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Today is the day when you can start hosting your dinner parties, so we are looking forward to receiving your entries in the coming weeks. Remember to check the main Come and Dine page for everything you need to submit! We are very much looking forward to receiving your entries and seeing a fantastic mix of dinner parties from around the world. It is a wonderful opportunity to do something so fun and enjoyable during February for the chance to Come and Dine at one of the most famous homes in the world, Highclere Castle, The Real Downton Abbey!
When dining it is often the wine accompanying each dish which makes the flavour stand out. It acts as a a wonderful enhancement to any meal! As Italian priest and philiosopher, Thomas Aquinas wrote: “Sorrow can be alleviated by good sleep, a bath and a glass of wine”, which many of us know to be true. Lord Carnarvon’s wine cellar at Highclere Castle has is truly varied with a wide collection of wines from around the world. This can make choosing a suitable wine to compliment each dish a challenging yet enjoyable process…
Here is a charming video of Lord Carnarvon selecting the wines for a dinner party with the help of Luis, the butler, who has a brilliantly detailed knowledge of wines from around the world:
A list of the wines that were chosen for dinner:
- 2014 Puligny-Montrachet (with the potted shrimps)
- 2003 Chateaux La Tour de Mons, Margaux (with the beef)
- 1933 Madeira, Malmsey (with the chocolate pots)
- 1963 Dow’s Vintage Port (digestif)
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Although we are too far away to attend any dinner party at your lovely home, I would suggest that you check if Lord Carnarvon has among his world collection some Chilean wines, one of the best in the world. Check out the seriouseats article on Chilean wines.
We do enjoy a quest for exploring wines from the Americas as well as Europe.
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
I thoroughly enjoyed the wine selection video and such outstanding wines. I particularly would be interested in the diner’s response to the 1933 Madeira and the chocolate pots. I am usually more of a savoury diner than of sweets, but the mere thought of that combination of food and wine for dessert excites the taste buds.
Also, good luck and best wishes to all who will be hosting dinner parties during February. May the competition bring much merriment to all involved and raise donations for PBS and other charities.
Regards,
Jeffery Sewell
Thank you!The Madeira is rather special, fun to bring out as well as delicious. Luis does pair wines and of course pudding wines really well.
I was disappointed that California wines were not chosen. We have any fine vintages that would have gone great with your dinner.
You have some excellent wines and in fact part of this prize is to stay the first night at the Vineyard Hotel near us and enjoy a wine tasting. Sir Peter Michael and his family own it and have some outstanding Californian vineyards and wines – http://www.petermichaelwinery.com/ In fact we have some but I guard the bottles!!!
What wonderful cava at Highclere! I so enjoyed seeing his Lordship remark on his choices of the wines and the reference to what were his father’s favorites, too. I am looking into the array of Greek wines for our dinner: a white wine from the vineyards near Meteora, a red wine from the area of Halkidiki near the Aegean Sea coastline, and a traditional mastic liqueur for the finale. The mastic comes from the Island of Chios, appropriately named “Omeriko” (“Homer’s”)
I live in Napa Valley and we have wine coming out of our ears – the trend is younger wines currently – so it is nice to see you picked some oldies but goodies for dessert and aperitif. Just love a port to finish!!!
Good Morning,
I have a GOLDEN RULE about wine selection!
RED wine for all types of red meat!
WHITE wines for fish and poultry of any kind!
And if it is a cool night, warm the wine before drinking it, and you will get the BEST night sleep you have had in years!
Thanks for reading,
John L. Roberts
Amherst, N.Y. U.S.A
Dear Lady Carnarvon,
What an interesting blog. It was fun to see the wine cellar and see Lord Carnarvon choosing wines for dinner. I enjoy wine from time to time, limited due to health reasons. But, there are so many wonderful choices. I generally am a wine snob only choosing French, Italian or German wines, however since leaving California to live in Texas, I have found endless choices in wonderful wines.
You can find a map of all the Texas wineries in the hope that some of them will appeal to you. There are many places in the U.S. that offer notable wines but are, perhaps, not as widely publicized.
As you can see, nearly our entire state is covered with wineries. I hope you enjoy our wine tour.
Many thanks for your keeping us up to date with Highclere Castle goings on.
Best to all, Susan
A completely non-relevant comment; Thank you for putting Closed Caption on your videos so the deaf can enjoy them!! ( I’m a deafie who doesn’t know sign language..)
I’m in Washington State, along the Columbia Gorge, which is quickly turning into the new “Napa” Valley! We have even made wine ourselves! My father was a wine maker!
There is nothing more adventurous than a well stocked wine cellar!
Happy Spring!
Elizabeth Anne Mullenix
I so enjoy your newsletters. My nephew has a small winery in northern California. I would be happy to send you a sample from the Munger Family Winery. My dinner party will be quite small but we will use all your helpful hint. Thank you
You are kind!