A tasting dedicated to Welsh wines recently took place in London, offering wine lovers a closer look at a region that is still relatively unknown outside the UK.

Many Welsh wines are sold mainly within Wales and are not widely exported abroad. Nevertheless, they certainly deserve the attention of wine enthusiasts seeking something distinctive.

Sparkling wines and pét-nats are particularly notable among Welsh producers. While Wales does not have indigenous grape varieties, local winemakers have carefully selected European grapes that adapt well to the region’s cool climate.

Welsh winemakers often embrace their cultural heritage by giving their wines Welsh names and including descriptions on the labels in the Welsh language. The winery Dell, for example, features creatures from Welsh mythology on its labels. The project itself has an unusual origin story: the winery was founded in 2021 by a graphic designer and an intensive care nurse.

Ancre Hill has been producing pét-nats since 2013, and its wines are now exported to countries including Norway, Singapore, the United States and Canada. Their pét-nats are soft, lively and very easy to drink.

Whinyard Rocks was founded by James Kinsey-Jones, who spent 18 years working as a brain researcher in London before returning to Wales to make wine. Each bottle features a QR code that links to a specially curated playlist created to accompany that particular wine.

White Castle, founded in 2009, uses the Dutch grape variety Siegerrebe for its white wines, a grape that has proven particularly well suited to the Welsh terroir.

Wales is undoubtedly a wine region worth watching. Its wineries are capable of surprising even experienced wine lovers who are eager to discover something new and unexpected.