The week in pictures

db’s Lauren May attended the ‘Give Boys the Chop’ beer dinner, for girls only, at the Paternoster Chophouse in London on Monday.

Hosted by PR company R&R, the event was a chance for Rupert Ponsonby, expert in all things beer, to explain the complexities involved in producing beer and how to pair different varieties with their perfect food match. As the only male attending the event, Rupert donned an authentic hop sack skirt in the spirit of the evening.

Later guests were treated to a five course dinner complemented by 10 different beers. A particular favourite was the Black Angus rump steak with a béarnaise and peppercorn sauce, paired with a glass of Innis & Gunn Original Oak Aged Beer, and Duvel Belgian Golden Ale.

Team db went on a cocktail stargazing mission on Tuesday to City of London restaurant Coq d’Argent. Throughout February, the French brasserie’s rooftop terrace bar is giving guests the chance to gaze at the moon and Jupiter through a SKYLINER-200P telescope. Sadly our stargazing adventure was stifled by thick cloud cover.

We did however enjoy some delicious astronomy-themed cocktails crafted for the occasion. Cocktails included the delectable Meteor Shower (pictured) featuring G’Vine Nouaison gin mix with lemon and lime juice, simple syrup and finished with soda water, mint and pomegranate. Another of our favourites was The Galaxies, a blend of Citadelle gin hard shaken with peaches, lime juice, orange juice and sage, ginger and cardamom syrup.

Adrian Bridge, managing director of the Fladgate Partnership, shows off the new Taylor’s 1964 release at UK agent Mentzendorff’s annual tasting. Unlike vintage Port, these single harvest Ports undergo their entire maturation in barrel. The house plans to launch a new edition each year in order to offer what Bridge described as “the ultimate 50th birthday present.”

Hadrien Mouflard, the new head of Champagne Ayala, introduced new packaging for the brand’s core non vintage offering Brut Majeur. The black design draws on influences from the house’s archives as Ayala steps up efforts to communicate its rich history, particularly in the UK market.

Cricket legend Sir Ian Botham was at the Deanston Distillery in Scotland to officially launch Stirling’s salmon fishing season. Deanston produces single malt Scotch whisky from its distillery located on the banks of the River Teith, eight miles from Stirling.

Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria, official drinks partners to the BAFTA awards, were on hand to help the stars celebrate on Sunday. Leonardo Dicaprio was just one of the night’s a-list stars to sign a methuselah of Taittinger Champagne – award show’s official Champagne partner for the last 12 years.

Cate Blanchett, who won leading actress for her role in Blue Jasmine, was just one of the celebrities to enjoy a dinner of smoked Loch Fyne salmon and Dorset crab starter with a bottle of Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2013, and Aberdeen Angus fillet with braised short ribs, paired with Villa Maria’s Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2012.

On Monday night, GQ editor-in-chief Dylan Jones (right) and the Hay Trustees hosted a private dinner with at Des McDonald’s hotly anticipated Holborn Dining Room & Delicatessen, ahead of the restaurant’s official opening date on 24 February. Guests including Maurice Saatchi, Alan Yentob and Rebecca Front celebrated the evening with Gusbourne Brut Reserve 2009. Ben Walgate (left), Gusbourne Estate’s CEO was also on hand to participate in the festivities.

Early on in the week, we headed to Berry Bros & Rudd’s St James’s street shop for an event to launch BBR’s partnership with Bordeaux-based wine company Viniv, which gives its clients the chance to blend their own barrel of Bordeaux from 14 select sites around the region. The company was founded by American entrepreneur Stephen Bolger (far left) in 2009.

In addition to blending their own Bordeaux, Viniv clients are able to create their own wine brand and bespoke labels, three of which are pictured here.

Never ones to turn down the chance to drink Sherry, team db headed to Michelin-starred Spanish restaurant Ametsa with Arzak Instruction at The Halkin hotel in Belgravia this week for a Sherry and tapas tasting hosted by head sommelier Alvaro Prieto. Among the wines on offer were Navazos-Niepoort 2009, Fernando de Castilla Antique Amontillado and Gonzalez Byass Fino Una Palma (pictured), which paired fantastically with black ink squid. The first of its kind, future Sherry and tapas tastings will take place at Ametsa on the first Tuesday of every month.

Italian wine entrepreneur, Gianni Zonin, President of Casa Vinicola Zonin, was presented this week with the Leonardo Award in Rome by the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano. The Leonardo Award recognises entrepreneurs who have made a significant contribution toward establishing and consolidating the image of “Made in Italy”. Zonin manages 10 estates in seven of the most prestigious wine regions in Italy.

London’s socialites flocked to Galante – an Argentinian cocktail bar on Sloane Avenue – last night for the first in series of end of month parties. Jack Guinness took to the decks at the Après-Ski themed event. Guests, including Made in Chelsea’s Ollie Locke, enjoyed provoleta and chocolate fondues while supping from the Beluga Vodka Luges. 

Ian O’Reilly, Gaucho’s head mixologist, created some “hair-raising” cocktails for the evening in homage to some of the most iconic hairstyles of our time including The Twiggy, Miss Marilyn and the Posh Bob. Throughout the evening waitresses donning interpretations of these iconic hairdos served food from the bespoke menu created by Gaucho’s Executive Chef, Brett Duarte.