Gwinllan Llaethliw Vineyard

While on a short break recently in Llandeilo I did the usual of picking up stock on the way back. A trip to a vineyard is always welcome and Llaethliw is no exception. In fact, this one is located right by a little chapel that has very special significance for Dylan.

A 19^th Century Mission
Just above the farm sits Neuaddlwyd Congregational Church which has a connection with Madagascar where Dylan’s great-grandparents were missionaries. Two of the first Welsh missionaries set off from this unassuming little chapel at the beginning of the 19^th Century with the intention of helping to alleviate the suffering and poverty.

Llaethliw Vineyard
The chapel overlooks the vines planted by Richard and Siw in this peaceful location and I always stop to have a look at the information board and think how brave they were. Dylan’s great-grandfather is buried in Madagascar.

Welsh Wines
We first came here a long time before the vineyard was established but now it’s a pleasure to see this expanding business by a lovely Welsh family. They produce the whole range of wines: white, red, rosé and sparkling.

A Different Kind of Mission
Maybe this little spot in Wales is a spark for something very different now but it is certainly having an impact as the Welsh Wine movement continues to gain momentum. We are selling more than ever with a huge amount of interest being shown. We’re delighted to sell quality Welsh wines and I love the idea that this is a viable use of agricultural land in Wales.

Wales against the World?
Welsh vineyards have a lot to offer – in a comparative blind tasting event we conducted recently for over 60 people, Welsh wines were surprised the audience and compared very favourably to the Italian, French, Spanish and Austrian counterparts. The quality was there, and they offer something different. Have a look at our website and give them a try!

Llinos

Sesiwn Fawr, Dolgellau

A Voluntary Affair

Organised by volunteers since 1992, this great music festival is loved for its intimate feel created by a real patchwork of events hosted in multiple venues around the town. All within easy walking distance in the centre of town.  2022 has a great line-up, just have a look on https://sesiwnfawr.cymru/lein-yp/

Come and have a Drink

We may not be operating as a café now, but you can still pop in for coffee or a glass of wine. There are plenty of events in the parking area a few steps away from us in front of the Unicorn. Come and rest in one of our lovely upstairs rooms.

A Sesiwn Package

We have created a handy package of some of our favourite snacks and drinks for you to enjoy during the weekend, including our festival-convenient cans of wine! Pop in for one or order online. We look forward to seeing you – iechyd da Sesiwn Fawr and a big thank you to the organisers!

Gŵyl Wirfoddol

Ers 1992, bron iawn pob blwyddyn, mae criw Sesiwn Fawr wedi rhoi gwledd o gerdd i Ddolgellau fwynhau. Er iddo newid dipyn ers y dyddiau cynnar, mae’r nod o gael cerddoriaeth o safon i’r gynulleidfa yn dal i fod.

Dewch am ddiod

Nid oed bwyd ar gael gennym erbyn hyn ond galwch i weld y siop newydd wedd. Gallwch gael diod a gorffwys yn un o’n stafelloedd bach clud neu fwynhau gwydraid wrth wylio’r bandiau.

Pecyn Sesiwn

Mae bocs o ddiodydd a snaciau dwi’n siŵr y byddwch yn mwynhau yn ystod y penwythnos gan gynnwys caniau o win – cyfleus iawn i ŵyl. Galwch mewn neu archebwch ar-lein. Iechyd da Sesiwn Fawr a diolch i’r trefnwyr!

Llinos

An Evening with Hugh Johnson

“Terri we’ve won!!” I squealed…. then rationally thinking this isn’t going to happen it’s tomorrow night. Next thing I know train tickets are booked and me and my morning study pal, Llin are setting off for our adventure.

Vintners’ Hall

A drive down to Rugby and a train into Euston with time for a bite to eat before entering the “spiritual home of the international wine trade” – the Vintners Hall for  ‘An evening with Hugh Johnson’. What an experience and a joy to absorb all the exquisite historic surroundings, beautiful stained glass, enamel and porcelain wine labels with numerous swans along with other wine fanatics happily chatting with each other.

Pol Roger Champagne Reception

“Please make your way upstairs to the drawing room to enjoy a glass of Pol Roger Champagne.” Not only were we going to listen to some of Hugh’s memories, we were also here to taste 6 of his favourite wines. Apparently, this has been his go-to champers for the past 60 years and can be drunk any time, day or night – and I agree it is refreshing and elegant.

