Sir Kenelm Digby
1603 – 1665
We take Sir Kenelm Digby as our namesake because of his adventurous, inquisitive spirit and his key role in the history of wine: he invented the modern wine bottle in the 1630s and our shard-like labels hark back to this innovation. His was the first structure sturdy enough to withstand a second fermentation within the bottle, a development that pre-dated – and enabled – the advent of sparkling wines such as Champagne.
Digby’s scientific work was as widely recognised as his eccentric and effusive personality. A founding member of the Royal Society and a prolific writer (his works include philosophy, poetry and a cookbook titled The Closet of the Eminently Learned Sir Kenelme Digbie, Knight, Opened), he sailed the world as a privateer and had many well-documented adventures – a veritable polymath.
At the time, Digby was described as “the Ornament of this Nation.” He settled down with the love of his life (and the beauty of the day), Venetia Stanley, but their wedded bliss was short lived: she died suddenly just eight years later. Stricken with grief, Digby refocussed on his academic interests and matters of the royal court.
During his lifetime, Digby studied under mathematician and astrologer Thomas Allen, who bequeathed his library of books to his pupil. He and Venetia were friends with Ben Jonson (poet and playwright) and Anthony van Dyck (painter; his deathbed portrait of Venetia hangs in the National Portrait Gallery). Digby himself is the subject of more recent publications, including the historical novel Viper Wine by Hermione Eyre and A Stain in the Blood, a biographicallyinspired tale of his Mediterranean sea voyage by Joe Moshenska.
To us, Sir Kenelm embodies the very essence of Englishness through his passion for adventure and discovery, for creativity and excellence, and his determination to live life to the full …whilst not taking oneself too seriously.
