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Vineyard guide · Llanvetherine
Visiting White Castle Vineyard
White Castle Vineyard is a small family vineyard at Llanvetherine, near Abergavenny, run by Robb and Nicola Merchant, who lead the tours themselves. Its Pinot Noir Précoce was the first Welsh wine to win a Decanter gold medal.
White Castle at a glance
| Founded | First 4,000 vines planted in May 2009 |
|---|---|
| Known for | Award-winning Welsh red wines, especially Pinot Noir Précoce and Regent |
| Grapes | Pinot Noir Précoce, Regent, Rondo and Siegerrebe among others, with Cabernet Franc planted in 2019 |
| Open | Summer: Friday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 5pm |
| Booking | No booking needed for tastings, booking advised for tours |
| Food | Welsh cheese, charcuterie and artisan meat platters with wine by the glass |
| Dogs | Accepted, according to Visit Monmouthshire |
| By train | Abergavenny is the nearest town; check taxi arrangements before you travel |
Checked on the vineyard’s own website in October 2026.
About White Castle
Robb and Nicola Merchant bought a 12-acre smallholding at Llanvetherine in 1993 and turned its old milking parlour into their home. The vineyard grew from Nicola’s wish to own one: by 2008 they had added a south-facing field, tested the soil and ordered vines, and the first 4,000 were planted in May 2009. Both trained at Plumpton College in East Sussex.
The vineyard has grown to 13,500 vines on gentle slopes in the Monmouthshire countryside, about two-thirds of a mile from the ruins of White Castle. In May 2019, ten years after the first planting, they added 2,000 more vines, including Pinot Noir Précoce and Cabernet Franc, which the vineyard says was the first Cabernet Franc planted in Wales. All the wines are made from estate-grown grapes, and since 2024 they have been made on site in Y Gwindy, the vineyard’s own winery, which also gives visitors a space to taste.
In 2021 the Pinot Noir Précoce 2018 won gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards, the first Welsh wine to do so, and the vineyard won further Decanter medals in 2022, 2023 and 2024, then silver for the Pinot Noir Précoce 2023 in 2026. It has also won the Thomas Davies Memorial Trophy for the best wine at the Welsh Vineyards Association awards, and Robb Merchant was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to viticulture.
The wines
White Castle makes red, white, sparkling and fortified wines, all from its own grapes. The reds are the best known: Pinot Noir Précoce, the wine that won Decanter gold, Regent and a Rondo called Harry Rondo. Whites include a Siegerrebe and a blend called Gwin Gwyn, and there is a Sparkling White and a fortified wine. The current releases are mostly from the 2023 and 2025 vintages, with the Regent 2023 and Fortified Wine 2021 awaiting release. Where to buy them.
Tours and tastings at White Castle
In summer the cellar door opens Friday to Sunday, including bank holidays, from 10am to 5pm, and is closed Monday to Thursday. Winter opening is not published, so check before you go. Wines are served by the glass, with Welsh cheese, charcuterie and artisan meat platters, and you can buy bottles and mixed cases to take home. Tours are booked through the vineyard’s website, and vouchers are sold online. There is a terrace looking over the vines. Visit Monmouthshire says there is a low-incline ramp and level double doors into the cellar door, shop and terrace, both toilets are wheelchair accessible, and groups of 5 to 50 are welcome. The vineyard also hires out Croft Barn, a restored 16th-century Grade II* listed barn below the vineyard, for events, and runs an Adopt a Vine scheme.
| Experience | Price | Length | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conducted Wine Tasting A tasting of four Welsh wines at the cellar door, with no booking needed. | Not published; check with the vineyard | At your own pace | Friday to Sunday and bank holidays, 10am to 5pm |
| Conducted Vineyard & Winery Tour A walk through the vineyard and the Y Gwindy winery with Robb or Nicola, followed by a tasting of four Welsh wines. Booking is advised. | Not published; tour vouchers range from £20 to £48 | Not stated | Friday to Sunday and bank holidays at 11.30am and 3pm |
| Deluxe Vineyard & Winery Tour A glass of sparkling wine on arrival, a tour with an explanation of how the wines are made, and a tasting of six Welsh wines. Booking is advised. | Not published; tour vouchers range from £20 to £48 | Allow about 2.5 hours | 3pm on the last Friday of the month, April to September; 2027 dates listed include 30 April, 28 May and 30 July |
Book these on the White Castle website.
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Buy White Castle wines
1 bottle in stock with our wine partners this week. Prices are for a single 75cl bottle.
White
White Castle Still White 2024
A dry, delicate Welsh white, pale straw in colour, with an elderflower aroma and ripe lemony fruit.
£28.95at WinebuyersBuy
Getting there
The vineyard is at The Croft Farm in Llanvetherine, in the Monmouthshire countryside between Abergavenny and Monmouth. Use the postcode NP7 8RA, or the what3words address perform.permit.visits, to find the entrance. The vineyard does not publish public transport or parking details, so if you are coming by train to Abergavenny, arrange a taxi in advance, and call 01873 821443 if you have questions about access.
Make a day of it
White Castle, the ruined Norman castle that gives the vineyard its name and is cared for by Cadw, is about two-thirds of a mile away. The Skirrid Fawr, a popular walking hill, is just over three miles away, and the market town of Abergavenny is the nearest place for shops and restaurants.
See every vineyard you can visit in our Wales directory.
Questions people ask
Do you need to book at White Castle Vineyard?
No booking is needed for a tasting at the cellar door, Friday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm in summer. Booking is advised for the vineyard and winery tours, which are booked on the vineyard’s website.
When is White Castle Vineyard open?
In summer it opens Friday to Sunday, including bank holidays, from 10am to 5pm, and is closed Monday to Thursday. Winter hours are not published, so check with the vineyard before visiting between October and March.
What tours does White Castle Vineyard offer?
A vineyard and winery tour with a tasting of four wines runs Friday to Sunday at 11.30am and 3pm. A Deluxe Tour with sparkling wine on arrival and six wines runs at 3pm on the last Friday of the month from April to September.
Is White Castle Vineyard dog friendly?
Visit Monmouthshire and Visit Wales both list the vineyard as accepting dogs or pets. The vineyard’s own site does not say, so check when you book.
Is White Castle Vineyard accessible?
According to Visit Monmouthshire, there is a low-incline ramp and level double doors into the cellar door, shop and terrace, and both toilets are wheelchair accessible.
Which White Castle wine has won awards?
The Pinot Noir Précoce 2018 won gold at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2021, the first Welsh wine to do so, and the Pinot Noir Précoce 2023 won silver in 2026. The Regent 2021 took a Decanter bronze in 2023.