The three day Boodles July Festival at the home of flat racing, Newmarket, starts with Ladies Day on 13 July, followed by Festival Friday on 14 July before closing with July Cup Day on Saturday 15 July.
The Boodles July Festival features top class Group racing throughout the three days, with the Princess Of Wales's Stakes the highlight on Ladies Day, and the feature race on Festival Friday the Tattersalls Falmouth Stakes. Saturday sees the climax of the festival with the Group One Pertemps Network July Cup, which is run over six furlongs and is one of the most valuable and prestigious sprint races in the world.
The atmosphere on the July Course is always special, with top class racing, a beautiful parade ring and the opportunity to have a truly memorable day at the races in a unique and historical setting.
Below, The Wine Tipster offers his top tips on food and drink to help make the most of the Boodles July Festival.
THE ROSE TERRACE EXPERIENCE & CHAMPAGNE BAR
The Boodles July Festival is always a stylish affair, with The Style Awards taking place every year on Ladies Day. Adding to the glamour this year is the brand-new Rose Terrace Experience, a spectacular new space offering al fresco dining experiences trackside, with unrivalled views of the July Course from an elevated vantage point. Newmarket’s long-time Executive Chef Damian Adams has created a relaxed summer menu based around seafood and charcuterie platters, with whole dressed crab, Suffolk salami and chorizo, and artisan breads.
Located just beneath the Rose Terrace Experience is the new Champagne Bar, a walk-in space in the Premier Enclosure, with no need to prebook. Close to Newmarket’s beautiful parade ring and with an outside courtyard, the Champagne Bar has fantastic views of the July Course and will be serving champagnes including Moët & Chandon and Veuve Clicquot.
Other hospitality options include the new Dream Ahead Bar, named after the 2011 July Cup winner ridden by Hayley Turner, as well as the popular Summer House Restaurant in the Premier Enclosure, while food stands around the course will be offering an abundance of different food choices.
SPARKLING WINE
World-class English sparkling wine is a perfect tipple for race day. For the July Festival Nyetimber Classic Cuvée Multi-Vintage, West Sussex and Hampshire, England is a sure bet. A blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier, the trio of grapes used in Champagne and made using the same method, the Classic Cuvée is a beautifully approachable sparkling wine with green apple and citrus freshness, and toasty aromas.
WHITE WINE
English wine isn’t just about world-beating bubbles. Our still wines are rightly becoming ever more popular, with wineries like Bolney Wine Estate in Sussex producing award-winning whites and reds. Bolney was a pioneer of the English wine industry, founded in 1972, with daughter Sam Linter taking over the reins in 1995. For a summery white, the Bolney Estate Pinot Gris, Sussex, England is crisp and perfumed with succulent pear aromas alongside citrus and honeysuckle.
English red wines should not be overlooked, with Pinot Noir in particular growing well in our cool climate vineyards. Bolney Estate Pinot Noir, Sussex, England, is a fantastic example, with perfectly balanced juicy red fruit, subtle spice, and soft tannins.
ROSÉ WINE
Château Léoube Love by Léoube Côtes de Provence Rosé Organic, Provence, France is my top tip for a winning rosé at the festival. When Lord and Lady Bamford discovered Château Léoube in 1997, it was love at first sight. Nestled in a bay on the Mediterranean coast in Provence, the beautiful estate’s unique location and terroir means Léoube are able to produce organic wines of exceptional quality. Experienced winemaker Romain Ott crafts light and elegant rosés, and Love by Léoube is quintessentially Provençal. Made with Cinsault and Grenache, it is beautifully pale pink, with notes of red berries, white peach, and a hint of acacia blossom.
RED WINE
Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz, Coonawarra, Australia is a top example of Australian Shiraz. Elegant and silky, with generous mulberry and blackberry notes and delicate oak, this is a cool climate Shiraz with a fine texture. Coonawarra is an isolated region in South Australia, renowned for its geological and climatic features such as the Terra Rossa red earth, which create fruit of the highest quality. Wynns have been producing this premium Shiraz at their estate in Coonawarra since 1952 and continue to win awards for it under head winemaker Sue Hodder.
ALCOHOL-FREE
Wild Idol Sparkling rosé, Rheinhessen, Germany leads the field of alcohol-free wines at the July Festival. A fruity and elegant, pale pink sparkling, crafted by expert winemakers from Müller-Thurgau and Merlot grapes, this is a great alcohol-free option to celebrate with. For those who prefer an alcohol-free beer, Peroni Zero offers the same crisp, refreshing Italian taste as the original Peroni Nastro Azzurro without the alcohol.
