III CHEERS FOR CHARLES III
When only a tip top tipple for a toast will do – to celebrate you-know-who getting a new official titfer for instance – its a daunting choice. You only have one chance to get it right. There’s as much pressure as a London bus tyre, but do not fret. Like a dapper footman, we’re always standing by and ready to help.
CORONATION
A Coronation happens very rarely – usually only a couple of times in a lifetime. It deserves to be celebrated with something remarkable. If you’re not sure what to pour to toast King Charles III’s crowning glory, here are a few – completely partisan – suggestions.
IT MUST BE SPARKLING!
Amid all that pomp and circumstance, get swept away by the marching tunes, the glossy steeds and the swish of horsetails (and that’s just the Household Cavalry’s helmets). Your celebration drink should be as sparkling as the Crown jewels themselves. Synchronise your cork pops with the boom of canon. Let joy erupt like the foam from a bottle. Splash out for this special occasion on something as ebullient as the celebration itself.
GO ANGLO!
It makes sense to choose English Sparkling Wine. For starters, its patriotic. The King himself is a fan, and the Queen is the Patron of WineGB so would heartily approve. Nothing beats a royal seal of approval, surely? Personally, wild horseguards couldn’t drag me away from a decent English Sparkling. But which one? There are so many delicious ones.
AMBRIEL CLASSIC MV
The Ambriel Classic is perfect for every occasion, but its a particularly good choice for the Coronation: its a serious wine, made in the Traditional Method, that’s a delight to sip. As Will Lyons opined in The Times this week:
‘The day itself should start with a glass of fizz. The King has been a loyal supporter of English sparkling wine —Ridgeview from East Sussex is served at state banquets — but I favour Ambriel’s NV Classic Cuvée Brut Traditional Method from royal warrant holder Corney & Barrow, offering yeasty, biscuity richness from West Sussex.’
The bottle livery (in imperial purple, British racing green and sterling silver) seems rather fitting too. If you’d like to stock up with Classic before the big day, we’ll deliver in time (if you order before pumpkin hour): https://ambrielsparkling.com/product/classic-cuvee/
AMBRIEL HUZZAH ROSÉ
Now you’d be forgiven for not having heard of this one, because it isn’t officially being released until 1st May. This stunning pale pink Rosé is arriving just in time, like Cinderella at the ball in her glass slippers. You might be wondering why its called the ‘Huzzah’ Rosé. Well, as the eagle-eyed among you will know, each of our corks bears the word ‘Huzzah!’. Sparkling Wine is often used to celebrate important moments in life. The sort of moments when you ecstatically cry out ‘Huzzah!’ (No? Just me then.). But for those of you that like puns (and I think you know I love them) its also a little nod – if only aurally – to the Hussars. They rode so fast across Europe that they had no time to dither to open a bottle conventionally with their thumbs. Instead, still astride their galloping steeds, they drew their sabres and popped off the corks. (Now the practical among you might notice that popping off a cork with your thumbs seems quicker than drawing a sabre, lining it up along the glass seam while bumping about on horseback and breaking the bottle sending the cork flying. True – but sabrage has more style, swagger, or – dare I say – swashbuckle.) A good game might be to sip the Rosé each time you spot a King’s Royal Hussar? On a day when we’re all allowed optimistically to look at the world through rose-tinted spectacles for a bit, it seems apt to celebrate with a Rosé.
Again, if you’d like some, simply email at hello@ambrielsparkling.com and we’ll ensure that you’re properly provisioned for the big day.
AMBRIEL ENGLISH RESERVE
I admit this is a bit of a feasting favourite, particular for the spicy dishes (Coronation chicken anyone?) or the spectacular puddings. The English Reserve bursts with ripe summer strawberries and raspberries, aristocratically autolytic, with a touch of sweetness tempered with a lick of acidity. Its the perfect sip for your stiff upper lip. Indulge at https://ambrielsparkling.com/product/english-reserve/
Whatever you choose as your toasting tipple, enjoy the day. Remember, as (I’m almost certain) the Palace butler will says as he fills the first flute,
