WINEMAKERS from Denbighshire were crowned the winners of a regional award at the WineGB Awards.

The debut sparkling white wine from Vale Vineyard - Gwinllan y Dyffryn was awarded the regional award for Wales.

Showcasing one of the world’s most exciting wine regions, WineGB Awards is a major competition for Great Britain’s wine producers. 

The 2024 judging took place in June where a panel of judges scrutinised 381 different wines from vineyards across England and Wales.

Wines made in thirteen different counties were awarded trophies at the awards ceremony, held at the Drapers’ Hall in London.

The vineyard in the Vale of Clwyd was first planted by Gwen and Rhys Davies in 2019. 

“After a lot of research we decided to take the plunge and planted 8,000 vines across five acres of south-west facing land - we have been on a steep learning journey ever since,” says Gwen.

The grapes which made this wine were harvested back in 2021, explains Gwen. 

The sparkling white wine is made traditionally and has 24 months less ageing, hence the wait for the wine to be released earlier this summer. 

This was the vineyard’s first sparkling white wine, with the owners “gobsmacked” to win the award.

“A huge amount of work has been invested in establishing the vineyard and ensuring we can produce top quality grapes, therefore the recognition for our wines at these awards was a huge achievement,” Rhys said.

“There was tough competition as there are now several vineyards across Wales who are producing top quality wines.”

The vineyard grows a range of grape varieties which produce still white, rosé and red wines, with sparkling white and rosé wines now available and already proving popular.