Queen Elizabeth is more than just Britains longest-reigning monarch, she’s also a winemaker.
The Queen is part of the sparkling wine craze, producing 3000 bottles of bubbly from grapes grown on her own estate. If you think this is a royal first – think again! King Henry II cultivated grapes during the 12th Century.
According to Food and Wine, Elizabeth’s adventure in winemaking began in 2011 when Laithwaite’s Wine, the UK’s largest wine retailer, was granted permission to plant a vineyard at Windsor Great Park, a Royal Park close to the Queen’s much-envied residence, Windsor Castle.
Unsurprisingly, the bottles from her first harvest did not last long and were quickly purchased by lovers of the royal family and wine collectors. A 2014 vintage will be available this fall and sell for £34.99, though we’re not sure that this batch will have a much longer shelf life.
Fortunately, the vineyard is predicted to produce up to 20,000 bottles per year within the next 6 to 7 years. So there is plenty of royal wine to look forward too.
Here’s to us peasants drinking like the Queen!
Story via. The Telegraph