He also shared some of his antics with us. In the 1970’s he asked Bollinger if he could have a cutting of the Pinot Noir – these vines, unusually, had not been affected by phylloxera and they still thrive today in Hugh’s old garden as well of some of his friends’ gardens. How remarkable that the same plant that has been producing champagne for years and years is also in English gardens!

‘The Life and Wines of Hugh Johnson’

Another thing I didn’t know was that Hugh Johnson started writing about wine in Vogue and then he started travelling and would map where the vineyards were. Hence ‘The World Atlas of Wine’ and the well-loved ‘Pocket Wine book’ (if you have the first edition he hasn’t- so check your library). He has sold over 20 million books worldwide and his memoirs ‘The Life and Wines of Hugh Johnson’  I shall be taking for my holiday read in July.

A Wine from Henry VIII’s Time!

Obviously, he has been asked several times what the oldest wine he has drunk is. I must say I was shocked to hear his answer. I will give you a clue: Shakespeare was born in 1564, the wine Hugh tasted was 24 years younger 1540!!! It was over 400 years old. He described it as sweet, distinct and perfumed.  “Only wine can live like that” he said.

Royal Tokaji

An all time fave for myself and I can speak for Llin too is the Royal Tokaji and we enjoyed that very much in the tasting – fresh with a good balance of sweetness and acidity. Hugh did state that these are great wines that have sunk below the radar. Do give them a try.

We were given a copy of his new book “The Life and Wines of Hugh Johnson” – signed. He recognised us as he is a fan of Dyl’s soups (disappointingly no longer available) and loves the Dolgellau area. He was wanting to catch up on the latest news….more about trees than wine as that is his other passion.

An absolute joy and another cherished memory to add to my memoir if I get the chance to write one myself 😊 I think the best way to end this blog is with a quotation from the great man himself:

“Wines are made to be enjoyed with food or on its own, not with other wines as you big up some and bury the rest. The joy of wine lies in the differences”  Hugh Johnson.

Emma

‘CAN’ YOU TAKE THE CHANGE?

It’s Recycling Awareness Week – try a can of wine!

First it was Screw Caps

People are touchy about their wine vessels! Years ago, when screw tops were first introduced the lament for the cork was, well, a lament. Would it affect the wine? What about that nice pop when you uncork? Would wines in screw top bottles be inferior? Then renowned Cloudy Bay wine maker Kevin Judd stuck one to the establishment and converted to Stelvin closures (that’s the posh name for screwcap) for his top-quality wines.

Recyclable

So now we have a new(ish) kid on the block: canned wines. This isn’t so much about avoiding cork taint, it’s about the fantastic recyclable nature of the can. Bearing in mind that about 90% of wines are consumed within an hour of purchase, worrying about ageing the wine should be largely immaterial.

Save Waste

Worrying about the effect on our planet however is another thing. Bottles are big, bulky and heavy which means that the carbon footprint for transportation is high. In addition to this, there is quite a lot of wastage – UK households pour the equivalent of 624 million bottles of wine a year down the drain. I know! Save it for cooking for goodness’ sake!

Quality in a Can

When you think that 2/3 of wine’s carbon footprint comes from packing and transport it seems sensible to reassess the packaging of our day-to-day drinks. Cans are a big part of that solution. Quality? Well, the can will do its job as long as the stuff you put in it in the first place is decent. Just like screw tops, you can get good wine and we have found that several enterprising companies are pushing the boundaries here.

Canned Wine Companies

The Copper Crew are an English company who source excellent award-winning wines for their jolly cans – I enjoyed some of their delicious Chenin Blanc with a mackerel pate supper last night as it happens. Their growing range includes rosé and red. The Liberator is another brand that cans small batches of superior wine from South Africa – also I love the quirky stories and music/cultural references on the cans.

Perfect Picnic Wine

These are fun drinks that don’t sacrifice quality. Cans pack twice as efficiently and are 100% recyclable. They chill in a fraction of the time a bottle does and are great for picnics – no corkscrew panics and you don’t even need a glass! At 250ml a can will serve two small glasses or one large – many bars we supply are going down this route to save wastage.

Special Offer

To encourage any sceptics and reward converts we are offering a 5 mixed can pack delivered for £25 – just in time for sunny picnics and barbeques. Follow the link below and use the code for free delivery. Enjoy!

Llinos

Stepping out of your comfort zone!

