Raising A Glass To Research!

Cara/Andrea here,

Researching the little details that add color and texture to a story is one of my favorite parts of writing a book. I’m one of those peculiar people who can hours in a museum examining the gold-threaded stitching on a military uniform or the get down on hands and knees to study the shape of a tea cabinet leg. Most of the things I learn never actually end up in the story. But reading about various subjects—or better yet, seeing objects and places in real life—help me, er, drink in the ambiance of the era.

Sometimes literally. Yes, research can be intoxicating!

Too Wicked To WED, my new book, which came out last week, has a number of scenes set in a gaming hell. Now, last week I talked about cards. (The history of them, not how to gamble away your family fortune in a single night. I do draw the line just how far I’ll go to experience authenticity.) So it seemed only natural to take a look at the other staple of a gaming hell—wines and spirits!

"Let us have wine and women, mirth and laughter . . .” —Lord Byron

We all know our Regency bucks of the ton liked to tipple. Brandy, port, claret were among the favorites, And when talking about Regency drinking, one name comes to mind—Berry Brothers, the quintessential purveyor of spirits to anyone who was anyone. So during a recent trip to London, I decided to take a stroll down St, James’s Street and pay a call at Number Three.

You have only to look at the outside of the shop to know you are seeing something special. It’s been in the very same spot since its founding in 1698. Notice the low sloping shape of the building? That’s because it was originally a part of Henry VIII’s tennis court. Another thing that may catch your eye is the sign of the coffee mill hanging above the front door. It, too, has an interesting history, for you see, the business was originally opened by the Widow Bourne (hmm, any relation, Joanna?) as a grocer’s shop named the Coffee Mill.

The business was passed down through the family and by 1768 was a major supplier of coffee to the fashionable coffee houses and clubs—White’s and Boodles among them. Being on that date, they already began a unique tradition that lasted until the early twentieth century. The charming fellow who showed me around the present-day Berry Brothers explained that scales large enough to weigh a person were not household items in the aristocratic townhouses of London. And so, many of the gentlemen of the time began stopping by to weigh themselves on the huge coffee scale in the main room. (It is still there today.) The weights were duly recorded in a ledger, and it apparently became a fashionable tradition. Many gentlemen came regularly for their entire lives. (Public weighings, with the exact number inscribed in a book that anyone could peruse? Honestly—only a man could have come up with THAT idea.) The thick ledgers are still on shelf, and Byron and Beau Brummell are among the illustrious names that can be found within their dusty morocco-bound covers.
 The shop began selling wine to King George III, and its trade soon began to outpace coffee sales. It was in 1803 that the first Berry—sixteen-year-old George—set foot on the hallowed floors. A distant relative of the Widow, he worked diligently to learn the business and the rest, as they say is history.

Many wonderful pieces of art and memorabilia decorated the walls of Berry Brothers (Mr. Rudd was added right after WWI.) One of my favorites is a “certificate of loss” from White Star Lines, apologizing for the sinking of 69 cases of the company’s wine when the titanic went down. And of course, there are some marvelous old vintages on display as well. (As a sidenote, the shop still sells coffee, though few people are aware of it.)  After this delightful stroll through history, I left the premises extremely happy (and entirely sober—I promise!)

So do you have a favorite shop that is steeped in history? Or getting into the “spirit” of  wines, have you ever had a memorable wine or port? I once tasted a 1938 port and an 1898 Madeira that were sublime. Lastly—how about a drink or punch recipe for the upcoming holidays. I’ll be giving away a signed copy of TOO WICKED TO WED to one randomly selected person who leaves a comment between now and Saturday evening!

Comments

[cate]

When my great uncle Tom died in the late '80's it fell to his daughter & my mother to clear the house. He had been a senior customs officer at Southampton docks, & when they started to clear the garage. Amidst a sea of gubbins, they found several cases of champagne from the 30's and also a case of Nuit St Georges 1948. My aunt gave one of the bottles of the St George to my mum ( & all of the champagne, but that's another story !).
One very cold December evening, my mum decided to open the wine...& thank god, I was at home when she did. I can still smell the utterly fantastic aroma as the bottle was opened. It was also the most divine wine I have ever drunk in my life. Silky,smooth, fruity - I'm no wine buff, but I can understand now, why people go bonkers for the stuff.
An absolutely memorable experience,that will never be repeated - Cheers !

[Angelina Barbin]

As many Regencies as I've read I can't believe I'd never heard of Berry Brothers. Thank you so much for updating my education on all things Regency. (I shudder at the thought of a public weighing.)

Angelina

[Andrea Penrose]

OMG, Cate—a Nuit St. George '48! What an amazing experience that must have been! That's a legendary wine and so you are one of the privileged few! I've had a few really special clarets too— a Chateau Lafite 1960 being one of them, and yes, it was sublime.

[Andrea Penrose]

LOL, Angelina on the public weighing! As I said, only a man could have thought f that. But then, I would guess that our Regency ladies were more obsessed about size that weight. They fretted about fitting into certain styles and whether they could lace their corsets—which of course has to do with weight, but I'm not sure they thought about actual "poundage like we do.

[cate]

Oooh - No, no idea it was that special, all I can tell you is it was gorgeous, & the only other wine that's come close to it was a Barolo that I had with the other half,in a cracking little bar/bistro in Paris last year. - Ella,Peggy, Sarah pouring out of the radio speaker (yep !) & the best steak frites I've ever had :)

[Gail]

I have a green christmas punch with ginger-ale,Pine Apple juice and lime kool-aid.Does that count,I don't drink.

