Black Mountain Wines

also known as Black Mountain Vineyard, is a small, family-run winery located in the beautiful Herefordshire countryside, in the shadow of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Founded in 2009 by Mark and Laura Smith, the vineyard is a testament to their passion for low-intervention, handcrafted winemaking.

Mark, who studied Viticulture and Oenology at Plumpton College, and Laura, his partner in this labor of love, initially planted classic English sparkling varieties on their three-hectare, south-facing slope. However, they soon realized that the local climate was better suited for hardier hybrid grape varieties. This led to an evolution in their plantings, and they now grow a combination of both classic and hybrid grapes, including Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Solaris, and Cabernet Cortis.

A core tenet of Black Mountain is its commitment to ecological stewardship. The vineyard has been certified organic since 2018, and the Smiths have been experimenting with natural alternatives to traditional sprays, such as essential oils and whey. This dedication to healthy soil and a vibrant ecosystem allows the character of the grapes to truly express the unique terroir of the site.

The winery itself, built in 2013, is a rustic, off-grid space where the wines are handled gently and given the time they need to develop. Production is tiny, with all tasks like riddling and disgorging undertaken by hand, resulting in a limited but highly sought-after collection of sparkling and still wines. Black Mountain Wines embodies a philosophy of working in harmony with nature to produce high-quality, authentic, and expressive wines.