Llanerch Vineyard Hotel – Hensol, Vale of Glamorgan

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Join me for a relaxing stay at Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, one of the oldest vineyards in Wales and the UK’s first vineyard hotel. Based just outside Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan.Llanerch offers the perfect base for a scenic rural stay in the heart of south Wales.

Did you know Wales is home to over 50 vineyards? Despite its mild, rain-prone climate, Wales’ diverse terroir, characterised by varied soils and topography, supports over 50 different varieties of wine. Popular grape varieties include Seyval Blanc, Rondo, Pinot Noir, and Solaris.

Recently, I was invited to spend the night at one of the oldest vineyards in Wales and the UK’s first vineyard hotel, Llanerch Vineyard. Based within 28 acres of farmland just outside the quiet village of Hensol in the Vale of Glamorgan, Llanerch Vineyard hotel is around a 25-minute drive from Cardiff city centre. The nearest train station is Pontyclun, around a six minute drive away.

Having enjoyed a wonderful stay here back in 2018 while on a press trip with Food and Drink Wales, it’s impressive to see how the hotel has developed since my last visit.

The story of Llanerch Vineyard Hotel

Originally planted in 1986 by Peter and Diane Andrews, Llanerch Vineyard was lovingly restored in 2010 by current owner, Ryan Davies.

Today, Llanerch Vineyard produces five award-winning Cariad wines, named after the Welsh word for “love” or “darling”, alongside two wine-based gins. Grape varieties include Seyval Blanc, Triomphe, Solaris, Phoenix, and Richenstiner. The grapes are harvested onsite, and the wine is produced at Three Choirs Vineyard in Gloucestershire.

In addition to its Cariad range, Llanerch Estate also produces a selection of eight wines using Bacchus, Pinot Noir, and Rondo grapes grown on select satellite vineyards across Wales.

A relaxing stay in the Welsh countryside

With 37 rooms including newly built countryside superiors, countryside suites, courtyard rooms and standard doubles, Llanerch Hotel has seriously upgraded its accommodation offering since my last visit.

Stepping into my countryside superior, I’m greeted by the postcard-perfect scene of cotton wool sheep grazing in the field opposite, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows which flood the room with natural light.

One look at my Respa super king-sized bed tells me I’m going to sleep like a baby. Dressed in crisp white linen and topped with a cosy Melin Tregwynt Welsh wool blanket, it beckons me to pull back the covers and hop in for an afternoon nap. Instead, I curl up on the sumptuous Chesterfield sofa and warm my hands around a cup of coffee freshly brewed in my Nespresso coffee machine, while two wine glasses hint at something stronger.

Opposite me, a large desk doubles up as both a dressing table and a work space, next to a pair of comfy armchairs and a table headed up by a flat screen TV. Meanwhile, sleek built-in wardrobes house provide plenty of storage space, equipped with a secure safety deposit box and hairdryer.

Kitted out with a rainfall shower and bath tub operated via two buttons on the wall, my bathroom is the epitome of contemporary luxury. Fluffy white robes, super-soft towels and high-end toiletries from The White Company add a further touch of glamour.

Additional facilities include free WiFi in each room and throughout the hotel, room service from 12pm to 4pm to and 6pm to 8.45pm, and a laundry service.

With a number of dog-friendly hotel rooms available, you can also travel with your canine companions and enjoy an invigorating stroll through the scenic forest on the Woodland Walk.

Wine tasting at Llanerch Vineyard Hotel

No visit to Llanerch Vineyard would be complete without sampling the range of award-winning Cariad wines produced using the grapes grown here.

Vineyard tours

To make the most of the experience, book a vineyard tour with wine tasting in the new Tasting Lodge. Hour-long tours run daily throughout the year at 1pm, 3pm, and 5pm, priced at £25 per person. Book online in advance to secure your space, as the tours can be popular.

Wine flight experience

Alternatively, indulge in a wine flight over lunch or dinner. Sip on 75ml taster glasses of 15 award-winning wines and wine-based gins, priced from £4-6 per glass. The menu recommends ordering 3-6 glasses per person. Discover more in my Instagram Reel, featured below.

Once you’ve found a wine you like, treat yourself to a bottle from the bar and enjoy a sun-soaked glass of vino on the outdoor terrace overlooking the vineyard, or perhaps over a round of pool in the games room. Alternatively, pick up a bottle to take home with you as souvenir from your trip; Llanerch’s wine is only available for sale onsite or via the website, so it makes sense to stock up while you’re here.

