Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits
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Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits
Meet the Countess of Highclere Castle, Lady Carnarvon
Lady Carnarvon, Countess of Highclere Castle, Comes to Dallas
On October 18, 2022, the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden held its annual Writer’s Garden luncheon. This year the guest speaker was Lady Carnarvon, Right Honorable Countess of Carnarvon, Highclere Castle. She showcased her new book, “Seasons at Highclere: Gardening, Growing, and Cooking Thought the Year at the Real Downton Abbey.” Lady Carnarvon’s presentation, “The Four Seasons of Highclere Castle,” included lively anecdotes of the Downton Abbey filming adventures, pictures of the multiple gardens of Highclere’s 1000 acres, photos of the livestock including the pigs, Lady Mary and Lady Edith, and images of the wonderful red fabric-walled Stanhope bedroom, decorated in 1901 for King Edward VII’s stay there. On the TV show Downtown Abbey, the Stanhope bedroom was the site of the infamous Turkish emissary’s bedroom and his escapades with Lady Mary.
I was privileged to have a seat at one of the beautifully decorated tables at the Writer’s Garden luncheon and met Lady Carnarvon. Thank you, Linda S.
Wines and Spirits Served on Downton Abbey and at Highclere Castle
Wines and spirits play a prominent role at Highclere Castle as well as in the Downton Abbey TV series. In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon held a virtual cocktail party featuring drinks that were served at the Hampshire mansion in the 1920s and 30s. At least “50,000 fans from around the world attended” according to BBC News. The Downton Abbey series ended in 2015 after six series and followed with two box office popular movies.
Throughout the Downton Abbey Series (now available on Amazon Prime) Bordeaux wines played a prominent role. Premier cru as well as bargain Bordeaux wines could be found.
Episode 9, Season Five, featured Chateau Margaux.
“Mr. Carson (Jim Carter) offers his friend Mrs. Hughes (Phyllis Logan) some leftover wine from the decanter. ‘You won’t go far wrong with a Margaux.’”
Champagne played a prominent role in many episodes of Downton Abbey. Veuve Clicquot was poured both upstairs and downstairs when a detective arrived clearing Bates, the butler, as a murder suspect in the Season 3 finale.
When Lady Rose came to live at Downton Abbey, the cocktail hour became prominent. I should think she would then appreciate the real gin of Highclere Castle now available. Highclere Castle Gin is the winner of 32 International double gold and platinum awards. It was the most awarded gin of 2021. This is an exceptional gin, crafted with Highclere Castle botanicals and excellent with tonic and a slice of lime on the rocks.
“We made the gin bottle a ‘purply-blue.’ Those are Bishops’ colors. One needs spiritual help to make spirits,” said Lady Carnarvon, October 18, 2022, at A Writer’s Garden, Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens.
Whisky caused problems in several episodes of Downton Abbey, including the seduction of Tom Branson by a maid, Edna, following the death of his wife, Lady Sybil. Lady Mary drank whisky with a splash of water always with a sharp comment following. See all the cocktails in the “Official Downton Abbey Cocktail Book” featuring a forward by Downton Abbey creator, Julian Fellows. The recipes reflect the drinks concocted and served upstairs and down.
There is a Downton Abbey Wine Collection created by fifth-generation winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong featuring Bordeaux white blends from Bordeaux, France, as well as a Downtown Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon from California. The show’s modern, American-born Cora Crawley (Elizabeth McGovern), fictional wife of Robert Crawley, is the inspiration for these wines. At $15 per bottle, you will be lucky to find these wines today.
Visiting Highclere Castle
Highclere Castle is located about 66 miles from London and 33 miles from Oxford, England. There are a number of day tours to Highclere from London with many stopping at other Downton Abbey filming sites like Bampton (often used at the fictional village in the TV show and movies.) A full day excursion from London with transportation may cost as much as $170 per person. Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Newbury takes just 40 minutes. Tickets to Highclere Castle must be bought and booked in advance, and a taxi should be schedule prior to arrival.
Recommended Wine and Spirits
Veuve Clicquot, Yellow Label, NV, Champagne, France, $70
James Suckling, 92 Points
Macallan 15 Year Double Cask Single Malt Whisky, Speyside, Scotland, $140
Liquor.com, 4/5 rating
2018 Chateau Margaux, Bordeaux, Premier Cru, France, $800
Robert Parker, 100 Points
Highclere Castle Gin, $40
Highclere Castle Gin is the winner of 71 international spirit awards with multiple scores of 96 points! Highclere Castle is famous around the world as “the real Downton Abbey.” Highclere Castle Gin is distilled from a blend of botanicals grown on Highclere Castle’s ancient estate, including vibrant oranges from the castle’s Victorian Orangery greenhouse.
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Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits
I once spoke to the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden at their annual writer's luncheon! What a wonderful and special group.