (Twitter) and Instagram for the latest releases.
Why White Castle Vineyard is Worth Knowing
Few Welsh vineyards combine the same depth of personal history, on-site production and visitor experience as White Castle. The estate's commitment to estate-grown fruit, its own winery, and its status as one of the UK's first producers of Cabernet Franc sparkling rosé underline the calibre of the project. For anyone exploring Welsh wine, the vineyard offers a complete introduction: a working farm, a winery, a heritage barn, and a family committed to sharing it all.