Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire
Focus Site Project: Optimising vine vigour through winter pruning of grapevines
Project aims:
- White Castle vineyard is a 5 acre vineyard near Llanvetherine, Abergavenny, owned and run by Robb and Nicola Merchant
- 4,000 vines were planted in May 2009 on a south facing, gently sloping field with the varieties, Pinot Noir, Regent, Rondo, Seyval Blanc and and Pheonix together with a further 800 Siegerrebe vines in May 2010
- The first harvest took place in October 2011 and in recent years, wines produced from grapes grown at the site have won several awards including a Gold Award for the 2016 Best White Wine at the Welsh Vineyard Awards
- Grapes are currently processed at the winery of the Three Choirs Vineyard at Newent, Gloucestershire, but investigations are being carried out regarding the building of a winery at White Castle
- Robb Merchant is Chairman of the rapidly increasing membership of the Welsh Wine Association which now numbers 20 vineyards all over Wales