Kicking off King Charles’s 75th birthday festivities, Napa Valley winery Bouchaine Vineyards received a rare invitation to serve its wines at the London book launch party for the English King’s latest biography, King Charles III: The Leadership and Vision of a Modern Monarch.
The “walkaround tea” (with wine) was hosted Nov. 14, the King’s birthday, at the posh Claridge’s Hotel by official royal publisher St. James’s House. Claridge’s is one of the royal family’s favorite hotels and hosted then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s wedding reception.
Hundreds of photographers, reporters and people who’ve worked closely with the royal family for decades attended, celebrating the event’s guests of honor—royal biographer Robert Jobson and royal photographer Arthur Edwards.
This isn’t the first time Bouchaine Vineyards has been invited to attend a royal event. Their wines were served at the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022, and owners Gerret and Tatiana Copeland were friends with the King’s aunt, Princess Margaret. They met in the 1980s while vacationing on the Caribbean island of Mustique, where both the Copelands and the late Princess owned homes. The Copelands have also met the King and his father, the late Duke of Edinburgh, through their charity work and shared commitment to sustainable farming and vineyard practices.
Bouchaine president and winemaker Chris Kajani made the trek across the sea to attend the event in person. Bouchaine was the only wine poured at the event, so Kajani brought several of her wines, including the Bouchaine Estate Chardonnay 2020 and four wines from the 2021 vintage: Bouchaine Estate Calera Clone Pinot Noir, Bouchaine Estate Riesling, Bouchaine Estate Mt. Eden Clone Pinot Noir and the newly released Bouchaine Estate Syrah.
“I wanted to bring a cross section of what we do,” said Kajani. “We don’t export so we thought we’d give the guests a taste of different California wines.” The wines paired nicely with the traditional English treats served at the party, including tea sandwiches, Coronation Chicken (a favorite of the late Queen’s) and Lemon Chantilly cakes. “I have to admit, I had three of those,” said Kajani, laughing.
Guests, many of whom have known the royal family for decades, spent the party reminiscing and sharing stories. One of Princess Diana’s now-retired security guards delighted Kajani and others with a story about the young Prince Harry and Prince William racing golf carts through the King’s Highgrove vegetable garden, demolishing it in the process—an event that the King now finds more amusing in hindsight.
“The energy in the room at Claridge’s and everyone being there together to celebrate the King and his coronation was one of the most fun things I’ve ever experienced,” Kajani said.
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