Balfour Winery in Tonbridge has partnered with M&S to launch a second Royale, with its brand-new Red Diamond Strawberry Royale now available in over 500 stores. 

The first-of-its-kind Royale was developed over a year and combines sparkling wine with the concentrated flavours and aromas of Red Diamond strawberries from M&S Select Farms, some of which are grown just minutes away from the winery. 

Red Diamond Strawberries are hand-picked and chilled within two hours of harvest to lock in their intense sweetness and mouth watering flavour.

The new Royale is already proving popular with customers since launching last month, with over 18,000 bottles sold so far.

Balfour Winery, a founding member of Sustainable Wines of Great Britain (SWGB), is located on the biodiverse 400-acre Hush Heath estate in Kent and recently earned the SWGB Gold Standard for its vineyards, where it employs a team of 25 colleagues.

Working with M&S for over 18 years, Balfour is also part of M&S’ Plan A for Farming programme, receiving expert training in soil health at their vineyard, to improve water and nutrient intake for individual vines. Through the programme, Balfour is also creating wildlife corridors along its hedgerows, improving habitat quality for nesting birds and insects.

Through its Plan A for Farming 2030 strategy, M&S continues to work closely with its Select Farmers to build long-term resilience across the agricultural sector – supporting farmers to invest, innovate and adopt more sustainable and regenerative farming practices. 

from left, Emma Barlow, Fergus Elias, Frances Trappey

Fergus Elias, director of Wine at Balfour Winery was recently named Young Achiever of the Year at the Drinks Business Awards and said of the launch:

“We have an amazing partnership with M&S. They’ve been a massive supporter of English wine over the years, long before it was the popular thing to do. When we get together to develop a product together, we always start with “what’s the most exciting thing we can make”. We’re incredibly proud of this new Royale and launching just in time for summer, it’s a fantastic feeling to see it on the shelf.”

Last year, Balfour and M&S teamed up to launch a brand-new Blackcurrant Royale, just in time for the festive season.

Caroline Thompson-Hill, head of beers, Wines and Spirits at M&S Food, added:

“Our new Red Diamond Strawberry Royale delivers a taste of the British summer for customers, combining the sweetness of strawberries with the cooling fizz of English sparkling wine grown here in Kent. We’re proud of our longstanding relationship with Balfour, built on our shared commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability. So much care goes into every product we create, so if you’re looking to try something new, why not our newest Royale?”

At M&S Food we are at the forefront of innovation in Wine, carefully experimenting to bring customers things they love may not have seen before. English sparkling wine is a burgeoning industry where we have the freedom to really push the boundaries, create excitement for the category and our customers.”

Designed to bring a refreshing twist to summer celebrations, the Red Diamond Strawberry Royale is best enjoyed alongside classic seasonal Kent fruits, such as fresh cherries and local raspberries, or paired with a traditional Strawberry Eton Mess, where the acidity of the wine beautifully balances the cream.

M&S’ Red Diamond Strawberry Royale is available to purchase at more than 500 M&S stores nationwide, including stores across Kent, such as Bluewater, Dartford, Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells.