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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)