Do you always choose the same thing? I think we’re all creatures of habit and like to stick to what we know, even me and there’s always so many to choose from! You can guess that from my Terri’s Favourites! Case, as they’re all aromatic whites and soft fruity reds.

But if you’re feeling adventurous you could always trust us! We’ve put together different mixed wine cases, some with themes in mind and others are just a mixture for those of you who like to try something different.

One of my favourite cases at the moment is the Pennies VS Pounds – White Wine Selection. The thought behind these cases is to try the same grape but at different price points, you be the judge if it’s worth the extra per bottle. I always find it so interesting comparing the same grape but made in a different way or style.

We love changing these mixed cases up as often as we can too. Dylan has recently changed his favourites selection – Dylan’s Italian Favourites! He opted for a case of all his favourite Italian wines, although it was hard for him to narrow down.

“Hard to believe there is anyone that doesn’t love Italian food and combined with fine Italian wine you should be in heaven. A selection of wines that take me back to wonderful meals and wonderful tastings – Dylan.”

So if you fancy letting us take control, take a look at our selection of cases and try something new.

Terri

A Vintage Partnership!

Montgomery Vineyard – Welsh Wines from the highest UK vineyard!

Meeting Woody and his family for the first time is both literally and figuratively a big warm hug! ‘Come ‘ere’ is the non-negotiable command to embrace every time we meet and a hallmark of the warmth and friendliness of this lovely bunch of people at Montgomery Vineyard.

Having bought the land in the 70s his parents used it as a retreat from busy lives until Woody had the vision of producing signature wines of Wales.

As a qualified engineering geologist, he was well placed to assess the land for such a project and they planted the vineyards in 2012, with the first vintage in 2016. They were driven by the desire to produce top quality wines from the start and this is reflected in the stylish labels as well as the excellent quality in the bottle.

Carefully tended to by his father Lenny, they have planted some interesting varieties which do particularly well on this land and in our climate. Rondo, Solaris, Seyval Blanc as well as the more famous Pinot Noir clutch to this sunny south facing slope.

It is especially exciting when they go slightly off piste and have a little experimentation like the ‘Pink’ – a red grape fizz. Mischievous and off dry – I love it either as an aperitif or with barbecues and picnics. I also think this reflects the sense of fun and adventure in this intensively serious wine producer.

The new vintage is now in and it’s as good as ever – you know this when people keep coming back for more. One couple from the U.S. messaged to secure a bottle for their first post Covid visit!

Meanwhile, we can look forward to years of hugs and great wines. Iechyd da Woody & family!

What’s in a wine label?

Llongyfarchiadau i fyfyrwyr Coleg Meirion Dwyfor!

Well, quite a lot actually listening to customers. Time and time again I hear people saying they go for an appealing label and to be honest, faced with a wall of unknown makers in a supermarket there can sometimes be little else to go on as to the quality of some wines. Maybe if they’ve taken care and thought with the label they will have done the same with the content? We can but hope!

We love working with young people so this ties in nicely with an annual competition with the Extended Diploma in Art & Design students from the local college, which is part of the Llandrillo Menai Group. We select a few wines (always one Welsh) and they taste and have a talk about them before being set the challenge of designing a new label. 

What they come up with is always interesting and meaningful. Dylan is the judge so his word is law! However, we all enjoy having a look and thinking about what which one we would choose and the rationale behind the designs. I really loved the White Castle Vineyard label with the castle outline drawn into the wine juice splash. Em and Terri like the representation of the citrus in the Wilde Wilde White Sauvignon Blanc from Austria by Kirnbauer. The winner however was the very pretty label by Glesni Owen who won a bottle for her efforts! 

It’s a tricky one to decide and every year they are interesting and get the idea to convey what is in the bottle. Well done to the talented team.

Llinos

Honda Goldwing in Paris!

An unusual invitation dropped into my inbox a while ago: ‘The British Ambassador Dame Menna Rawlings will have the pleasure to welcome Ms Llinos Rowlands to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Les Voisins and the launch of our new GREAT campaign.’

It didn’t take long to book that Eurostar ticket after a 3 year moratorium on foreign travel. I think the excitement went to my head a bit and that’s my explanation for taking a Honda Goldwing taxi through Paris on my arrival. It shocked staff and family – Terri nearly choked on her rice crispies when she received my video but that just added to the fun.

So I had a splendid visit to the Louvre with my dear friend Elin and lounged casually sipping wine in numerous bars before going to the spectacular residence of the British Ambassador – as you do.

