
The 23rd of April is St George’s Day. While the celebrations to honour Saints Patrick and Andrew are impossible to avoid, the day dedicated to England’s Patron often slips by unnoticed. For this reason the Wine Pantry is embarking on a bold mission to inspire pride in the English – pride in our country; pride in St George and pride in our ever growing range of superb national produce.
Although there is no historical mention of St George championing English wine, it is known that the Romans were among the first to plant vines in England and St George was a Roman soldier… that’s where my tenuous attempt to connect St George with English wine will end.
St George was born to Christian parents in Cappadocia (now Eastern Turkey) around 270 AD. He moved to the Roman outpost of Nicomedia to become a soldier, where he rose to the rank of Tribunus Militum. However, the cruelty shown to Christians by the Roman Empire – at this point, under the command of Diocletian – led George to resign his post in protest. For this defiance, he was imprisoned and tortured. When even this would not make George renounce his faith, Diocletian had him dragged through the city streets and then beheaded. His beliefs and bravery influenced many, including the Emperor’s wife who converted to Christianity and was subsequently executed.
In one of his quieter periods, St George also saved a princess by slaying a dragon.*
The English developed a fondness for St George when the Crusaders returned from the Holy Land with inspiring tales of his martyrdom. A church in Fordington, Dorset, also records the “miracle appearance” of St George outside Jerusalem in 1099, where he then led the good Christian soldiers into battle. In 1222 the Council of Oxford declared 23rd April St George’s Day; yet it was not until 1348 that King Edward III declared St George the Patron Saint of England.
This day was celebrated as a national holiday until the union of England and Scotland in the 18th Century. Since then, festivities on the 23rd April have sadly lost their place in the British calendar.
It is for this reason that we at the Wine Pantry challenge you to help us revive our country’s pride. In the week leading up to the 23rd we will be offering a 10% discount on any 6 bottles of wine, including a useful bottle carrier, and on the day itself enjoy a free glass of Three Choirs Classic Cuvée sparkling wine and you can have another on us!
We look forward to seeing you in our St Pancras shop, where we shall raise a glass and toast the immortal words of Shakespeare, “Cry ‘God for Harry, England and St George!’”
*May not be factually accurate…
By Will and Liberty











