OREANDA-NEWS. September 12, 2011. 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. Jorgen 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! (PORTR?T 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.

Jorgen 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 Bjergso (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 Sorensen, 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.

* J.C. Jacobsen provided financial aid for the restoration of Frederiksborg Castle after a fire and founded the Danish Museum of National History. As a consequence, the PORTRAIT NOW! (PORTR?T NU!) portrait competition held by the museum since 2007 with the aim of generating interest in the portrait genre deservedly bears Jacobsen’s name. Every time over 500 artists from all over Scandinavia participate in the competition. For the next contest the decision was taken to expand its geographical scope: Russian artists from St. Petersburg will be invited to take part in the contest. The national diversity within the competition creates further opportunities for mutual influence, and opens up new sources of inspiration and perspectives for Scandinavian portrait artists.

** The main ingredient of Royal Rye Wine is rye malt; apart from this, the drink's recipe contains a unique strain of yeast developed in the laboratories of Baltika. Wolfgang Lindell imported rare Nelson Sauvin New Zealand hops, which produce the aroma of Sauvignon Blanc grapes, especially for this brew. Apart from this, the drink is made with unprecedented ingredients: grape leaves from the Abrau-Dyurso Valley and grape juice. These give the drink its bitter flavour and full, ruby colour. In addition to the traditional stages of beer preparation, Royal Rye Wine is matured in oak casks. The drink combines the Nordic character of rye beer and the sophistication of red wine.

*** Collaborative Brewing Since the end of 2010, Baltika has been realising its Collaborative Brewing Initiative. In global practice, collaborative brewing means the creation of recipes and the brewing of beers by several brewers or breweries. Throughout the course of the project, the participants in these brews have included one of the creators of a variety of Old Bobby (British brewer Dave Clark), Moscow home brewer Evgenii Tolstov, Denmark's Minister of Ecology Karen Ellemann, and Alexander Malenkov, the chief editor of MAXIM magazine, as well as the famous Petersburg beer enthusiast Mager, members of The Great Baltic Adventure beer expedition, and famous Scottish brewer Martin Dickie, founder of BrewDog.