In the year 1419, Dick Whittington was Lord Mayor of London and the capital boasted a whopping 290 commercial breweries. The breweries were such successful financial enterprises that the Lord Mayor was horrified to learn that the brewers had eaten “fat swans” at their St. Martin’s day feast. As punishment, he ordered them to sell their beer for a penny a gallon the next day.

England prides itself on making a lot of things well. Aeroplanes, pharmaceuticals, ciders, beers. Wine, however, not so much.