King of Spain introduced to English fizz

English sparkling wine from Cornish estate Camel Valley was on the menu at the state banquet held in honour of the king and queen of Spain this week.

King Philip VI and Queen Letizia are currently on a state visit of the UK and dined with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip (in addition to a number of other guests) at Buckingham Palace this Tuesday.

The Spanish royals were given a taste of England’s burgeoning wine industry at the banquet when they were served Camel Valley Pinot Noir Rosé brut 2013 as an apéritif.

With the salmon the palace sommeliers went with a more traditional white Burgundy option, a 2008 Corton-Charlemagne.

Scottish beef with bone marrow, truffles and a Madeira sauce was paired with a 2000 Bodegas Alion from Ribera del Duero and Madeira itself, a 15-year-old Bual from Henriques & Henriques, was served with the pudding.

As reported yesterday, the king and queen also tasted a Sherry that is gifted the UK’s Poet Laureate upon their appointment to the role. Part payment in Sherry is a tradition that dates back from the creation of the role in 1630.

It was stopped in 1790 but revived in 1984 and continued ever since.