Stowe Wine
Sometimes ideas occur that seem too good to ignore! Stowe has long had links with fine wine – both through vineyard owners and distributors – and so it seemed both a natural and a fun thing to launch a range of Stowe wines.
We are particularly pleased that Gavin Quinney (Cobham 78) has responded so enthusiastically to the idea. His vineyard, Chateau Bauduc, has for many years produced Bordeaux wines of the finest quality and has supplied the last 10 vintages on the trot as the house wine in Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant. “My sommeliers swear by Bauduc,” an enthusiastic Mr Ramsay was quoted recently in The Daily Telegraph as saying.
A range of three wines is offered – red, white and rosé – all tested and approved by the Headmaster and President of the Old Stoic Society! Below we provide details about how you can obtain them.
Gavin Quinney himself comments:
“It’s a great honour to be asked to make a wine for Stowe. It certainly wasn’t one of my ambitions when I left the School in 1978 but, then again, ‘bucolic French winegrower’ wasn’t on the list of possible career choices. Neither was ‘personal computer sales’, given that the technology was in its infancy, yet it was through the popularity of these gadgets that I was able to buy a vineyard near Bordeaux ten years ago. I’m quite sure that, judging by my fellow Stoics, the School instilled in all of us a sense of fun, independence, open-mindedness and the will ‘to have a go’.
Old Stoics who visit us have no doubts of the impact that Stowe had on our choice of home, albeit on a far smaller scale. A beautifully proportioned house, handsome columns and a South Front, with lovely views over parkland and woods. All that’s missing is a lake and a couple of temples.
Our biggest investment in time, energy and euros has been in the vineyard, and for the past decade we’ve been making the house wine for Gordon Ramsay and Rick Stein, and for a growing band of private customers to whom we sell direct. We’re the only overseas vineyard which sells direct to consumers in the UK, with our own cellars near London. Delivery is within a few days.
We do hope you enjoy the fruits of our labour."
How to Order your Wine
Ordering the Stowe wines is most straightforward and quickest via the dedicated page on the Chateau Bauduc website.
The red and white are £8.99 per bottle; the rosé is £6.99. Delivery is free to the UK mainland for half cases (6 bottles) and over; mixed cases are available.
Alternatively, you can call the vineyard directly via freephone 0800 316 3676, or Gavin can be contacted on gavin@bauduc.com We would be delighted to hear your thoughts on the wines. It has been suggested that we should supply a Stowe sparkling wine or champagne as well. Old Stoics or parents with capacity to do so are invited to make contact!