The week in pictures

Team db needed no persuading to head down to the launch of Basement Sate this week – a dessert-themed cocktail bar. Billed as the first devoted late night drinking and dessert destination, the tucked-away drinking den it is the brainchild of of Cathleen McGarry, co-owner of the world-renowned Sherry Butt cocktail bar in Paris.

Situated in the heart of Soho, guests were treated to a selection of dessert canapés and cocktails including the Arboriculturalist, a blend of Sherry, cinnamon and Calvados, and Beet Me Up, an intriguing blend of beetroot and Moscato.

Never one to turn down an invite, the same night we headed to the Make Mine a Martini book launch at Quo Vadis in Soho, where the Martinis, Negronis and Daiquris were flowing. Among the famous faces author Kay Plunkett-Hogge had invited was Italian American actor Stanley Tucci.

Wines of Argentina were also once again present at Jamie Oliver’s Big Feastival last weekend with a pop up Argentine Wine Bar. More than 1,100 bottles from 22 producers were sold at the event, with 12 varieties including Syrah, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Viogner and Chardonnay on offer.

Richard Armitage, star of The Crucible which is currently running at The Old Vic theatre, became the first to sign a Jeroboam of  Champagne Taittinger’s classic Prestige Brut NV as part of a special collection this week. Over the theatre’s 2014/15 season, each leading actor or actress in each new play at the theatre will be asked to sign a Jeroboam of Champagne Taittinger creating a collection which will then be auctioned off at a fundraising event in next year to raise funds for The Old Vic Theatre Trust .

Hampshire-based brewery Upham Brewery has signed a three-year deal with the London Irish Rugby Club to be its official cask ale sponsor. The first home game of the season will be held on 20 September where Upham’s signature ale, Punter will be served in the club’s first dedicated real ale ‘Punter Bar’.

Team db had a very special occasion to celebrate this week: the wedding of our managing editor, Gabby Savage. Pictured here are wine PR Helen Chesshire (far left), Maisons Marques et Domaines brand manager Marinel FitzSimons (second left) and db’s deputy editor Lucy Shaw (far right) celebrating in style with Pol Roger.

Carrying on the Champagne theme, we hot footed it to the Krug & Krustecean pop-up on the Southbank this week with Sophie McLean of Bancroft Wines. A collaboration with new restaurant Beast in Marylebone, the al fresco restaurant aims to bring a slice of Scandinavia to southeast London.

With chefs from Beast behind the stoves, diners can choose between either a giant Norwegian king crab claw or a king crab club sandwich, both of which are served with a glass of Krug Grande Cuvée. Being greedy, we tried one of each. Both were delicious, but go for the club sarnie if you’re hungry.

Tom Warner and Sion Edwards launched their fourth gin, Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin, in Fortnum and Mason’s Crypt last night – a gin made from a variety of rhubarb first grown in Queen Victoria’s garden. About 8,000 bottles have been made.

Kicking off a busy month of wine tastings and events, on Monday night, Tamra Kelly-Washington of Yealands Estate hosted a late summer press supper for a sprinkling of journalists at her London base in Notting Hill. Tamra used the occasion to launch the 2014 vintage of her whites from the Awatere Valley including a Grüner Veltliner, and two new 2013 Winemaker’s Reserve Pinot Noirs from the Awatere Valley and Central Otago.

The wines were matched to Mediterranean dishes by Yotam Ottolenghi, with a simple caper and olive croquette one of the best things we’ve eaten all year.

Wine Marlborough hosted the New Zealand Wine Growers marketing team and international market managers last weekend giving them the full Marlborough experience with a tour through all of the sub regions and tastings in the vineyards.  Here they are at Brancott Estate, the birthplace of Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Chandon (Moet Hennessy’s recently launched Argentine sparkling wine) took over Tooting Bec Lido last week recreating a 1950s pool party vibe. Up to 500 guests were treated to Chandon Brut and Rose, served by vintage style waitresses, synchronised swimming displays, ice cream sandwiches, DJs and Chandon goody bags.

Chefs Jonray and Peter Sanchez-Iglesias of Casamia in Bristol were given the title of Chef of the Year in The Good Food Guide 2015 this week – the UK’s best selling restaurant guide.

Team db made a beeline for the Draft House pub in London to sample a pint or two of Pilsner Urquell’s Tankovna this week. Delivered by a special tanker directly from the brewery in Plzen to the UK, the beer is pumped into specially crafted copper tanks from the Czech Republic which are installed and on display in the pub. Following the success of Tankovna beer at The White Horse in south west London, Pilsner Urquell is set to install further tanks in key central London venues – starting with the Draft House pub.

Ahead of the Cape Winemakers Guild auction on 4 October, Paul Cluver winemaker and CWG chairman Andreis Burger flew into London to host a wine lunch at South African restaurant High Timber in order to present a selection of the red and white highlights to a cherry picked audience of wine writers.

A number of the reds paired particularly well with our meaty main course, with the Cederberg Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2012 a noteworthy highlight.

And finally… on our way home from the CWG lunch, we were delighted to encounter PIWOSA mascot Wino the Rhino manning the entrance of High Timber. On his last visit to London the odd-toed ungulate got in a scrape, receiving a parking ticket from a warden in Earl’s Court during The Beautiful South tasting at Olympia. We’re hoping he has a more successful stay this year.