EXPERTS from the UK’s oldest wine merchant paid a special visit to a Winchester care home yesterday.

Berry Bros. & Rudd visited Colten Care’s Abbotts Barton home offering fine wine samples at a free public tasting event.

The company has supplied wine and sherry to Colten Care homes for the last five years. More than 12,000 bottles were served to residents last year.

The company was established in 1698 during the reign of King George III and currently holds Royal Warrants for both Her Majesty the Queen and HRH The Prince of Wales.

Other notable customers have included Lord Byron, William Pitt the Younger and the Aga Khan.