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St Hilary Vineyard: A Sparkling New Chapter in the Welsh Wine Story
The sun, a benevolent eye in the ever-shifting Welsh sky, casts its golden embrace over the undulating landscape of the Vale of Glamorgan. Here, nestled just a mile from the charming market town of Cowbridge, a quiet revolution is unfurling, vine by vine. Wales, long celebrated for its rolling sheep-dotted hills and coal-rich valleys, is writing a new story—one that sparkles with promise and carries the nuanced notes of its unique land.
The Welsh wine industry, once a whispered curiosity, is now a booming chorus, with ambitions to increase its value tenfold to £100 million by 2035. Among the voices rising in this renaissance is St Hilary Vineyard, a boutique newcomer that embodies the ambition, artistry, and authenticity of modern Welsh wine. It’s a perfect example of the exciting developments we cover in our complete guide to the Welsh wine scene.
From Pharmacy to Vineyard: A Dream Takes Root
Every great vineyard has its founding story, and St Hilary’s begins with Peter and Liz Loch. For Peter, a retired pharmacist who devoted more than three decades to serving his community through a chain of family-run pharmacies, and Liz, who built a successful career in the Gas Industry, the shift from corporate life to viticulture might seem dramatic. Yet it was driven by something profoundly simple: a love of the land.
Together, they cultivated an interest in growing organic fruit and vegetables, pursuing self-sufficiency, and nurturing soil health. From this grew a vision: to produce “delicious, artisan Welsh wines reflective of place.” This wasn’t about planting vines as a novelty—it was about bottling the Vale of Glamorgan itself.
Their philosophy is anchored in sustainability. Low-intervention winemaking, organic practices, and regenerative viticulture are at the heart of everything they do. Both Peter and Liz deepened their understanding of the craft by earning their WSET Level 2 Award in Wines with Distinction, underscoring their commitment not only to producing wine, but to producing it well.
The Vale of Glamorgan’s Embrace: A Perfect Terroir
Choosing the site was no accident. The Vale of Glamorgan is emerging as one of Wales’s most exciting terroirs, blessed with rich clay soil and a relatively frost-free climate—conditions surprisingly favourable to cool-climate viticulture.
The vineyard sits at Glebe Farm in the historic village of St Hilary, its gently sloping hectare of vines bordered by an apple orchard and a wildflower meadow alive with biodiversity. Medieval echoes ring through the village: the parish church, the thatched Grade II-listed Bush Inn, and the patchwork fields of the Vale form a fitting backdrop to a vineyard that seeks to marry tradition with innovation.
Planting the First Vines
The Lochs’ viticultural journey formally began in 2021, with the planting of 3,000 vines. Their varieties—Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier—were chosen with intention. These classic grapes thrive in cooler climates and lay the foundations for both elegant still wines and refined traditional method sparklers.
Patience is a vintner’s constant companion, and it wasn’t until October 2023 that Peter, Liz, and a team of friends and volunteers celebrated their first-ever harvest. The air was filled with excitement and the warmth of shared endeavour, marking not just the arrival of fruit but the realisation of a dream years in the making.
A First Taste of St Hilary: The Debut Rosé
From that inaugural harvest came the vineyard’s debut wine: a Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier rosé. Described as the “strawberries and cream of the rosé world”, it is a wine that whispers of summer in every glass.
Visually striking in its pink-orange hue, the wine offers aromas of wild strawberry, grapefruit, and red cherry, layered over subtle honeysuckle. On the palate, it balances freshness and creaminess: light, slightly acidic, with notes of green apple and a medium finish touched with cream. Naturally fermented, unfiltered, and vegan-friendly, it epitomises the Lochs’ low-intervention ethos. With a gentle 10% ABV, it’s a versatile companion for summer gatherings, seafood, cheese, and rich desserts.
To craft this debut, Peter and Liz partnered with the highly experienced team at Mountain People Wine in Tintern—an example of the collaborative spirit that defines Welsh winemaking. Retailing around £25, the rosé is positioned as a premium choice for those seeking wines with character and story, rather than mass-market uniformity.
Explore St. Hilary Vineyard
Discover the charm behind the glow. Explore St. Hilary Vineyard — where craftsmanship meets the magic of every pour.
Beyond the Rosé: A Sparkling Future
Though the rosé has captured early attention, St Hilary Vineyard’s gaze is firmly on the horizon. From the same 2023 harvest, they are developing a traditional method sparkling white—a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier—currently resting on its lees, with a planned release in 2026. A sparkling rosé, also from the 2023 grapes, is in production despite a challenging 2024 growing season.
These forthcoming wines will cement St Hilary’s place within Wales’s growing portfolio of fine sparkling wines, aligning with a national trajectory that is seeing Welsh bottles win medals and recognition on the global stage.
The St Hilary Experience
For Peter and Liz, the vineyard is more than rows of vines—it’s a place to share. Tours and tastings (by appointment) invite visitors to engage directly with the land, the methods, and the people who bring the wine to life. St Hilary’s participation in initiatives such as Welsh Wine Week and the Vale Food Trail underscores their openness and community spirit.
For those who wish to linger longer, St Hilary offers Vineyard View, a rustic yet modern barn conversion. Sleeping four across two double bedrooms, it’s child- and pet-friendly, making it an inviting retreat for families, couples, and wine lovers alike. Guests can wake to views over the vines, step directly into the vineyard, and immerse themselves in the rhythms of rural life. It’s an experience that blends comfort, authenticity, and a true taste of the Vale of Glamorgan.
St Hilary in the Welsh Wine Renaissance
St Hilary Vineyard is part of a larger story. With nearly 30 vineyards now established across Wales—and more being planted—the nation is positioning itself as a serious wine-producing region. Government-backed initiatives such as the Decarbonisation and Covid Challenge Fund are helping vineyards reduce reliance on chemicals, improve disease management, and increase profitability.
Accolades are rolling in: from White Castle Vineyard’s gold medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards to The Dell’s “Best Rosé” at the Welsh Wine Awards, Welsh wines are increasingly celebrated on the international stage. This recognition, combined with growing domestic demand for specialty wines, signals a bright and sustainable future.
A Toast to the Future
The story of St Hilary Vineyard is one of vision, resilience, and passion. In just a few short years, Peter and Liz have transformed a dream into rows of thriving vines, a debut rosé that sings of summer, and ambitious plans for sparkling wines that will elevate Wales further onto the global wine map.
As the Welsh wine industry marches toward its ambitious £100 million target, St Hilary Vineyard exemplifies the pioneering spirit that will make it possible. Each bottle tells a story—not just of grapes and terroir, but of people, place, and possibility.
So, whether you’re raising a glass of their debut rosé on a sunlit terrace, booking a vineyard tour, or staying in the comfort of Vineyard View, St Hilary offers a chance to experience the very best of Welsh wine.
Discover more, book a tasting, or plan your vineyard stay at St Hilary Vineyard’s website.
Discover More Welsh Wine
The story of St Hilary is a brilliant chapter in the larger story of Welsh viticulture. To explore other pioneering vineyards and learn more about the grapes that thrive in Wales, be sure to read our Ultimate Guide to Welsh Wine.
