At their September meeting the Wine Appreciation Group of Cowbridge U3A, known as the Tuesday Tipplers, tasted four wines made from grapes grown in Welsh vineyards.

There are now 53 vineyards in Wales, a number which is increasing all the time.

However, there are currently very few wineries in Wales where the grapes are processed into wine and bottled so the bulk of Welsh wine is actually made across the border in England.

To qualify as a Welsh wine the wine must be made from at least 85% grapes grown in Wales.

The winery location is not currently relevant. Efforts though are being made to establish more wineries in Wales to produce more wine grown and processed in Wales.

To start the evening group tasted Montgomery Sparkling White Seyval Blanc 2021 from the Montgomery Vineyard located of course in Montgomery.

This wine is produced by Halfpenny Green Winery in Staffordshire. This was followed by a still white wine, Yr Afanc 2022, from The Dell Vineyard situated in Raglan, Monmouthshire.

The Afanc is a mythical beast who slinks in the depths of a Welsh mountain lake. It is said to prey upon any foolish enough to fall into its pristine waters.

This wine is produced by Three Choirs Winery, Newent, Gloucestershire as is the majority of Welsh wine currently.

Next the group was privileged to be able to taste the first two bottles sold of a new Welsh wine from St Hilary Vineyard in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The wine was St Hilary Vineyard Rosé 2023, a blend of Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier grapes planted in 2021 and harvested last year.

This wine is produced by Mountain People Wine in Tintern, Monmouthshire so can be said to be a true Welsh wine.

The final wine was a red from White Castle Vineyard in Llanvetherine near Abergavenny.

The deep red wine is called Harry Rondo 2022 named after the owners' grandson Harry and the Rondo grape. The wine is produced by Three Choirs.

The verdict was an excellent Welsh wine experience