Laura Rhys, Master Sommelier, answers that all-important Coronation weekend question: what should we drink at our Coronation street party?
As the Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III approaches – with all the pomp, pageantry and street parties that such an occasion entails – six new recipes have been created to help us mark the Royal occasion.
Here, Laura Rhys Master Sommelier, selects wines to match three of her favourite Coronation dishes. Plus, she has a suggestion for those serving up the classic Coronation Chicken created for Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
Ken Hom's Coronation Roast Rack of Lamb with Asian-style Marinade
Pinot Noir 2020 is a great pairing with lighter roasted meat dishes. Our Pinot Noir is light and elegant, showing lots of soft red fruits, delicate spices and a delicious earthy, smoky mineral note, making it the perfect match to this rack of lamb and the soy, sesame notes in the marinade and sauce.
Nadiya's Coronation Aubergine
Brut Reserve 2019 is a versatile wine to match with a variety of foods and would be a wonderful companion to Nadiya’s coronation aubergine dish. The wine is elegant and round, with ripe orchard and stone fruit notes, an appealing citrus-led freshness and notes of toasted brioche and sweet spice. The richer, rounder fruit and delicate spice notes would highlight the flavours of the coated, griddled aubergine, with the elegant, zesty finish cutting through the dressing.
Adam Handling's Strawberry and Ginger Trifle
Brut Rosé 2018 works really well with lighter, creamy or fruity desserts. Our Brut Rosé from the warm 2018 vintage is brimming with ripe summer fruit notes of wild strawberry, raspberry and red cherry, with a delightful orange citrus and ginger spice character on the finish. There’s a richness to the fruit on the palate and a creaminess too, allowing the wine to match really well with the strawberry, ginger custard and cream in this dessert.
And for a classic Coronation Chicken…
The dish’s combination of sweetness, richness and mild spice is something of a challenge when it comes to wine matching. Thankfully, Laura Rhys Master Sommelier, our Global Brand Ambassador, has the answer. “I would opt for Gusbourne’s Brut Reserve 2019,” says Laura. “It’s a classic match for lighter, white meat dishes and would be lovely alongside Coronation Chicken.”
How to enjoy your Gusbourne at its best
“I like drinking Brut Reserve from either a wide, tulip-shaped glass or a white wine glass. This wider style of glass allows the aromas to circulate more and the wine to open-up and release those delicious flavours.”
Laura suggests taking the bottle out of the fridge five to 10 minutes before serving – good news if you have a local street party planned. “You don’t want it to be too cold,” she says. If it’s chilled rather than icy, you’ll experience a wider array of delicate aromas and flavours.
“What better way to celebrate this Royal occasion – and a quintessentially British dish – than with a bottle of English sparkling wine,” says Laura.
You can purchase Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2019 by the bottle here, or the 2018 magnum here. If you’d like to join us at the vineyard for a memorable Coronation celebratory tea for two, you can find out more and book tickets here.