Royal red is good crowd pleaser (From The Oxford Times)

Royal red is good crowd pleaser

9:25am Friday 10th February 2012 in Food / Drink By Jessica Mann

When you buy wine for an event, your main consideration is cost. Generally this means the wine is cheap. But what do you do if you are the Queen?

On February 2, I was invited to a preview reception of the Queen’s 60 photos for 60 years exhibition at Windsor Castle. Former The Oxford Times photographer John Lawrence’s image of the Queen viewing the troops at RAF Benson was one of the images chosen for the exhibition.

When I entered, I was offered a glass of red, white, or non-alcoholic ginger lime fizz. Tempted by the non-alcoholic version, I got over my hesitation of “party” wines and took a glass of white instead.

I was not disappointed.

The white was clean and crisp. It had good fruit flavour with added depth and a touch of creaminess. It was a Dufouleur Monopole made by a negociant in Nuits-Saint-George called Dufouleur Pere et Fils.

Supplied by Edward Parker Wines, via the talented caterer Edible Food Designs. It is a simple non-vintage table wine, but far superior to its supermarket substitutes.

The red wine is a blend of Grenache, Syrah and Pinot Noir. It has a well-rounded nose with dark fruits on the palate, and substantial length.

According to William Bannister, of Edward Parker Wines London: “The red — it is just a fantastic everyday drinker. Nothing complicated nor clever just a very good crowd pleaser.”

As the only wine supplier for Edible Food Designs, who are one of the “approved” royal caterers, they have supplied wine for functions at St James’s and Buckingham Palaces, as well as supplying wine to the Lord Mayor of London.

If you want to order either of the Dufouleur Monopole Non-Vintage wines, visit the website www.edwardparkerwines.co.uk or email William@edwardparkerwines.co.uk.

For this column it is priced at £5.95 a bottle, minimum six bottles if you want it delivered, or pop in to their shops in London, Newmarket, or Norfolk.

Alternatively, if you want a similar wine for an event go to the Oxford Wine Company and try the Hutton Ridge Chenin Blanc or Shiraz/Cinsault, both priced at £5.99.

For a bit of burgundy, Stevens Garnier has an Albert Bichot Bourgogne Pinot Noir (2008) and Chardonnay (2009) Vieilles Vignes each for £10.99.

• Looking for something to do after Valentine’s Day? Try the Banfi Wine Dinner at Malmaison, Oxford, on Tuesday, February 21.

For more information contact — events.oxford@malmaison.com