King Charles III’s coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey in London takes place on Saturday 6 May. During the ceremony, the King will be officially crowned, as will Camilla, the Queen Consort.
To celebrate this momentous regal occasion there will be an extra bank holiday across the UK on Monday 8 May, so this is a great opportunity to open a few bottles of wine to mark the occasion – but what should you be sipping?
Back in 1986 Charles and Princess Diana visited the Frescobaldi family’s Nipozzano estate in Tuscany where they planted an olive tree and a vine.
At his first State Banquet as Monarch in November 2022 – held in honour of visiting South African president Cyril Ramaphosa – a number of French wines were served alongside a vintage Port from 1983 and an English sparkling wine, Ridgeview’s Blanc de Blancs 2016.
English fizz is a great place to start the celebrations as Camilla previously served as president of the UK Vineyards Association, so make sure you stock up on plenty of homegrown wine – still and sparkling – English and Welsh.
Here’s what we’ll be enjoying: 18 wines fit for a king.
18 top wines to toast the King’s coronation
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Pol Roger, Brut Réserve, Champagne, France
93
Richly biscuity on the nose, with steamed rice, fresh pear and citrus blossom complexity. Creamy mousse dissolves into red apple peel, lemon and stone fruits, with a depth of honeyed biscuits. The Reserve NV from Pol Roger is a blend of base wines from at least three vintages. With 6 months of post-disgorgement ageing, the wine is ready to enjoy now.
Pol Roger
Hattingley Valley, Kings Cuvée, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, 2015
92
Named after the 'Kings Farm', which forms part of the estate, the latest vintage of Hattingley Valley's premium sparkling wine was fermented in barrel and aged for 7 months in used oak. After six years on lees, the sparkling wine was disgorged with a dosage of 6g/l. Richly creamy on the nose with buttered stone fruits and caramelised apple. Savoury and frothy on the palate, refreshed by limpid acidity. Bruised pineapple and golden apple are seasoned with cinnamon, white pepper and grapefruit zest, leading to a nutty finish.
2015
Hattingley ValleyHampshire
Camel Valley, Cornwall Brut, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, 2018
91
Great value for a sprightly blend with tingling lemony acidity, freshly chopped yellow apples, and a zingy, slightly salty note to end on. While crisp, it's never sour. The Chardonnay came from Cornwall and Sussex while the Seyval came from Cornwall.
2018
Camel ValleyCornwall
Balfour Winery, Coronation Classic Cuvée Brut, Kent, England, United Kingdom
89
Released in time for the Coronation of King Charles III, Balfour's special release of 'Classic Cuvée' features a vibrant, citrusy nose with camomile, pears and a touch of toast. Frothy and bright on the palate with green apple and lime zest notes, leading to a honeyed nutty hint on the cleansing finish. A refreshing food companion sold at just over £20, the festive English fizz is available in-store at Marks & Spencer and online at Ocado.
Balfour WineryKent
Hattingley Valley, Kings Cuvée Rosé, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom, 2015
93
This is the estate's first Rosé made under the 'Kings' range. Fermented in barrel, the base wine was aged in used oak for 7 months, adding weight and richness. A savoury nose of burnt sugar, confected cherry and red berries. Textured on the palate with ripe red berries, caramelised apple and blood orange, seasoned with spices and a savoury undertone. Complex and long.
2015
Hattingley ValleyHampshire
Ridgeview, Fitzrovia Rosé, Sussex, England, United Kingdom
93
A quintessential British Rosé bursting with elegant wild strawberry, red currant and pink grapefruit aromas. The petillance is intense but pleasant, for a fruity palate that has a delicious honeyed lining but is also underpinned by an unmistakable English acidity. Fragrant, inviting yet so precise.
RidgeviewSussex
Ancre Hill Estates, Triomphe Pet Nat, Wales, United Kingdom, 2021
91
What a delicious nose! Sticking your nose in this has you gasping, so intense are the fresh cranberry and blackberry aromas. A torrent of both fresh and dried strawberries, and there is a somewhat confectionary character to the strawberries too - like Haribo Fraise Tagada or Tangfastics. It’s not that off-putting though - in fact it’s very moreish. It’s sour and tart, but with blossom and gorgeous plum and red apple freshness. Crunchy plums and cranberries bring up the rear. It’s made from Triomphe, and it’s a slightly mad wine, but it’s great value and worth a try, especially if you’ve got friends coming round for a barbecue or dinner. Try pairing it with falafels or Turkish-type mezze foods, or even with grilled meat.
2021
Ancre Hill Estates
Checkmate, Queen's Advantage Chardonnay, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada, 2015
<p>Old-vine intensity on the nose – planted in 1973 at the home vineyard on Golden Mile Bench, these are BC's oldest Chardonnay vines – along...
2015
CheckmateOkanagan Valley
Frescobaldi, Gorgona, Toscana, Tuscany, Italy, 2020
Frescobaldi’s Gorgona white wine shows a beautiful straw-coloured hue marked by wisps of gold in the glass. On the nose, zesty aromas of citrus, passion...
2020
FrescobaldiToscana
Journey’s End, Queen Bee Viognier, Western Cape, South Africa, 2021
90
Gentle rose petal and peach aromas lined by orange zest and crispy pear for an approachable Viognier perfect for everyday drinking.
2021
Journey’s End
Château Latour, Pauillac, 1er Cru Classé, Bordeaux, France, 2019
A seductive sweetness to the fruit on the attack, this waits a heartbeat then explodes out of the glass, overflowing with raspberry, redcurrants, black cherries,...
2019
Château LatourPauillac
Frescobaldi, Castelgiocondo, Brunello di Montalcino, Tuscany, Italy, 2017
Supple and generous in terms of acidity, crushed velvet-textured tannins and herbal-edged red berry fruit - mouth filling and lively. This has character and definition,...
2017
FrescobaldiBrunello di Montalcino
Domaine Anita, Reine de Nuit, Beaujolais, Moulin-à-Vent, Burgundy, France, 2019
Harvested at night to preserve freshness in the grapes, this 'Queen of the Night' is all about bright violet florals tumbling and twirling from the...
2019
Domaine AnitaBeaujolais
Pizzini, Coronamento Nebbiolo, King Valley, Victoria, Australia, 2005
From a single vineyard planted around 20 years ago, this wine has been fermented in barrel, with a gentle extraction and no post-ferment maceration. The...
2005
PizziniKing Valley
Marks & Spencer, Collection, St-Émilion, Bordeaux, France, 2019
90
Made by Christian Moueix, this unoaked blend of 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Franc is plummy and curranty in aroma, with plenty of spiced plum and red fruits flavours. Balanced and bright but still very youthful, give this a decant if you're planning on drinking it this winter.
2019
Marks & SpencerSt-Émilion
Taylor's, Port, Douro Valley, Portugal, 2018
A blend from Quinta de Vargellas in the Douro Superior (the backbone) and Quintas Terra Feita and Junco in the Pinhão Valley. Deep, scented (violets...
2018
Taylor'sPort
Royal Tokaji, Nyulászó 1st Growth Tokaji Aszú 6 puttonyos, Tokaj, Hungary, 2017
<p>The Nyulászó (meaning a good place to catch hares) site's volcanic bedrock is overlaid with rich, brown clay, interspersed with lighter rhyolite loam. Ginger spiced...
2017
Royal Tokaji