For Architectural Digest, by Greg Seals.
If you've ever dreamed of partying like a royal, then you're in luck, because the Queen of England has recently gotten into the sparkling-wine business. The development of Queen Elizabeth II's bubbly first began back in 2011, when she granted permission to Laithwaite, a British winemaker and retailer, to plant a vineyard on royal grounds, Food & Wine reports. Soon, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes began taking root at Windsor Great Park, only a stone's throw away from Windsor Castle, one of the Queen's residences. The first harvest happened in 2013, and after lots of patience, the first batch of Windsor Vineyard English Quality Sparkling Wine was made available for purchase late last year.
Unsurprisingly, sparkling wine with such a famous pedigree didn't remain on shelves for long, and the 3,000 bottles were quickly scooped up by collectors, Champagne connoisseurs, and lovers of the royal family. But if you didn't get your hands on a precious bottle, don't fear. The 2014 harvest will be made available this fall, and buyers who don't want to miss out on another chance to taste some royal sparkles can preorder a bottle for £34.99, or roughly $44, on Laithwaite's website.
The company describes the taste as "a fine fizz with delicious rich toasty length," which sounds like an absolutely perfect refreshment to enjoy after a day of playing with corgis and binge-watching The Crown on Netflix. To get a glimpse of the royal vineyard and learn more about Queen Elizabeth II's bubbly, you can watch the video below.
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