The perfect accompaniment to the dawning of spring must be a glass of Château d’Yquem’s 2019 vintage.

The celebrated French Château will release its much-anticipated 2019 vintage on 22 March along with its “Lighthouse” programme, a collection of specially selected venues around the world that are coming together to celebrate the new wine and what makes Yquem singular and special. And importantly, the Château is making the wine available by the glass, making it more accessible for a new generation and audience to enjoy.

Togetherness is something we’ve all missed out on over the past few years and few things speak to the conviviality of shared dining and drinking than a glass of complex, sweet and refined Château d’Yquem.

The golden hues of Château d’Yquem 2019

As the Château’s president and CEO, Pierre Lurton, has said, ‘Yquem is the most elegant way to travel through time and, at the start of this journey, in its vibrant youth, Yquem is universal: it touches the heart, moves the soul, excites the senses of experts and novices alike. Everyone should meet Yquem, at least once in their life.’

It’s clear why the house is encouraging drinkers to drink their wines young. The 2019 vintage is bright and refreshing, sweet but well balanced and well suited to enjoy on its own or with a varied selection of food – definitely not just with foie gras or dessert – but seafood, fish, roast chicken and even spicy foods. The wine has an unusually high amount of sauvignon blanc for a Yquem vintage – 45 per cent, and 55 per cent sémillon – which is a big change from the Château’s usual 20 per cent sauvignon blanc to 80 per cent sémillon blend, and this gives the vintage its freshness and irresistible drinkability.

The Lighthouse programme has brought together some of Yquem’s favourite venues across the globe to shine a light on the new vintage and the Château as a whole. The UK’s Lighthouses include the NoMad Hotel, where the launch of the 2019 vintage took place, Annabel’s, Portland Restaurant and Berry Bros & Rudd, as well as Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire – each of which can offer to raise a glass of Yquem with you to toast an extraordinarily special Château and vintage.

Follow @yquem to find out more about the 2019 vintage and Lighthouse programme. yquem.fr