Plaid Cymru Mid and West AM Simon Thomas met with Rob and Finn from the Dà Mhìle Distillery at a showcase of producers of Welsh wines and spirits in the Senedd building in Cardiff Bay.
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association organised the event for Assembly Members and support staff to get a taste of the best of Welsh produce.
Mid and West AM, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Climate Change and Rural Affairs Simon Thomas added:
“I was delighted to meet with producers of Welsh wines and spirits at an event in the Senedd building. A lot of the business people had a background in farming and found the wine and spirit industry as a way of diversification from their traditional enterprise.
“The food and drink industry employs a quarter of a million people in Wales with a turnover of £17 billion as well as a quarter of a billion pounds in exports.
“Exports increased nearly 13% in the first six months of 2016—an increase of £15.2 million alone.
“Now is the time that we should be upping our game on branding food and drink from Wales as Welsh, with a clear story to tell about our excellent quality, the source of food, animal welfare and environmental standards. We must not let this be endangered by the Brexit process.
“Plaid Cymru has started a campaign for the right to brand food and drink from Wales as Welsh.
“It is important that Welsh food and drink is recognised as Welsh rather than it being draped in the Union Jack or marked as from some vague geographical Britain.
This is vital for our nation’s self-confidence and economy.”
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