The week in pictures

Hollywood filmmaker Ron Howard was presented with the third annual Critics’ Choice LOUIS XIII Genius Award by actor Chris Hemsworth at the 20^th annual Critics’ Choice Movie Awards in Los Angeles last night. Howard’s films include Rush, A Beautiful Mind, which earned Howard an Academy Award for directing, The Da Vinci Code and Frost/Nixon.

There were a good smattering of red trousers in evidence at Corney & Barrow’s Burgundy 2013 tasting in London this week. Among the many producers in attendance, Vincent Dampt told db how he tackled the difficult conditions in Chablis that year.

Ancient and modern: the historic Tower of London, venue for Corney & Barrow’s Burgundy 2013 tasting, created a striking juxtaposition with one of the newest features on the UK capital’s skyline.

Sebastian  Odoul-Coquard proudly displays a pair of his grand cru wines; Charmes-Chambertin and Clos de Vougeot at The Burgundy Portfolio tasting at Dukes hotel in St James’.

The drinks trade was treated to a night of live music, whisky cocktails and fiery ice sculptures at the launch of Whisky Quarterly magazine last night.

(L-R) Neil Ridley (deputy editor), Colin Hampden-White (editor), Krzysztof Maruszewski (publisher of Whiskt quarterly), Joel Harrsion (deputy editor)

Colin Hampden-White and Krzysztof Maruszewski editor and Publisher of Whisky Quarterly with their deputy editors Neil Ridley and Joel Harrision of Cask Strength Creative at the magazine’s launch at Church House in London.

Oz Clarke enjoying the launch of Whisky Quarterly with whisky cocktails by the Soul Shakers

Hundreds of revellers gathered at a Shepton Mallet Cider Mill in Somerset yesterday to celebrate the ancient pagan ritual of Wassail. Wassail, or “waes hael” in old English, is an expression meaning good health and encompasses traditional practices that supposedly encourage a bountiful apple harvest. Guests banged sticks and made noise whilst shot gun volleys, using blank cartridges, were fired into the air – to wake up the trees after winter and ward off evil spirits.

The colourful, which took place in Stewley Orchard in Ilminster, was led by the new Wassail Queen, Angela Ham, accompanied by many a Morris dancer. The orchard is owned and managed by the The Shepton Mallet Cider Mill, makers of Blackthorn, Olde English and Addlestones.

Think this looks like a normal bar? Look a bit closer – it is made entirely from paper. Created by British design studio Flow and clothing brand Thomas Pink, it formed the centrepiece of Pink’s autumn winter collection at the London Institute of Contemporary Art’s London Collections fashion event on Saturday.

Cognac house Martell launched its 300^th anniversary celebrations in Hong Kong, beginning with a pop-up space at the airport offering a multi-sensory experience introducing the arts of craftsmanship, gastronomy and tasting.

Beefeater’s Sebastian Hamilton-Mudge, Brandon Phillips (Winner USA), Desmond Payne and Tim Stones

Beefeater Gin crowned the USA’s Brandon Phillips as the Beefeater MIXLDN Global Bartender Champion, following three days of competition in London.

Courvoisier Extravagance Arrives At Heathrow T5

Courvoisier Extravagance has taken centre stage at World Duty Free in London Heathrow’s terminal five serving the new marque’s signature Champagne serve, The Toast of Paris. Its launch is being marked with a one-month ownership of the branded wall, making it the first Cognac house to take over the prominent space. Further Courvoisier Extravagance activity is planned at other European airports in 2015.

BBC presenter Kate Humble stopped by Penfolds in the Barossa to try her hand at blending wine as part of a Telegraph travel series on South Australia. Kate Humble’s Walkabout is available to watch on the Telegraph Travel website and forms part of a major social media campaign funded by the South Australia Tourism Commission. In one of the seven short films, Humble films around the Barossa’s stunning vineyards, samples wines at Hentley Farm and breakfasts with kangaroos.

Perrier-Jouët unveiled a newly commissioned installation called Ephemera, by design duo mischer’traxler, at Design Miami 2014. Exploring “traditional craftsmanship, modern technology, the ephemerality of nature and the Art Nouveau movement”, mischer’traxler sought to capture the “essence” of Perrier-Jouët through their unique interpretation – the result of a year-long collaboration between Perrier-Jouët and the design duo.

Always keen to try out new openings in town, db headed to Pennethorne’s Cafe Bar at Somerset House this week for cocktails and nibbles. Named after 19th century English architect Sir James Pennethorne who designed part of the building, interiors are inspired by Pennethorne’s travels across Europe.

The wine list features drops from England, Italy and France, while cocktails include the Nutty Martini (left), a moreish mix of Bacardi 8, Frangelico, pomegranate syrup and rose bitters, and the Corretto Martini, blending grappa, coffee liqueur and double espresso. They also do a twist on an Old Fashioned with Somerset cider brandy and quince jam.

Devised by head chef Richard Robinson, the menu at Pennethorne’s takes in dishes from France, Italy and England. During our visit we feasted on delicious homemade fig and apricot bread, pickled Cornish mackerel, nduja, mushrooms in marsala and soft egg and pancetta on toast, rounding off the evening with lashings of gooey Vacherin.