[Isobel Carr]

I had a great time getting a large portion of the Beau Monde tipsy when teaching my Gregorian Gentleman’s Tipple workshop in San Francisco. It was lots of fun to research period drinks and then try to find modern versions. I even made Shrub so people could taste it.

[Andrea Penrose]

Gail, that sounds . . . interesting> Kool Aid sort of frightens me I think I'll stick to claret!

[Andrea Penrose]

Isobel, I'm so sorry I missed your drinks workshop at BM. I would love to taste shrub . . . how about sharing the recipe here!

[Andrea Penrose]

Cate, you have great taste! A Barolo in Paris—and steak frites? Heaven!

[Quilt Lady]

I have to say I am not much of a Wine Drinker, gives me a headach. I am more of a mixed drink sort of girl and don't do that often.

[Andrea Penrose]

Maybe try port or sherry, Quilt Lady. (No that I'm pushing wine!) I'm not a big drinker at all, but do enjoy a really nice glass of wine, champagne or port. Mixed drinks I rarely touch, though I did try a martini in London. It was nice, but not anything I'd have on a regular basis.

[Diane Sallans]

Closest thing I can relate too is going to wineries. In recent years we've gone to a lot of the wineries in the State of Virginia (USA). Always a fun & rewarding experience.

[kate]

We have a nice pub. I wish I were able to frequent more often, but it is a real treasure to a nice ale!

[Na S]

I can definitely see how research can be intoxicating! I really like visiting places that is steeped in history. One day I want to travel and visit historical inns and castles just to get a feel of how things were and looked back then. For now, I like local restaurants that evoke certain era, whether it's the 50s. 30, or 80s. I like places with character. We can all toast to that, I think. :)

[Andrea Penrose]

Diane, I've heard Virginia is making some really excellent wine. I recently tasted some texas wine, and it was really lovely (You don't think Texas and wine, do you!)

[Andrea Penrose]

Character is definitely key, Na! You would love the historic inns for atmosphere.

[Andrea Penrose]

Kate, I'm not a beer drinker, but good, fresh pun ale is great!

[Andrea Penrose]

Opp, that's pub, not pun, LOL

[SusannahC]

Very interesting article, Andrea! Thanks for sharing what you learned.

[Anne Gracie]

Lovely post, Cara/Andrea. One of my favorite drinking memories was when I went wine-tasting in the Hunter Valley in Australia many years ago - it's a wine-making area. At the first vineyard I mentioned to the winemaker there that Hunter Valley wines were new to me, and seemed lighter than the red wines from my own area and South Australia.
Apparently my self-confessed ignorance hit the spot after masses of "experts" had tried to impress him with their knowledge, and he sat us down and gave us a mini- wine course, pouring us wine after wine -- different grape varieties, early picked, late picked, south side of the hill, north side, etc and talked to us about his life in wine making and how things had changed. It wasn't an attempt to sell, either --he made no attempt to get us to buy, though of course we did. We passed a lovely couple of hours, and it was such an education and to this day I think of that winery and the Hunter Valley with great fondness.

[Andrea Penrose]

What a great story, Anne—lucky you! It really is fun to begin to understand wines—the grapes, the climate, etc. I can begin to ecognize some different Bordeauxs. But I don't get to drink enough of the good stuff to be able to identify the nuances. Still, even the everyday stuff is nice. I do enjoy a glass or two with a nice dinner on weekends.

[Andrea Penrose]

Thanks, Susannah. So glad you enjoyed it.

[chey]

No local historical shops here. I avoid wine (migraines). Can't think of any fancy drinks right now.

[Barbara Elness]

I love old, musty shops, but I don't have any nearby that I can visit regularly. I haven't ever acquired a taste for wine, so I have no exceptional tastings to report. I enjoyed the post though, and I always appreciate the research that an author does to add those great little touches to a book.

[JessS]

I love going into the city where there are all the old buildings, but I've never really been into a shop like that. I kind of blame it on the fact that I don't live somewhere like London where specific shops have been around for like hundreds of years. And your research sounds like heaps of fun!
Thanks for the giveaway, I'm international is it still okay if I enter?

[Dee]

Wine philistine here. Actually generally not much of a drinker. I love dishes made with wine but generally don't care for the taste of alcohol. Of course, in my budget range I am sure I don't get anything special. On the very rare occasions of a splurge I gravitate to the sparkly whites (champagne, prosecco, etc). I keep meaning to give reds a chance and then I just don't (as I sit here wrinkling my nose...).

[Andrea Penrose]

I love musty old shops too.

[Andrea Penrose]

Dee, champagne and presecco are some of my favorites too.

[Andrea Penrose]

Jess, research is definitely lots of fun, especially in London, my favorite city. (And yes, you may enter!)

[Maureen]

I can't think of a shop but I do like walking around Washington Crossing.

[Kim]

Congrats on the new book. I've never been in a old establishment that is reminiscent of bygone eras. However, the area where I live is surrounded by wineries and I have toured those. Earlier this year, I made a tasty punch that you usually see at bridal showers. I found it online.

What's nice about it is that you can serve it with or w/o alcohol and is perfect for the holidays. It's made with ginger ale, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice, marachino cherries and sherbet. Alcolhol optional.

[Marie]

No one in my family really drinks so I don't have any great recipes or anything for the holidays.I must confess I have always wanted to try a Madeira though, since I read about it so often in books. Maybe I will have to start serving a signature holiday drink to spice up my parties!