The week in pictures

Andrew Harris, wine ambassador for Brown Brothers, was comfortably settled into the Charlotte Street Hotel’s library when db caught up him in London to taste some of the Australian producer’s latest offerings – including some new wines from the increasingly trendy Tasmania.

The full selection of labels which featured in a blind rosé tasting on Wednesday this week at London’s Westminster Boating Base.

The tasting was organised by Jean-Christophe Mau, co-owner of Château Brown, which launched its first rosé last year from the 2012 vintage.

L-R: George Frost, Showgirl, Miles Frost

Diageo hosted a lavish celebration at Brazilian venue Floripa in London’s East End this week to mark the launch of Ypióca – its new premium cachaça brand from Brazil.

Guests were treated to performances from by Brazilian, Magic Circle magician Nill Magico and Brazilian show girls, before the unveiling of a commemorative cocktail entitled ‘O Mágico’ (The Magician).

Staff from London-based restaurants Bombay Brasserie and the Michelin-starred Quilon were taken on a tour of three London Breweries on Wednesday by beer expert Rupert Ponsonby. After breakfast at the Brew by Numbers brewery in Bermondsey, taking in its  fruity ‘saison’ farmhouse-style beer, the group visited the nearby Kernel Brewery where they were walked through the production of pale ales, India pale ales, sour beers and beers aged in Pinot Noir barrels.

Then it was onto the Meantime Brewery in Greenwich for a brewery tour tasting its historic Porter and “passionfruit-perfumed” Yakima red, followed by lunch at their Old Brewhouse at Cutty Sark. Quilon has 30 beers on its list, which it pairs to its south Indian cuisine, as well as a London first Vintage Beer selection.

Disaronno announced bartender and mixologist, Tony Coniglaro, will be joining the 2014 finalists of its Mixing Star cocktail competition in Sicily as an industry mentor. Conigliaro will lead the two-day mixology boot camp in Cantine Florio as part of the global competition.

UK wine retailer, Virgin Wines, celebrated the launch of a wine created out of its Virtual Winemaker project at an exclusive party at Baranis, a Provençal wine bar in London, attended by 50 of its participants. The Coeur du Ventoux wine was made at the Famille Perrin winery in the Southern Rhône Valley with those taking part working together through social media and online interaction to design the wine voting on aspects such as its blend, name and the label. 

The Spirits Business’, Tom Bruce-Gardyne, was at the international wine fair Vinitaly in Verona this week to speak with a host of exhibitors including Silvia Franco of Prosecco producer Nino Franco.

Mr Andrea Olivero, Italy’s vice minister of agriculture, paid a visit to the Giusti Vin-Italy booth during this week’s trade fair. Those pictured include Giusti owner Dr. Gildo Giusti, David Walker, Giusti Technical Director and winemaker, Mirco Pozzobon.

Swedish cider brand Rekorderlig hit the slopes in Mayrhofen in Austria this week to dish out its fruity concoctions during the Snowbombing festival. In addition to cider samples, team Rekorderlig handed out ear muffs and sunglasses to boarders swooshing past.

Dapper Italian cocktail maestro Agostino Perrone hands out one of his signature cocktails, the Fleurissimo, made with Rémy Martin Cognac, Peychaud’s bitters, violet liqueur, Laurent-Perrier Champagne and a sugar cube at the launch of a week-long pop-up of Bar Hemingway at The Ritz Paris coming to The Connaught hotel in Mayfair along with its head bartender, Colin Field.

Among the sips on pour at The Connaught’s Bar Hemingway pop-up are the calvados-based Serendipity (far left), the French 76 (centre) made with Grey Goose vodka, lemon juice and Laurent-Perrier Champagne, and the aforementioned Fleurissimo (right).

db also found time this week to pay a visit to trendy new hot dog joint, Dirty Bones in High Street Kensington, where cheekily titled cocktails like the Mutt’s Nuts and Top Dog were on pour, which were mopped up with a selection of hot dogs, from the Classic Yankee (pictured) to the Asian Dog, featuring kimchee, crispy seaweed and wasabi mayo.

In keeping with London’s ongoing love of Americana, the Red Dog Saloon in Hoxton Square opened a sister site – Red Dog South – in Clapham this week, celebrating with a launch party featuring piles of hot wings, smoked ribs and pitchers of raspberry margaritas. The spirits list pays close attention to Tequila and Boubon, with a range of Pappy van Winkle single vintage Bourbons on pour.