The idea behind Les Voisins is to strengthen the relationship between the two countries and build on links. I like that idea. I had written a short piece for them a few years ago about Saint Cels, our lovely producer in St Chinian.

A friendly Frenchman I chatted to was bemused by the event and with a cheeky smile said ‘Is zis to make Britain great again?’ I like a bit of banter and told him that the sparkling he was enjoying was English (I had clocked the cases of Nyetimber behind the curtains). I saw him a few minutes later quizzing the waiter and being shown a bottle. Mon dieu! He needed another drink after that!

It was a fun affair with food, music, lightshows and… oh no. Singing. The Voisins from Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales were invited to sing in competition. So I had the dubious honour of singing ’Sex Bomb’ of all songs to choose alongside the Ambassador and the handfuI of Welsh people. I don’t like singing in public but thankfully there was a raucous atmosphere by then and no-one heard hopefully!

So an interesting visit and it was just so good to travel to the continent again. I’m proud of our trading relationships with lots of small wine makers around Europe. During such a sad time on our doorstep I am more than willing to take part in our very small way to cement strong and lasting friendships. Cheers to every Voisin around the world!

Honda Goldwing ym Mharis
Daeth gwahoddiad anarferol iawn trwy e-bost tua mis yn ôl. The British Ambassador Dame Menna Rawlings will have the pleasure to welcome Ms Llinos Rowlands to celebrate the Fifth Anniversary of Les Voisins and the launch of our new GREAT campaign.

Wel, don’t mind if I dw! Dyma archebu fy nhocyn Eurostar yn syth! Sioc gyntaf i staff a theulu oedd fy newis o dacsi trwy Baris pan gyrhaeddais – ie, tacsi beic modur! Roedd Sebastien a’i Honda Goldwing yn ffordd gyffroes a chyflym i deithio mewn Dinas. Bron i Terri dagu ar ei swper pan welodd fy fideo.

Pwrpas yr oll beth o ‘voisines’ (cymdogion’ ydi cryfhau’r berthynas rhwng y DU a Ffrainc. Ysgrifennais erthygl iddynt tua 3 mlynedd yn ôl (trwy’r dalentog Elin Roberts) am y berthynas rhwng Gwin Dylanwad ac un o’r gwinllannoedd o Ffrainc rydym yn mewnforio ganddynt. Felly, dwi’n voisine!

Roedd yn barti llawn hwyl, bwyd a dawnsio yn yr adeilad hanesyddol a hardd yng nghanol y ddinas. Ac roedd voisines o’r Alban, Gogledd Iwerddon a Lloegr yn ogystal â Chymru. Yn anffodus roedd gofyn i bob cenedl DU ganu i gynrychioli eu gwlad. O Gymru mae’r Llys Genhades Menna Rawlings yn wreiddiol. Ond doedd dim ond hanner dwsin o Gymru. Y dewis o gan i ni? ‘Sex Bomb’ a goeliwch! Felly cefais y ‘fraint’ o ganu ‘Sex Bomb’ gyda nhw. Diolch i’r nefoedd roedd cynulleidfa swnllyd erbyn hyn a dwi’n wir obeithio bo dim fideo!!

WSET Level 3 – We’re on it!

The train journey down to London on Sunday night was less than inspiring. Floods on the roads to Welshpool, freezing cold in Wolverhampton. It was nice to arrive to a crisp moonlit night in the city and after a quick meal out, a walk down to the Thames we packed ourselves to bed for an early night before a tutored tasting day in Bermondsey.

Everyone laughs when we say it’s work, but seriously, it’s hard going! Emma, Terri and I have enrolled on the Wset Level 3 Wine course and the exams are in April. This day is to prepare for the blind tasting part of the final assessment. Not a drop is drunk. Well, a little may have slipped down in my weaker moments but on the whole, it was a solid 7 hours of learn, taste, analyse, repeat.

Essentially, we were learning how to analyse wine and make a judgement about its quality and main features. Is it balanced? Is it simple or complex? You are required to judge the sweetness, tannin, flavours etc and there are so many factors to consider. It’s a big step up from Level 2 which we sat a few years ago.

We like to keep developing professionally and it’s a brilliant challenge. It fires you up about the subject even more and keeps the work interesting for everyone. The result, we hope, is a confident team who are able to guide and advise confidently to the wine that suits you and to encourage customers to experiment if they want to. Part of the fun of the shop is to help people discover new styles or grapes.

