Worshipful Company of Vintners
The Worshipful Company of Vintners is one of the Livery Companies of the City of London. It probably existed as early as the twelfth century, and it a Royal Charter in 1364. Due to the Royal Charter, the Company gained a monopoly over wine imports from Gascony. Also, it acquired the right to sell wine without a licence, and it became the most powerful company in the wine trade. However, in 1553, it lost its right to sell wine anywhere in the country. Today, it only retains the right to sell wine without licence in and within three miles of the City of London.One of the more peculiar rights of the Company involves the ceremony of Swan Upping. Traditionally, the Sovereign owns all umarked mute swans on the River Thames. Under a Charter granted in the fifteenth century, the Vintners' Company and the Dyers' Company (another Livery Company) are entitled to share in the ownership. The ceremony of Swan Upping takes place annually during the third week of July. During Swan Upping, the Queen's, the Vintners', and the Dyers' Swan Uppers row up the river in skiffs. Swans caught by the Queen's Swan Uppers remain unmarked, those caught by the Dyers' are ringed on one leg, and those caught by the Vintners are ringed on both legs.
The Vintners' Company ranks eleventh in the order of precedence of Livery Companies, making it one of the "Great Twelve Livery Companies". The Company's motto is Vinum Exhilarat Animum, Latin for Wine Cheers the Mind.
