Week in pictures

This week’s round-up features such luminaries as Mark Hix, Alex Salmond and Simon Woods as we look back on a busy seven days in the drinks industry.

 

 

 

 

 

Celebrity chef Mark Hix and beer guru Rupert Ponsonby toast the launch of Britons Backing Beer – a new initiative aimed at highlighting the cultural and gastronomic importance of the UK’s national drink through the tasting of beers brewed by British icons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Among the beers available for tasting on the launch night at Hix’s eponymous London restaurant were "Stinger", a nettle beer brewed by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall; "Chalky’s Bark" from Rick Stein; Hix’s own brew; and "Hot Stuff", a chilli beer brewed by Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Li Keqiang, the vice-premier of China and Alex Salmond MSP, the First Minister of Scotland, attended a Scotch whisky tasting at Edinburgh Castle hosted by the Scotch Whisky Association to celebrate China’s recent recognition of "Scotch whisky" as a protected geographical indication of origin. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hirohisa Imai (left), a third generation owner of Sadoya winery in Yamanashi, Japan, with good friend Bruno Prats, former owner of Bordeaux second growth Chåteau Cos d’Estournel, share a toast at a dinner at Saki in Farringdon to showcase the Sadoya range, which includes a 2010 Koshu and a surprisingly youthful 1962 Bordeaux blend

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Devon’s Gidleigh Park was presented with the award for the best UK eatery last week, following its entry at number one in the publication of the Sunday Times Food List: Britain’s Top 100 Restaurants, in association with Harden’s and Rémy Martin. Pictured from left to right: Sue Williams (general manager), Christina Brownsword (owner), Andrew Brownsword (owner) and Michael Caines (head chef) all from Gidleigh Park. Second right, Peter Harden, publisher of Harden’s Guide. Far right, Anthony Habert, senior brand manager for Rémy Martin,

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

db popped along to the opening party of one of our newest local bars – the Waterloo Brasserie, opposite the Old Vic theatre on The Cut in London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We also took in the official launch party for the new Searcys Champagne Bar at London’s Paddington station.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Guests at the Searcy’s launch tucked in to plates of meats, cheeses and breads at the Searcy’s party, all washed down with Champagne’s from houses including Perrier-Jouët and Pommery.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

db‘s Alan Lodge sits down to enjoy a glass of fizz at the Searcy’s bash.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Houseman, winemaker at Anne Amie Vineyards presents "The Multiple Personalities of Oregon Pinot Noir" at this week’s Oregon & Washington trade tasting in London.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Simon Woods and Robert McIntosh nose one of the reds in the new Jacob’s Creek Regional Reserve range, presented to the press on Tuesday night by JC’s chief winemaker Bernard Hickin at Xavier Rousset’s wine industry hang out 28-50 in Fetter Lane.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jimmy Smith, head of the West London Wine School in Fulham, raises a glass with Simon Woods (spotted out again!) after a Northern and Southern Rhone comparative tasting at the wine school on Thursday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hundreds of Burgundy wine producers hit Old Billingsgate Market in central London this week for the Burgundy Wine Tasting 2011. The event was briefly interrupted as a smoking overhead light meant the fire brigade were called in at around lunchtime.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Michael Hill Smith, of Adelaide Hills-based Shaw & Smith, attempts to pour water over Zar Brooks, who oversees both Dandelion Vineyards in South Australia and Cien y Pico in up-and-coming Manchuela, Spain. Brooks’ Cien y Pico business cards are modeled on the Cohiba cigar brand.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bacardi launched two new RTD cocktails – the Mojito and the Cuba Libre – at the Saatchi Gallery in London. The products will initially be solely available to the on-trade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally, this label was the cause of some amusement in the press office at the Burgundy tasting. The phrase "Quasi monopole", which is printed under the red lettering, literally means "Almost monopoly" – indicating that Domaine des Perdrix might be having a few ownership issues with their vineyards.

db, 21.01.2011