The wine world is a complex and often tough one for the winemakers with their battle against weather and disease and the myriad of decisions they have to make from the planting of the vine to the bottling: every step affecting the style, quality and price. A course like this educates us but also breeds enormous respect for what they do. Call in and we’ll tell you about it!

Roedd taith lawr i Lundain ar Nos Sul ddim yn ddelfrydol yn ystod y Mis Bach. Ar ôl glaw ar y ffordd i Trallwng a rhewi o oer yn Wolverhampton braf oedd cyrraedd i noson glir a braf yn y ddinas. Dro bach ar ôl cinio i weld Tower Bridge a Thŵr Llundain wedi’u goleuo’n brydferth a gwely cynnar i baratoi am gwrs blasu gwin yn Bermondsey.

Peidiwch â chwerthin pan dwi’n dweud fod hyn yn waith caled! Mae Emma, Terri a fi ar gwrs Lefel 3 Gwin ac angen paratoi at arholiadau ym Mis Ebrill. Er mwyn paratoi at y darn blasu o’r arholiad, mae’r diwrnod yma. Dim tropyn yn cael ei yfed. Wel, efallai lithrodd rhyw ychydig lawr fy ngwddf ambell dro. Ond dim llawer, oherwydd o 9yb tan 5yh roedd angen canolbwyntio’n llwyr. Dysgu, trafod, blasu, dadansoddi. Drosodd a drosodd.

Dysgu sut i feirniadu safon gwin ydi’r amcan. Ydi hwn yn win wedi’u gynhyrchu’n dda? Oes balans rhwng ffrwyth ac asid? Ydi o’n syml neu gymhleth? Mae gymaint o ffactorau i’w hystyried ond wanwyl oedden ni’n tair wedi dysgu gymaint! Mae hwn yn gam mawr o’r Lefel 2 rhai blynyddoedd yn ôl

Dechrau Ebrill byddwn yn ôl lawr yn yr adeilad Wset (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) i sefyll un arholiad blasu ac un ysgrifenedig ar ôl 3 mis o astudio ar lein. Mae’r buddsoddiad yma’n fawr i ni gyd. 10 awr yr wythnos ychwanegol o astudio. Mae Emma a minnau’n cwrdd am 8.30 y bore i geisio dal y blaen!

Hoffwn feddwl am waith yn Dylanwad fel proffesiwn. Felly mae datblygiad proffesiynol yn hanfodol. I gadw aelodau staff gwerthfawr rhaid buddsoddi a chadw’r gwaith yn ddiddorol – a heriol! Y canlyniad gobeithio yw tîm sy’n hyderus i arwain cwsmeriaid i brynu beth maent yn hoffi ac i fentro i arbrofi gyda gwin.

Mae’n fyd cymhleth a chaled i’r cynhyrchwyr. Un peth oedden ni’n tair yn gytûn arno, y mwyaf ni’n dysgu’r mwyaf mae’n barch yn tyfu at y gwinwyr a’r myrdd o ddewisiadau rhaid gwneud yn pob cam o’r winllan i’r botel. A’r dewisiadau yma sy’n dylanwadu ar y steil, safon a’r pris.

Galwch heibio i holi cwestiwn a rhoi sialens i Terri ac Emma!

Detholiad Ionawr Emma – Emma’s January Selection

Emma’s Light Alcohol January Selection

During January most of us are trying to cut down on alcohol. I have chosen this selection of lower alcohol wines but never lower quality. I hope you enjoy the variety as much as I do.

Our Vineyard Visits

Ogereau was one of the first vineyards Terri and I visited with Dyl. See the photos below – how young do we look there?!  Emmanuel & family are lovely and so are the wines. This rosé is demi-sec so has a touch of sweetness but is perfectly balanced with good acidity. Don’t reach for the chocs – make this your Saturday sip instead.

What’s in a Name?

You’ll notice the name of the Llabustes red and may wonder about the significance. Ull de Llebre means ‘hare’s eye’ because they are small and dark just like the tempranillo grape used to make this wine. A beautiful red from Catalunya.

Emma’s Selection of Welsh Wines

I am particularly fond of all Montgomery wines. If you haven’t heard already, I have helped several times to pick the grapes! This is a delicious fruity red with good acidity and low tannins.

Back to the Loire

Douce Folie is from another small family vineyard in the Loire.  We visited this one too –  it’s situated closer to the coast. This is a delicious sweet wine that I love.

Emma