Wales

The sources read give the modern framework rather than a longer history. In December 2011 Defra published the specifications for Welsh Wine PDO and Welsh Regional Wine PGI; the EU protected both names from 29 December 2011, and WineGB became administrator of the English and Welsh schemes that year. WineGB traces its own origins to the English Vineyards Association of 1967. Welsh producers are organised in Gwin Cymru, WineGB's regional association for Wales, which runs the annual Welsh Wine Awards, held at Llanerch Vineyard Hotel, and works with the Welsh Drinks Cluster on training and study tours.

The Welsh PDO covers Wales as defined by the counties established under section 20 of the Local Government Act 1972, and only vines growing below 220 m qualify. The specification says Welsh wine is made from grapes grown close to the limit for viticulture: all vineyards lie above 49.9° N, giving long daylight hours in the growing season, and the climate is temperate, with few summer days above 30 °C and a high diurnal range. Gwin Cymru's area covers all Welsh counties, but that is a membership boundary. No source on Welsh vineyard soils, altitudes in practice or rainfall was opened.

The Welsh PDO specification says the northerly latitude creates the long growing season and long daylight hours that are key to strong aromatic flavours, and that moderate temperatures lead to crisp acidity. It describes Welsh wines as made from a wide range of grape varieties, many of them highly aromatic, and as "typified by high acidity" for their styles. WineGB, speaking for the UK as a whole, describes fresh, balanced wines that are naturally lower in alcohol.

Welsh PDO quality sparkling wine may be made only from Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Noir Précoce, Pinot Meunier, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris, with a maximum yield of 80 hl/ha. Still Welsh PDO wine may use a long list of varieties, the same as in the English file, and every wine must pass analysis and a tasting. Welsh Regional PGI covers wider regional wine. Where the conditions for "bottle-fermented" or "traditional method" are met, "Traditional" may also appear on the label. No breakdown of Welsh plantings by variety was found.