Week in pictures

National Movie Awards, racing at Ascot, gin tours around London and a whole lot more besides – it’s been one action-packed week for the drinks business.

 

 

 

 

 

db editor Patrick Schmitt and González Byass sales director Melissa Draycott share some tips as the Spanish wine firm hosted members of the wine trade in an executive suite at Ascot racecourse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Inside the suite, Waitrose wine category manager Anne Jones tries to make friends with one of the Tio Pepe ladies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Imagine our surprise when we saw this photograph – part of photographer Alistair Morrison’s My Kingdom for a Horse exhibition at Ascot. Is it just us, or is this mysterious figure none other than our very own marketing director David Hennelly?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The weirdness didn’t end there – the next image featured a man bearing more than a passing resemblance to our editor Patrick Schmitt! Should db be worried that so many of its staff have been snapped "going about their daily jobs" at Ascot?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A fleet of Beefeater-branded taxis wait outside the Kennington Distillery to transport db and other drinks trade press around a series of gin venues across London following the launch of the Gin and Tales website – a new consumer initiative from Chivas Brothers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beefeater gin master distiller Desmond Payne talks guests through a tasting of gin cocktails at newly-opened London boutique bar Zetter Townhouse.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The interior of the bar, which opened in April, is stuffed full of sumptuous antique and contemporary furnishings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Having moved on to Dukes hotel, Plymouth Gin master distiller Sean Harrison looks on as guests are treated to Plymouth Martinis.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

db looks on as Dame Shirley Bassey takes to the stage at the National Movie Awards at Wembley Arena. French wine company Mont Tauch supplied the wines for the VIP pre-ceremony reception and after-party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courvoisier this week unveiled its "Connoisseur Collection", consisting of 12-year-old and 21-year-old aged Cognacs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

db headed to the Ivy Club in Covent Garden on Wednesday – decked out with stained glass windows and Tracy Emin artworks, for the launch of the London Restaurant Festival sponsored by Wines from Rioja (among others), which kicks off in the capital in October.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucy Shaw, db‘s staff writer, enjoys a glass of Rioja as she takes in the art work at the London Restaurant Festival launch.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When Jancis met Heston: In honour of the 60th anniversary of the Festival of Britain, Jancis Robinson MW and Fat Duck chef Heston Blumenthal (introduced by Robinson’s restaurant critic husband Nick Lander) spoke to a crowd of 700 Sherryphiles at the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank, London, about the pleasures of two British institutions – Sherry and afternoon tea. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winemaker Neil McGuigan (centre) looks on as guests at the Kensington Roof Gardens are introduced to his latest releases – the McGuigan Shortlist range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

db‘s staff writer Rupert Millar learns how to pour the perfect pint of Stella Artois in the capable hands of Jonathan Crow, 2010 UK Draught Master winner, at The Anthologist in London. Don’t give up the day job Rupert!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And finally… Wembley at night looks breathtaking with its famous arch illuminating the stadium.

db, 13.05.2011