Downton Abbey Wines Launch Bordeaux Collection

British period drama Downton Abbey has fast become a global sensation, with around 120 million viewers glued to TV screens worldwide. Now, it’s possible for fans everywhere to bring a taste of Downton Abbey home with a collection of wines inspired by the award-winning television series. The Downton Abbey Wine Collection features two enticing blends from the Bordeaux region of France: a “Blanc” white wine and a “Claret” red wine available in the United States on November 1, 2013 and in Europe and Australia later this year.

In creating this unique collection, Downton Abbey Wines looked to Grands Vins de Bordeaux, a family-owned Winery with more than 130 years of winemaking experience in the prized Entre-Deux-Mers region of Bordeaux, France. Winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong enlisted time-honored winemaking practices as well as modern techniques to create a collection of finely balanced, elegant wines that are eminently drinkable: Downton Abbey Blanc is a light and crisp white blend, while Downton Abbey Claret is medium-bodied red with bright fruit and a silky finish.

“We are excited to launch the Downton Abbey Wine Collection, made in the finest Bordeaux winemaking tradition,” said William Zysblat, co-creator of the wines. “Our collaboration with the Dulong family made perfect sense, as we wanted the same vines, soil and region used to produce the wines from the Downton Era. Having Dulong as our winemaker allows us to create accessible wines that we truly believe the Crawley Family would have been proud to serve at their table.

Winemaker Jean-Marc Dulong added, “It is exciting for me to think about my Bordelaise ancestors crafting their clarets and blancs in the Downton Abbey® era. Their know-how, passed down to me through five generations, has inspired my own winemaking. With Downton Abbey Wines, I have strived to capture the essence of Bordeaux in this collection of delicious and approachable wines.”

Downton Abbey Wines are available online at the Wine website and at the Downton Abbey Wine website, and will also be available at specialty wine retailers and supermarkets nationwide including Cost Plus World Market beginning November 1, 2013 for $14.99 per 750-ml bottle.