New Shop Boasts Comprehensive Range of Rothschild Wines

On 27 March 2019, Waddesdon celebrated the launch of a new wine shop, offering unrivalled quality, range and expertise, alongside the opportunity to taste before you buy.

With a staggering 126 Rothschild wines on offer, and a further 50 handpicked guest wines, the quantity is unrivalled, but it is the quality of these wines that makes the shop truly unique with ‘cellar to cellar’ provenance guaranteed. As a result of its prestige and global appeal, the Rothschild portfolio is constantly subject to the threat of fraudulent reproductions. However, by working directly with the cellars of the respective Rothschild estates Waddesdon is confident its wines have been stored immaculately, have not travelled unnecessarily, and have been looked after correctly in transit.

Waddesdon’s Rothschild Wine Expert, Peter Tompkins explains, ‘The ability to so confidently account for the condition and provenance of each bottle is exceptionally rare. Take, for example, the 1961 Château Lafite; it remains among the most frequently replicated wines on the planet, yet Waddesdon stocks three bottles that have spent nearly all their life resting in a dark corner in the cellars of Château Lafite, slowly evolving in optimum conditions before being transported directly to Waddesdon’s own cellars.’

To make the most of these iconic vintages the new shop contains a custom-built cooling unit that allows the full range of Grand Cru (priced from £120 to £25,995 a bottle) to be fully visible to the customer. Highlights include Château Mouton 1982, Château Lafite 1961 and Château L’Evangile 1982.

In addition to Waddesdon’s encyclopedic range of Rothschild wines, the Manor’s shop also stocks a select range of handpicked guest wines from classic regions such as Burgundy and the Loire. Around 20 of these are UK exclusives, and the strict selection process ensures they perfectly complement the Rothschild collection, notably with whites and rosés.

With such a vast range to choose from, complimentary wine tastings will be on offer every day to ensure the decision-making process is as easy as possible. Sara Sweetland, Managing Director of Rothschild Waddesdon Limited, the trading company that returns all profits to support Waddesdon, says, ‘We hope this interactive approach will help make our wines more accessible, so customers leave with a bottle that is suited to their palate. We’re also excited to allow customers the chance to taste legendary wines without the pressure of committing to a bottle, by trying a 50ml pour during their visit.’

The shop stocks wines for every pocket, from just £7.50 a bottle, and has 27 wines under £12. It also showcases a range of exclusive gins and beers using botanicals and fruits gathered from the Waddesdon estate, as well as a carefully selected range of charcuterie and cheese to elevate the customer’s sensory enjoyment. The focus is explicitly on small scale artisan producers of fine foods that share the same ethos of quality over quantity.

For the first time Waddesdon will be offering 50ml pours for visitors to taste exceptional fine wines to enhance their visit, through the use of revolutionary wine preservation technology. Wines will be changed frequently, in April they will include:

• Aile d’Argent 2015 – the finest white wine produced by Baron Phillipe de Rothschild, a rare blend of Semillon and Sauvignon from Chateau Mouton – £11.50
• Caro 2015 – Lafite’s finest offering from Argentina. An elegant yet muscular blend of Malbec and Cabernet produced in tiny quantities. £5.95
• Los Vascos Le Dix 2015 – Single vineyard, the top wine of Los Vascos in Chile. Lafite’s premium Chilean blend. £5.95
• Chateau Duhart Milon 1990 – A legendary vintage in Bordeaux. This wonderful claret is showing great complexity and balance approaching its 30th Birthday – £16.95

The Manor Shop is situated at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, and is open Wed-Sun (10am-5pm). A large selection of wines are also available to purchase online at www.waddesdon.org.uk/shop/.

For more information see www.waddesdon.org.uk.