White CastleVineyard

Robb and Nicola Merchant planted White Castle Vineyard at The Croft Farm in Llanvetherine in 1993, among the first growers to work this stretch of the Monnow valley near Abergavenny. The vineyard grows Pinot Noir Precoce, Siegerrebe and other cool-climate varieties, producing still and sparkling wines under the White Castle label; their Pinot Noir took a gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards. The Cellar Door, a converted farm building overlooking the vines, sells bottles and mixed cases and pours wine by the glass on the terrace. Guided walks through the vineyard followed by a tasting run at 11.30am and 3pm on the days the Cellar Door is open. The vineyard takes its name from White Castle, one of the Three Castles of Gwent, a few miles to the east. It opens Friday, Saturday, Sunday and bank holidays between 10am and 5pm, and is closed to visitors the rest of the week.