Pembrokeshire Producers Celebrate Prestigious Status

Two Pembrokeshire food and drink producers have some exciting news to share! Velfrey Vineyard and Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company have just received some major recognition for their products. Velfrey Vineyard’s Velfrey NV Traditional Method Sparkling Brut and Rhosyn 2021 Traditional Method Vintage Sparkling Brut Rosé wines have been awarded Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status. On the other hand, Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company’s Welsh Laverbread has been given Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. These prestigious statuses protect the names of products that come from specific regions and follow certain production processes.

Velfrey Vineyard, located near Narberth, is the current Food & Drink Wales Small Drinks Producer of the Year. The vineyard, established in 2016, has over 4,000 vines planted across three acres and is a family-run business known for its attention to detail. The wines are made from three grape varieties, including Pinot Noir, Seyval Blanc, and Solaris. The vineyard is run by husband and wife Andy and Fiona Mounsey, along with their son Ryan and his wife Sophie. Andy expressed his delight at the PGI status, saying, “Not only does this provide assurance to our customers about the wines’ provenance and quality, it also allows us to proudly proclaim on the labels that this is Welsh sparkling wine. Our NV sparkling brut has been selected as one of the UK’s top 100 wines, and our newly launched Rhosyn is receiving praise and orders from highly knowledgeable sommeliers. It’s fantastic that wine from Pembrokeshire is achieving this kind of recognition.”

The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company’s laverbread is made from cooked seaweed hand-plucked from the Welsh coastline. This traditional food has a rich history as a vital source of nutrition and was awarded PDO status in 2017 to celebrate its ties to Welsh seascapes and communities. Jonathan Williams at The Pembrokeshire Beach Food Company expressed his joy at receiving this status, saying, “Laverbread is an important part of Pembrokeshire food history, and we are absolutely delighted to receive this status. PDO status means consumers have the confidence of knowing they are eating the genuine Welsh product. We will continue to ensure it is cooked to the highest of standards so people from near and far can enjoy our Welsh laverbread.”

Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths, also shared her excitement, saying, “It is great news that two Pembrokeshire food and drink businesses are seeing their fantastic products deservedly awarded protected status. Laverbread is a Welsh delicacy, and Jonathan and the team’s hard work and commitment to producing a high-quality product from our beautiful coastline is being rightly recognised. Wales also produces some of the finest, most globally recognized innovative wine. The Welsh wine industry is thriving, and Velfrey Vineyard is an important part of this success. A huge congratulations to both companies!”