LLANERCH VINEYARD
Hensol, Vale Of Glamorgan. 01443 222716 / llanerch.co.uk
Food **** Atmosphere ****
The UK’s first vineyard hotel has opened and it’s in Hensol, just 20 minutes from Cardiff. This is the result of a £2 million investment by owner Ryan Davies, who has long aimed to have the same success with wine tourism as he saw at other vineyards when in New Zealand and Australia.
Llanerch Vineyard is home to the award-winning Cariad wines, popular wine-tasting and vineyard tours, and a restaurant which serves lunch, dinner and afternoon teas throughout the week. On the opening evening we were treated to a three-course meal, starting with chicken terrine, followed by Welsh lamb and Eton mess – all from local suppliers – served with Cariad wine.
Llanerch has become the largest vineyard in Wales and attracts visitors from around the world with its restaurant and bar, which regularly holds wine tasting, arranges trips around the local area and hosts Angela Gray’s Cookery School.
Eating is a big part of the experience here, of course: the restaurant regularly changes its menus and dishes to serve food that has been grown, caught and reared in and around the county. All of which are created by resident chef Michael Hudson, who has earnt an incredible reputation for his cooking and commitment by only using seasonal produce from local areas. Staff are on hand to suggest pairing wines and are both courteous and knowledgeable.
The hotel is made up of 26 rooms and suites, each accompanied by the stunning views of the Welsh countryside. Each of the suites has an open-plan lounge area and bedroom, with a foldaway wall. There are a number of rooms for those who would like to bring their dogs, which given the surroundings is a must for dog owners.
Ryan and his team aim to create a total experience: enjoy the food, wine tasting, explore the local area, and feel part of a journey that he and his family have undertaken. This is the first of its kind in the UK: the opportunity to gaze at the Llanerch vines from your suite to complete the experience of spending time here.
words Antonia Levay