What would the Queen drink?

2 comments May 13, 2011
In case it missed anybody’s notice, the English Market is going to be visited by Queen Elizabeth next Friday, 20th May. Whether you agree or not with the visit is not the issue of this blog entry. However what I would say is that it certainly has had a noticable effect as the South Link and City Centre is looking far more spruced up than it has been in some time. Perhaps a stream of VIP visitors to different parts of the City would soon have the place looking sparkling again! From a little research online, it turns out that she may be partial to the odd glass or two. It was reported on 9th May that the Royal Family is planting almost 17,000 vines on 7 acres of land within Windsor Great Park, owned by the Crown Estate. In 3 to 4 year’s time, this shrewd investment should be capable of producing up to 100,000 bottles of wine! The wine cellar at Buckingham Palace is reputed to be valued at around $3m. However, this is kept in perspective when one takes into account that over 50,000 people are served wine here, each year. The average consumption of wine by guests at the Palace is a less than scandalous 1-2 glasses! Typical white wines served at luncheons are Chablis and Sancerre, with Meursault and Puligny-Montrachet for dinners. Reds are usually from Burgundy or Bordeaux. The Palace does not frequent wine auctions but buys all of its stock from the 5 royal warrant holders; Berry Brothers & Rudd, Corney & Barrow, John Harvey & Sons, Justerini & Brooks and (believe it or not!) Waitrose Direct. Wines are purchased young and aged, if necessary, in the cellars of the Palace. In order to reduce costs, many wines are purchased ‘en primeur’, with most Bordeaux being cellared for 15-20 years, prior to drinking (at a constant temperature of 52°F/11°C). While we are not sure if HM will stop by or not for a glass, we do have a fabulous range of French wines that would look familiar to any Palace dinner guest such as…. Loire Valley: Domaine de la Rossignole: a range of wines from Sancerre which are top quaity and great with food. Burgundy: a large selection of white wines ranging from Chablis to Mersault to Chassagne –Montrachet. We also stock delicious reds ranging from Beaujolais to Vosne-Romanée. Mersault Bordeaux & South West: We stock a fabulous variety of wines that range from basic table wines to some of the best Grand Cru Classé wines produced – you can find our fine wines on our web page or call into our shop in the English Market or the Marina Commercial Park. Rhone Valley: We have a stunning range of wines from Perrin & Fils who own Château de Beaucastel (the best Châteauneuf de Pape) as well as stocking Château de Beaucastel itself. On the day of the visit, the English Market will be open to the public from when the Queen has left and is staying open until 9.00pm – so pop in and get a bottle of something the Queen would drink! John (Thanks to db4wine.com for some of the facts and figures!)
Back to Blog