IWSC winner has wine served at Buckingham Palace State Banquet to honour visiting President Obama

IWSC news

Thu 26 May 2011

English sparkling wine was put on an international stage at Buckingham Palace as Her Majesty The Queen served Ridgeview Fitzrovia Sparkling Rosé 2004 at the state dinner to honour the visit of President Barack Obama. Ridgeview’s wine was served alongside a Chablis Grand Cru Les Clos 2004, Echezeaux Grand Cru 1990, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Vintage Rich 2002 and a menu of sole and new season lamb.
 
Guests included Prime Minister David Cameron, Lord Coe, Sir Richard Branson, Sir John Major, Hon. Hillary Clinton, Mayor Boris Johnson, Rt. Hon Tony Blair, Tom Hanks and Kevin Spacey.
 
Ridgeview Estate Winery was founded by the Roberts family in 1994. They have been producing award winning English sparkling wines on the South Downs of Sussex and now export their wines worldwide. Winemaker Simon Roberts commented on their wine being selected for the occasion; “We are truly honoured and thrilled that such an amazing array of influential and important people have tasted our wines, in such an incredible setting as Buckingham palace.” The Fitzrovia Rosé 2004 had previously been awarded the trophy for best International Rose in the French Competition Rose du Mondial in 2007.
 
Ridgeview triumphed in the recent 2011 International Wine and Spirit Competition, winning a Gold for their Ridgeview Grosvenor Blanc de Blancs 2007. Since the release of their wines a decade ago, Ridgeview has won over 140 international trophies and medals putting English sparkling wine on an International stage.