QUEEN VICTORIA VINEYARD

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22504, 23 February 1935, Page 24

QUEEN VICTORIA VINEYARD

MONUMENT IN GERMANY On the slopes of the Taunus Mountains, near Wiesbaden, Germany, there stands in the centre of a big vineyard a monument' to Queen Victoria, and, moreover, the vineyard bears the Queen’s name. It was in 1850 that the Queen of England, at the invitation of Mr G. M. Pabstmann, a wine merchant of Mayence, visited his vineyard, sampled the wine, and afterwards gave her permission for the vineyard to be given her name. The vintner, Mr Pabstmann, was appointed to the Court of St. James, where his famous wines have been served for the past 60 years. The monument, which stands about 18 feet high, is built in the modern English Gothic style of grey sandstona At its foot is inscribed, “ Queen Victoria Vineyard.” Under a Gothic canopy is the coat of arms of the British Eoyaj House, with the two mottoes, “ Honi soit qui mal y pense,” and “Dieu et mon droit.” Underneath the coat of arms is written, “ Her Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, etc., etc., has graciously given her name to this vineyard. G. B. Pabstmann erected this monument in praise of the great Queen and in gratitude for the great honour shown to him.”

On the reverse of the stone, under the British crown, is a wreath of vine leaves, with the date, December 5, 1850, the day on which Queen Victoria signed at Windsor Castle the document giving her name to the vineyard.