The week in pictures

Shrinking violet Chester Osbon of d’Arenberg in the McLaren Vale shows off his feline iPhone cover at a dinner at The Table in Southwark this week where guests were treated to an array of his colourfully named wines.

During the d’Arenberg dinner, Chester got out his box of props, each relating to a different wine, and put on quite a performance. Can you guess which wine he’s personifying here?

Kevin Grant, winemaker at Ataraxia in South Africa’s Hemel-and-Aarde Valley holds court during a decadent lunch at Ting restaurant in The Shard.

González Byass UK hosted its 10th anniversary portfolio tasting this week at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London. The event featured three wine masterclasses throughout the day including one hosted by Rafael Urrejola, head winemaker at Undurraga in Chile, who spoke on “Terroirs of Chile”.

The star wine at the González Byass 10th anniversary dinner at 1 Lombard Street in the City of London this week was a Pedro Ximenez Sherry from 1914, which tasted fresh and lively despite its advancing years. Guests were also treated to Deutz 1975 Champagne and 1937 Quinta do Noval Port.

Simon Staples, Berry Bros & Rudd’s sales director for Asia is clearly very excited about his forthcoming move to Japan…

Judging took place this week at the Only Running Footman in Mayfair to decide who would be the next ambassador for the Pays d’Oc. The finalists were tested on their tastings skills, food and wine matching and knowledge of the region. The winner will be announced in the drinks business next week.

Bordeauxlicious, a month-long festival of Bordeaux wine organised by restaurant group D&D London and Bordeaux Wines, began last Friday with a silent disco and barbecue at the Old Bengal Bar in London. More than 50 guests danced the night away on its outdoor terrace, while listening to one of three wine-themed music mixes; Bordeaux red (big, classic, powerful, traditional – expect rock, hip-hop/electro and funk); white (summertime, poppy, “to be discovered” – pop, dance and disco); and rosé (fun, light, full of character – summery house, nu-disco).

Haig Club draws a crowd as David Beckham visits Changi airport duty free

David Beckham made an appearance at Changi airport in Shanghai this week to support the launch of his joint venture with Diageo, Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky. The whisky is on sale at the airport as part of a month-long exclusive partnership with the airport.    

The ever-quirky Hendrick’s gin brand has launched the “world’s first pedal-powered shaker” for London Cocktail Week. “The Boneshaker” uses the rotating motion of the cycle wheels to simultaneously shake six Hendrick’s cocktails. It will park up at Brooks B1886 in Seven Dials where the Hendrick’s Boneshaker Cocktail Bar will be circulating the streets from 6 to 7pm from 9 to 12 October inviting “discerning drinkers” to come and “lubricate the cogs of conversation”.

Dr Franz Michel, director of Rheingau VDP estate Domdechant Werner, led a briefing as the region’s 2013 vintage made its debut in London at the suitably cultural venue of the Goethe Institut. Among the areas discussed were the benefits and new challenges posed by global warming for Germany’s wine producers. 

(L-R) Global Brand Ambassador, Rob Allanson, Sue’s Barker’s (IWSR team) and Ali Cloudsdale, Grant’s Brand Manager.

William Grant & Sons UK hosted a sports pub quiz to celebrate its sports themed campaign Stand Together, which stars sporting legends Geoff Hurst and Gordon Banks, this week. The evening was hosted by quiz master and Grant’s Global Brand Ambassador, Rob Allanson, who was also on hand to make Grant’s Mizuwari and Chilly Manhattan cocktails. The ‘Sue’s Barkers’, also known as the IWSR (International Wine & Spirit) team, were victorious after a tense tie-break round taking home a bottle of the newly released Grant’s Signature.

db’s Neal Baker made it to the official UK launch of Belgian beer brand Vedett’s latest brew, Vedett Extra Ordinary IPA, part of the Duvel Moortgat portfolio, on Tuesday. The night featured dishes paired specifically to the Vedett portfolio of beers by head chef Vivek Singh, as well as beer mats from which drinkers could assemble a penguin – one of the brand’s “quirky, non-conformist” mascots – which went down a a treat among those in attendance.

Matthew Willson, UK General Manager for Duvel Moortgat, poses with a bottle of Vedett IPA with Cinnamon Kitchen’s head chef, Abdul Yaseen, right, and the Cinnamon Group’s executive chef, Vivek Singh, left.

Dishes included tandoori salmon with dill and mustard and green pea relish paired with Vedett Extra White, and chargrilled lamb fillet with yoghurt and coriander matched with the new addition Vedett Extra Ordinary IPA.

Johnnie Walker became the official whisky of Formula 1 racing. The announcement of the new “multi-year” deal was made at an event at the Conrad Centennial Hotel in Singapore by Nick Blazquez, president of Diageo in Africa and Asia, ahead of this weekend’s 2014 Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix.

Zara Phillips presents a magnum of Pol Roger to the winner of the Land Rover TailGate picnic challenge at the Burghley International Horse Trials 2014 in Stamford.

Native Treviso tenor Francesco Grollo sings at the opening of Guisti Prosecco’s new headquarters at the company’s Rolando Vineyard in Treviso.

Later on during the same evening this enormous cake was served to celebrate the unveiling of the new HQ.

Staff from wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd traded their wine glasses for running shoes to take on the Le Marathon du Médoc last weekend in support of SANDS (Stillbirth & neonatal death charity). Twelve runners ranging from 28 to 59 completed the course around Pauillac near Bordeaux in France battling 30-degree-heat to raise £6,693.54 for the charity. The Berry Bros. & Rudd Just Giving page will remain open until Tuesday, 30 September.