About Us

Vin Van Cymru - A little history 

Vin Van Cymru was created for wine lovers, by a wine lover.

For those who don’t know me, my name is Sara and I’m the self-titled “Cwîn y Gwîn” or “Wine Queen” (I’m just hoping it will catch on at some point!).
Wine is meant to be enjoyed, not intimidated, and that's why I try to create an environment that's both educational and fun.
Recognising that many feel overwhelmed by the complexities of wine, I try to make it more approachable so that people can interact more confidently with wine. I'm constantly learning about grape varieties, wine regions and winemaking styles and I’m particularly interested in the Welsh wine industry. I enjoy trying new things and I'd like to think that I encourage others to do the same. You don't have to be an expert to enjoy wine!

My interest in wine first began whilst living in Madrid, sipping on a glass of ‘vino tinto’ wondering how it only cost me 3 Euros. I was astounded by the quality of Spanish wine that was easily accessible in most bars, restaurants and even supermarkets in Spain. Curiosity then led to reading up and stocking up!

After moving back to Cardiff, I completed my WSET Level 3 in Wines and started to work in the wine industry. I started to research Wales' wine industry and was pleasantly surprised by how many wine producing vineyards there are in the country. These wines, however, were not only difficult to source, but were also wildly under-represented in South Wales at the time. People were not (and still aren’t) aware that we have at least 30 registered vineyards in Wales and more are being planted every year! 

This is where the original idea for Vin Van Cymru was born. I wanted to spread the word about the Welsh wine industry, try new and exciting wines in good company and give people the confidence to talk about wine regardless of their knowledge or education.

We launched our first branch in Cardiff during the pandemic offering a wine delivery and tasting service at The Bridge Studios, a converted welders yard turned into a hub for small independent businesses.

We’ve had such a great response over the past two years that we’re now ready to open our first brick & mortar shop where we can interact with our customers on a daily basis and offer on-site wine tastings to further spread our love of wine!

The original business, Vin Van Caerdydd has been rebranded as Vin Van Cymru to give us the opportunity to reach even more people throughout the country!

 

This is Steve - aka Kiwi Steve

“As a New Zealander with parents from a wine region in South Africa (and having lived in France for 3 years) my interest in wine has grown and grown! Vin Van Caerdydd allows anyone to enjoy wine without the pressure and snobbery that’s usually attached to the industry."
Steve is Sara’s right hand man in business and in life. He was there behind the scenes helping with the original Welsh wine tasting events and has been instrumental in the planning and organisation of the business from the beginning. Although he doesn’t have a background in wine, he brings his extensive event management and hospitality experience in Cardiff to Vin Van.
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We're also raising a very small human who is just as sassy and vocal as her parents. Running a business and raising children is no easy feat but we are enjoying every minute of it and have the utmost respect for others who are doing the same!
We may not get much sleep these days but we are always keen to hear from you and make an effort to reply promptly! We welcome any ideas, suggestions or feedback or maybe you'd like to collaborate with us. Whatever your query, feel free to get in touch!
Iechyd da!