Methuselah Madness in England and Saudi Arabia

To mark the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Camel Valley Vineyard is launching a six litre bottle of its 2010 Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé with a price tag of £299. Just six bottles of the giant Methuselah will be produced and two have already been sold after news leaked out.

Sam Lindo, Camel Valley winemaker, said the process was a huge technical challenge but the next challenge is to produce a Nebuchadnezzar which holds 15 litres. The empty bottle alone will cost them £400.

The Sparkling Pinot Noir Rosé came first in the largest blind tasting of English Sparkling Wines in March 2012.

Whoever gets their hands on the 4 remaining Methuselah's could be making a tidy profit. A Saudi millionaire is reported to have paid US$136,000 for a Methuselah of 1990 Cristal Champagne in a bar in Dubai over the weekend. The bottle is believed to be one of three available worldwide - the other two are apparently for sale at nightclubs in New York and London.