Dining in Llanerch Vineyard Hotel’s restaurant

Dine overlooking the vines at Llanerch Vineyard’s award-winning restaurant. The proud holder of two AA Rosettes for Culinary Excellence, the restaurant is led by Executive Chef Grady Atkins. Perhaps best known for his time at Cardiff’s beloved former French restaurant, La Gallois, Grady previously held the helm at Bacareto alongside running pop-up evenings at Bloc Coffee in Canton, and Fido Coffee in Pontcanna.

Based within the original 18th century farmhouse, Llanerch Vineyard’s lovingly restored 100-cover restaurant offers floor-to-ceiling vineyard views, with outdoor al fresco dining also available.

Menu and prices

The modern Welsh menu hinges on the availability of seasonal, local food and drink produce sourced from the likes of Farmers Pantry Butchers in Llantwit Major, and E. Ashton Fishmongers in Cardiff Market. Highlights include dry-aged PGI Welsh fillet steak, chicken breast stuffed with Caws Cenarth’s Perl Wen, and cockle popcorn. Prices on the a la carte menu are pretty steep, particularly for mains (£20-35). However, a three-course dinner deal for £45 and a £30 starter-and-main lunch deal offer better value for money.

Sunday roast dinner

Dining at Llanerch Vineyard on a Sunday, we tucked in to a three-course roast dinner with all the trimmings (£36 each).

Starters of fresh burrata with heirloom tomato, basil oil and pickled red onion, and glazed ginger and soy pork belly with slaw set the bar high.

The succulent slow-cooked Welsh Lamb shoulder enticed us both for our main course, teamed with crispy golden roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire Pudding, creamy cauliflower cheese, crunchy carrots, shredded cabbage, velvety gravy and tangy mint sauce.

For dessert, we shared the Welsh Cheeseboard (£2 surcharge), a trio of Welsh cheeses served with grapes, oatcakes and preserves; and the apricot Eton mess with elderflower, apricot gel, pistachio and agave (£9).

Sunday roast dinner is served from 12pm until 4.30pm, and from 6.30pm until 9pm. Advance booking is advised.

Breakfast

After a peaceful night’s sleep, awake to a hearty breakfast in the restaurant from 7am to 9.30am on weekdays, and from 8am to 10am on weekends and bank holidays. Priced at £15 per person, breakfast includes a selection of cold buffet produce, alongside several hot breakfast options, cooked to order.

Succumbing to the full breakfast, I polished off a locally cured maple bacon chop, two pork sausages, hash brown, vine tomato, flat-cap mushroom, baked beans, black pudding and a poached egg (cooked to order). It was pretty decent, although the sausages weren’t the best I’ve tasted, and I would’ve liked the option to include Welsh Laverbread and cockles for a true Welsh breakfast.

The poached egg and smashed avocado on toast looked equally appealing – ideal if you’re craving a lighter breakfast option.

Afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is also available at a cost of £30 per per person, served from 12pm – 4.30pm from Monday to Saturday with a minimum of two people required in order to book.

Angela Gray’s Cookery School

With on-site cookery classes and bespoke events hosted by Angela Gray – named one of the UK’s best cookery schools by both The Independent and The Telegraph – Llanerch Vineyard hotel is the perfect base for any Welsh food and wine enthusiast.

Stay at Llanerch Vineyard Hotel

Whether you visit for the day or spend a night here, Llanerch Vineyard Hotel is a great choice for a charming countryside stay in south Wales. Close enough to Cardiff for a day trip, yet remote enough for a relaxing rural escape. Treat yourself to an afternoon tea or wine tour and tasting with friends, or enjoy a romantic stay with that special someone.

Close, but no spa

Despite being one of the oldest vineyards in Wales, recent developments help to ensure Llanerch’s accommodation and hospitality offering continue to rival any modern five-star hotel. Given the peaceful location of the hotel and its vineyard status, however, it still feels like there’s a piece of the puzzle missing. As lovely as Llanerch is, a spa would really help to elevate and anchor its status as one of South Wales’ most iconic luxury hotels, and one of the best vineyard hotels in the UK. Don’t you think? Perhaps when I come to update this post for a third time, in another five years’ or so time, my prayers may have been answered.

A one-night stay at Llanerch Hotel for two guests in August 2024 costs from £120 (room only), when booked via Booking.com. Prices will vary depending on your choice of room, and proposed dates.

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