Wine Wanderings

Share this post

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits

triciawinewanderings.substack.com

Discover more from Wine Wanderings

Wandering through the world tasting wine and spirits... traveling to wineries and vineyards, wine regions, food & drink tourism sites, and spirits crafters.
Continue reading
Sign in

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits

Meet the Countess of Highclere Castle, Lady Carnarvon

Tricia Conover
Oct 25, 2022
1
Share this post

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits

triciawinewanderings.substack.com
1
Share
Downtown Abbey TV Series, the Upstairs and Downstairs Characters

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.

Lady Carnarvon’s new book: Seasons at Highclere

Wine Wanderings is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Tricia Conover and Lady Carnarvon, Dallas, Nov. 2022

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.

Lady Mary and Lady Edith, principal characters, Downton Abbey

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.

Holiday Gift Subscription to WW

The Right Honorable Countess of Carnarvon

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.

Highclere Castle Gin

Share Wine Wanderings

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.

Leave a comment

Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar

Thanksgiving Perfection: A Willamette Valley Pinot Noir

With the Top 9 Wine Pairing Guideline for a Perfect Dinner

Live from Mason County Wine Festival: Small Town America Embraces Wine & Art

Holiday Gifts for the Wine Lover

The Best Sparkling Wines of the Holiday Season

Winter Wine and Cheese Pairing- Hosting a Tasting in Your Home

1881 Museum Napa Valley: A Transformation of the Oakville Grocery

The Restaurants of Calistoga, Napa Valley

America’s Exceptional Wine Country Adventures: States to Consider

Climate Change and Wine

Tour Tuscany like a Pro

 The Heritage of Hall Winery, Napa Valley: Tour and Tasting

Wine Castles of Sonoma County

Traveling to Napa Valley: Wineries, Sports Activities, Shopping, Where to Eat, Where to Stay

North Texas Premier Wine Destinations

Meet Eden Hill, Lone Star, and Blue Ostrich

1
Share this post

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits

triciawinewanderings.substack.com
1
Share
1 Comment
Share this discussion

Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle: The Real Wines and Spirits

triciawinewanderings.substack.com
Jan Johnsen
Writes Jan Johnsen's Gardentopia
Feb 26Liked by Tricia Conover

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.

Expand full comment
Reply
Share
Top
New
Community

No posts

Ready for more?

© 2023 Tricia Conover, DipWSET
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great writing