Episode 12 – the wine 1

Episode 12 – Napoleon Bona Part One

Technical Information:

Producer: Solms Delta
The Wine: 100% Muscat
Vintage: 2016
Wine of Origin: Franschhoek
Alcohol: 17%
Bottles: 1,300 half bottles

Napoleon Bona Part One is a Natural Sweet Wine, produced from vine-dried Muscat grapes, very much in the classic Constantia style. The inspiration for the title comes from the fact that Napoleon, during his five-year exile on Saint Helena found solace in consuming a bottle of Constantia a day. A ‘General Statement of the wines supplied for General Bonaparte’s Establishment’ dated October 1816 through to 30 June 1817, shows that the three-monthly tally was around 90 bottles. The emperor kept this cache for his exclusive enjoyment, and is believed to have asked for a glass shortly before he died.

This release represents a single barrel of wine. This might be Part One, but Rick is leaving everyone guessing as to what the sequel might be…