With the Coronaton weekend coming up, we spoke to some of our English wine producers, about how they’ll be celebrating, and what they’ll be eating and drinking…

As we revel in an additional bank holiday this month to celebrate the coronation of Charles III and Camilla, it is only fitting to toast the occasion with a glass of English wine. Whether you are hosting a “Coronation Big Lunch”, rustling up a Coronation Quiche, or planning picnics and barbecues, we’ve put together a Coronation Celebration mixed case to enjoy alongside, which includes our top picks from our English wine portfolio, as well as bottles that we know are delicious on a sunny bank holiday, from refreshing, zingy rosé to a juicy, vibrant red that’s perfect for summer.

Across Buckinghamshire, Hampshire, Kent and Sussex, our producers have shared how they, too, will be indulging over the long weekend. With winter a distant memory, they share our King’s delight in being able to enjoy some of the first seasonal home-grown produce. All our producers also emulate His Royal Highness’ passion for sustainability.

Henry Laithwaite, co-founder and winemaker at Harrow & Hope in Marlow is optimistic that “summer will have arrived and we can have a barbecue. Which for me normally kicks off with some king prawns drenched in garlic butter and parsley. If the sun is out, I’ll no doubt be drinking our Rosé, but the Brut will brighten up the cloudiest of May days!” Considering the health of his vineyard, “organic nutrition and not using herbicides is an absolute must for me. If we want to extract unique flavours from these vines then they have to be in a healthy, well-structured and balanced state to do so.”

Down in Hampshire, The Wharie Experience oenologist Guillaume Lagger “will have a few local asparagus grown in the New Forest… grilled with some olive oil and salt”. He’s opening one of the first bottles of his 2021 Pinot Noir, a food-focused, oak-aged rosé which will be in-store later this summer. For now, explore his two white wines from the inaugural 2020 vintage. Everything about this micro-winery stems revolves around Guillaume’s zeal for minimal intervention.

Sourcing her asparagus from even closer to home, proprietor Susannah Ricci plans to “pick handfuls from the garden at Yotes Court. The plan is to create some puff pastry Galettes filled with asparagus, ricotta, goats cheese and a sprinkling of lemon zest for the village Coronation Picnic Lunch the following day.  We will be pairing it with Yotes Court ‘On the Nod’ Bacchus 2021 whose fresh acidity and citrus notes should match it perfectly.” As well as being a founder member, in August 2020 Yotes Court Vineyard became one of the first 12 producers to become accredited under the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme. By encouraging natural inter-vine alleys of flowering and seeding weed and grass species, Yotes Court vineyard is home to many pollinating and beneficial insects. A direct result of increasing these insect populations is that the numbers of small and predatory birds have risen, too.

Charlie Lowe at Nyetimber shared that, “Aside from toasting King Charles III’s Coronation with a glass of Nyetimber’s flagship Classic Cuvee Multi-Vintage, I plan on preparing a butter and herb-basted dover sole accompanied by new potatoes, creamed leeks, and sorrel; this will also pair wonderfully with a glass (or bottle) of the newly released 2015 vintage Blanc de Blancs.” As part of myriad environmental initiatives, they are working towards accreditation with LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) to demonstrate the use of sustainable practices with an integrated farm management policy across all their properties.

If you’re feeling inspired by these delicious food and wine suggestions, and keen to finalise your bottles for the weekend, browse more of our Coronation wine recommendations here.