White Castle Vineyard, one of Wales’ premier wine producers, announced the start of its harvest 2024 on 10 October 2024, marking a new chapter in the vineyard’s journey. For the first time, White Castle Vineyard has harvested and processed its grapes on-site in its newly established winery using state-of-the-art equipment, paving the way for a future of increased production and enhanced wine quality.
This exciting milestone represents the culmination of years of planning and investment in cutting-edge winemaking technology, aimed at improving both the quality and quantity of White Castle’s award-winning wines.
A new era in winemaking
“We’ve been dreaming of this moment for years, and now it’s finally here,” said Robb Merchant, co-owner of White Castle Vineyard. “Having the ability to process our grapes where they are grown, with some of the best equipment in the industry, gives us complete control over every aspect of the winemaking process. This is a huge leap forward for us, and one that will allow us to offer our customers even more premium, hand-crafted Welsh wines.”
The debut harvest brought together an enthusiastic team of 45 volunteers, including friends, family, and loyal customers who participated through the vineyard’s Adopt-a-Vine programme. Together, they hand-harvested three grape varieties – Phoenix, Pinot Noir Précoce, and Rondo – all of which were processed the same day using the vineyard’s new destemmer and press.
Preparing for growth
Despite weather challenges, including the threat of frost and a lower-than-average yield, White Castle Vineyard remains optimistic. “We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished,” said Nicola Merchant, co-owner of the vineyard. “The launch of our winery opens up so many new possibilities for us. Over the coming years, we plan to expand our production and continue creating wines that reflect the passion and dedication we pour into every bottle.”
Currently, White Castle Vineyard has 13,500 vines planted, including the addition of Chardonnay, which promises exciting growth opportunities in the near future.
Robb with the first Pinot Noir Precoce in the destemmer
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