During its 20 years of existence to date, the Bailliage has held an impressive 175 events (an average of 8.75 per annum) at nearly 60 venues. All the while there have been annual unforgettable experiences for groups of members principally abroad visiting vineyard regions.
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Bailliage, Philip and Janet organised an impressive event at Chewton Glen at New Milton. Quintessentially English, the privately owned luxury country house hotel and spa in New Forest, was the perfect setting.
Set in 130 acres of Hampshire countryside, and just a short distance from the South Coast, the hotel provided a suitably distinguished setting for an evening that balanced English country-house elegance with serious gastronomy.
Guests gathered on Friday 3 July 2026 in the Walled Garden for a Laurent-Perrier Heritage Champagne reception, where soft jazz and summer air gave the occasion an appropriately festive beginning.
The party then moved to the Lake Suite for a five-course dinner created by Executive Chef Luke Matthews and his brigade.
Chewton Glen’s own reputation for refined dining, including menus shaped by ingredients from its Kitchen Garden, was reflected in a sequence of carefully judged dishes: chilled Isle of Wight tomato gazpacho with burrata, Glitne halibut with sea vegetables and caviar butter sauce, and Donald Russell dry-aged fillet of beef with summer truffle pomme purée and sauce Marchand de Vin.
A generous cheese course, featuring Tunworth, Isle of Wight Blue, Smoked Old Winchester and Rosary Ash, was followed by white chocolate and pistachio financier with raspberry and champagne sorbet. Italian wines, from Franciacorta and Roero Arneis to Le Difese, Recioto della Valpolicella and Vin Santo, accompanied the menu. It was a polished tribute to two decades of conviviality, friendship and the pleasures of the table.
The photographs for the event are available to view and download here.
