Vineyard’s wine used in Queen’s launch of vessel

THE family behind Wiston Estate was ‘delighted’ to see their sparkling wine used by the Queen to launch a new cruise vessel this week.
JPCT 120712 Wiston Estate turning on one of biggest solar installations in the area, marking beginning of massive sustainability plan for the area. Harry Goring (right) his wife Pip and son Richard Goring, toasting opening. Photo by Derek Martin ENGSUS00120121207164708JPCT 120712 Wiston Estate turning on one of biggest solar installations in the area, marking beginning of massive sustainability plan for the area. Harry Goring (right) his wife Pip and son Richard Goring, toasting opening. Photo by Derek Martin ENGSUS00120121207164708
JPCT 120712 Wiston Estate turning on one of biggest solar installations in the area, marking beginning of massive sustainability plan for the area. Harry Goring (right) his wife Pip and son Richard Goring, toasting opening. Photo by Derek Martin ENGSUS00120121207164708

P&O Cruises marked its celebration of all things British when it selected sparkling wine from the Wiston Estate in Findon Park Farm for the bottle smash moment in Southampton on Tuesday.

The Queen, accompanied by Prince Philip, named the new vessel Britannia at the Ocean Terminal.

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A large wine bottle, called a nebuchadnezzar, of Brut NV was used for the ceremony, while thousands of bottles of Brut NV and Rosé Vintage 2011 were enjoyed during the various inaugural events of the day.

Pip Goring of the Wiston Estate said: “Our family has been the custodian of the Wiston Estate in West Sussex for hundreds of years.

“However, it is only recently that we have realised our long-held dream to make sparkling wine here in the South Downs.

“We are delighted that Wiston Estate Brut has been chosen to name Britannia on the historic occasion of her launch.”

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Pip was joined by her husband Harry and son Richard Goring at the event.

The Wiston Estate covers 6,000 acres on the South Downs and has been owned and managed by the Goring family since 1743.

Britannia is the biggest ship designed exclusively for Britain.

It includes restaurants, bars and cafés, with menus and culinary experiences created by P&O Cruises’ celebrated foodies, James Martin, Marco Pierre White, Atul Kochhar and Eric Lanlard, along with wine expert Olly Smith and cheese expert Charlie Turnbull.

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