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From Antipodean Dreams to Welsh Hills: The Inspiring Story of Cae Popdy Vineyard.
Nestled in the breath-taking Conwy Valley, amidst views of the mountain range and the sweep of the Carneddau and north Wales coast, lies a relatively new venture driven by passion, sustainability, and a deep longing for home: Gwinllan Cae Popdy Vineyard. This is not just a story of grapes and terroir; it’s a tale of two careers, a community rallying together, and a dedication to growing future-proof wines in the magical landscape of North West Wales.
The Spark: Returning Home and Finding the Dream
For Patricia Powell, the initial inspiration to grow grapes struck decades ago during her 20s while backpacking in Australia. She spent time working in the vineyards of Margaret River, remembering the intense labor of picking row after row of Shiraz and Chardonnay—and spending most of her wages on beautiful wine.
Her husband, Mark Powell, a chef with vast experience in high-end restaurants, hospitality, and teaching, shared a long-held interest in wine. The dream of establishing their own vineyard, however, came into clear focus when they volunteered together at Forty Hall Vineyard, an organic social enterprise near London. This experience showed them the tangible possibility of living that viticultural dream.
Patricia had long felt the pull of ‘hiraeth’ (the deep longing for home). Together with Mark and their two sons, Rob and Jack, they finally returned to Wales in early 2022.
Beyond wine production, Patricia, whose background is in humanitarian and academic sectors working with forcibly displaced people, was inspired by Forty Hall’s wellbeing initiative, the Flourish Project. She hopes that once Cae Popdy is more established, it will incorporate a social aspect, partnering with charities and voluntary organizations as part of its core ethos.
The Oven Field: A Prophetic Piece of Land
Finding a house with suitable land in the prized Conwy valley took time. When they secured their three-acre plot, they discovered its original Welsh field name: Cae Popdy, which translates to ‘oven field’ or ‘bakers field’. This name perfectly reflects the amount of heat and sun the land receives during the summer months.
Their neighbor, the field’s original farmer, walked the land with them and cemented their decision:
…noting that the field could become so hot in some years that it would scorch, suggesting that planting anything other than “vines or bines” would be difficult.
This, combined with the favorable microclimate of the valley, confirmed the site’s potential. The resulting vineyard offers spectacular views, providing a 180-degree panorama of the start of the Carneddau mountain range on one side and the Conwy estuary and the coast on the other.
Despite the beautiful setting, the early stages were fraught with logistical challenges, particularly preparing the land. Fortunately, the Powells found immense local support: a “bevy of friends and local connections” helped cultivate, prepare the land, mark out rows, plant the vines, and install the trellising. They faced an unexpected realization regarding the soil composition—shale under a thin layer of topsoil in parts—which limited the total planting area. This resulted in fewer vines planted than originally intended, making their future wines “slightly rarer,” a realization that led them to conclude: “small is beautiful”.
Future-Proofing Welsh Wine
Cae Popdy has been hand-planted in stages since 2022, now featuring 2,200 new vines. Their philosophy centers around sustainability, low intervention, and working with nature, embracing future challenges like climate change. Both Mark and Patricia have pursued education in this area, having completed the Intensive Principles of Winegrowing course at Plumpton.
They chose PIWI (disease-resistant) vines specifically for their resilience, which allows for a significant reduction in the use of pesticides and less tractor usage. The varieties planted include:
- Solaris: Chosen for its hardiness and popularity in Wales due to its tolerance of cool climates.
- Muscaris: An experimental variety highly regarded across Europe for its complex flavors.
- Voltis: Currently being trialled in the Champagne region for its sustainability potential. The Powells love the idea that they are trialling a vine in the Conwy valley that might one day become a Champagne variety.
They aim to produce high-quality white wines, either single varietal or blends.
The Race to Harvest
The dedication of the founders and the quality of the land saw their efforts pay off—but not without drama. They had anticipated a crop in 2024, but heavy rain during fruit set resulted in a “wipe out”.
The 2025 season, however, was very different. Their Solaris vines produced a small crop that ripened at least two weeks earlier than anticipated, leading to a rush to harvest. Once again, the community stepped in, with family, friends, and neighbors forming a “real gathering of supporters” essential to the success of the harvest.
While the harvest is complete, Cae Popdy has not yet produced wine. Their grapes are currently with Halfpenny Green winery, and the Powells are looking forward to tasting their first wine in the winter months.
The Road Ahead
The long-term dreams for Gwinllan Cae Popdy are rooted in sustainability, community benefit, and producing a “taste authentic to Wales”. They are considering building a cellar door and welcoming visitors. While wines are not available yet, you can expect to see Cae Popdy featured at food and agricultural shows starting in 2026.
For those tracking this exciting new Welsh vineyard, you can follow their progress via Instagram (cae_popdy) and Facebook. This endeavour to turn Welsh rain into Welsh wine is just beginning, driven by commitment, community, and the promise of tasting the unique character of the ‘oven field’ in every future bottle.
Explore more stories from Wales’s burgeoning wine scene in our Welsh Vineyards collection.
