Her Majesty Queen of Denmark Margrethe II visits Baltika Breweries and participates in brewing Royal Rye Wine

On 9 September, Her Majesty Queen of Denmark Margrethe II visited the St. Petersburg Baltika brewery as part of a state visit to Russia. Also present at this ceremonial event were Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Denmark to the Russian Federation, Mr. Tom Risdahl Jensen, Carlsberg Group President, Mr. Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, and the President of Baltika Breweries, Mr. Anton Artemyev.

Russia and Denmark are linked through long and fruitful collaboration in various spheres: trade and the economy, science and technology, investment, energy conservation, and culture. Baltika, the leader in Russia's brewing sector, invited high-ranking guests to this ceremonial event at their brewery in St. Petersburg.

As part of Her Majesty's visit to the brewery, an open exhibition was held in honour of the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jacob Christian Jacobsen, brewer and founder of Carlsberg. The exposition reflects key moments in the partnership between Russia and Denmark through the perspective of brewing, and the landmarks in the history of brewing and Carlsberg. It also announces the PORTRAIT NOW! (PORTRÆT NU!) portrait competition*, which has been held since 2007 by the Danish Museum of National History and bears the name of J.C. Jacobsen. At the next contest, artists from St. Petersburg will also be able to take part in the competition. Her Majesty and her retinue viewed photographs, posters, and portraits presented at the exhibition.

In honour of Her Majesty's state visit to Russia, a regular meeting of the Russian-Danish Business Forum (RDBF) was held at the St. Petersburg Baltika brewery. At this meeting, with the participation of representatives from the leading companies of Russia and Denmark and government representatives, questions regarding the acceleration of integration between the companies and economies of these two countries were discussed.

Jørgen Buhl Rasmussen, President and Chairman of the Carlsberg Group: "Her Majesty Queen of Denmark Margrethe’s II visit to Baltika has become a symbolic event for our company. The development of Russian-Danish investment is a mutually beneficial and long-term process. The Carlsberg Group is carrying out an active investment policy in Russia, implementing innovative technologies and participating in the development of the agricultural and related sectors."

Anton Artemyev, President of Baltika Breweries, Carlsberg Group Senior Vice President for Eastern Europe: "It was a great honour to receive Her Majesty Queen of Denmark Margrethe II at Baltika. Baltika, being a part of Carlsberg, regards the development of relations between Russia and Denmark with great enthusiasm, both in the sphere of business and in historical and cultural ties. Her Majesty's visit to Baltika was a truly exceptional event for us."

High-ranking guests led by Her Majesty and forum participants formally opened the first barrel of the beer brewed especially for the visit of the Queen of Denmark, Royal Rye Wine. This exclusive beer was brewed in collaboration with top brewers from Russia and Denmark at the microbrewery at the Baltika brewery in St. Petersburg. In conjunction with the Baltika brewers, "itinerant" Danish brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergsø (Mikkeller) and Wolfgang Lindell from the Jacobsen brewery (Copenhagen, Carlsberg Group) took part in working out the recipe and brewing the beer. Royal Rye Wine was brewed as part of the Collaborative Brewing Initiative in which Baltika actively participates.

Her Majesty the Queen of Denmark kindly agreed to participate in brewing a new batch of the unique Royal Rye Wine and added the necessary ingredients: rare New Zealand Nelson Sauvin hops with the aroma of Sauvignon Blanc grapes.

Klaus Sørensen, Consul General of the Kingdom of Denmark: "We value the long-standing, friendly ties between our countries, and believe that these events strengthen and develop them. Russia and Denmark are continually pushing the boundaries of collaboration in many areas of the economy."

Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II and His Royal Highness Prince Consort Henrik, as well as His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik, arrived in Russia on 6 September 2011 at the invitation of the President of the Russian Federation, Dmitry Medvedev, who made a state visit to Denmark in April 2010. Over the four days of their stay in Russia, the Royal family took part in a series of business and cultural events with the aim of promoting Denmark and Danish business, technology, and culture in Russia.