Earlier this month, Queen Elizabeth II achieved a new milestone in her run as Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, officially reaching the 70th anniversary of her ascension to the throne on February 6, 1952. If that date seems to have come and gone quietly, that may be because the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee won’t officially be celebrated until June of this year, as the country plans a four-day fête to mark the occasion on what will be the 69th anniversary of her coronation. But come spring, any revelers who wish to toast the Queen will have the chance to do so with Her Majesty’s very own bottle of bubbly.
Available now, Buckingham Palace English Sparkling Wine comes from (and will benefit) the Royal Collection Trust (RCT), a charitable department of the Royal Household that is “responsible for the care of the Royal Collection and manages the public opening of the official residences of The Queen.” According to the RCT, the label features a design based on the embroidery of Queen Elizabeth’s Robe of Estate worn during her coronation, and the “EIIR cypher is surrounded by golden olive leaves and ears of wheat to symbolise peace and plenty.”
The wine itself is a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes grown in Kent and West Sussex, and “has enticing aromas of rich and honeyed citrus fruit, white peach and hints of sweet spice,” an announcement from the RCT reads. Apparently, it pairs well with British seafood, fish and chips, and, of course, a mature English cheddar.
700-milliliter bottles of Buckingham Palace English Sparkling Wine retail for £39 ($53) online — where you can also buy a pair of British cut glass Champagne flutes for the occasion — and are also available at Royal Collection Trust shops around the U.K.
This isn’t the first sparkling wine with a connection to the Queen, however: Since 2011, vines have been growing on royal land near Windsor Castle, which were planted, harvested, bottled, and sold by British wine retailer Laithwaite’s.
While the Queen’s record-setting reign is enough reason for Brits to break out the bubbly, it’ll be possible to serve a whole spread courtesy of Her Majesty. According to Food & Wine, for the bar cart, there’s a pair of royal gins — one made with ingredients from the gardens at Buckingham Palace and another gin from the gardens at Sandringham Estate, the Queen’s residence in Norfolk. Or for something more sessionable, there are even locally-produced Sandringham Estate IPAs and bitter beer.
That has the drinks menu more than covered, but the Queen also recently released her own condiments including a ketchup and British staple “brown sauce.” And in January, a baking competition was announced to create a recipe for the official pudding dessert of the Jubilee. In true Great British Bake Off style, the Platinum Pudding competition will be judged by, among others, Mary Berry.
Short of eating a meal with the Queen the celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, eating a meal from the Queen might be the next best thing.
—
Photo Credit: Shaun Jeffers / Shutterstock.com