The week in pictures

Wine writer Tim Atkin MW took time out from his busy schedule at the London Wine Fair this week to host a dinner shining a light on whites from the northern Italian regions of Friuli and Alto Adige at neighbourhood Italian restaurant Enoteca Turi in Putney, run by charming couple Giuseppe and Pamela Turi.

Among the wines on pour during the dinner were a rich 2010 Pinot Bianco from Cantina Terlato; a floral 2012 Gerwurztraminer from Hofstatter and a saline 2011 Ribolla Gialla from Fruili paired with smoked duck breast salad, black cannnelloni filled with cod, and fillet of turbot and scallops with saffron risotto.

Garden designers Harry and David Rich explain the connections between Sauvignon and Pinot Noir and the plants in their Cloudy Bay garden, which gained a gold at this week’s Chelsea Flower Show. Meanwhile, Cloudy Bay estate director Ian Morden (below) explained the importance of the Cloudy Bay shack to the wine brand, and how it inspired Harry and David to add a moveable glass cube to the design, which doubled up as a useful shelter for the speakers during Tuesday’s thunder storms in London.

Following a successful Badminton Horse Trials, where over 1,700 gin & tonics were sold, Langley’s No.8 Gin will be bringing its Gin & Tonic bar to this year’s Chestertons Polo in the Park on 5-7 June as the exclusive gin partner for the event. The bar will also pop up at Henley Regatta and Cowes Week this summer.

Proving that the trend for wine on tap is growing, from next week Jascots’ Italian sparkling wine, Vino Vispo, will be on pour on the terrace at The National Theatre on the Southbank.

Blakes Hotel Kensington has teamed up  with British designer Matthew Williamson and installation artist Rebecca Louise Law on The Hendrick’s Horticultural Oasis. Taking the summer as its muse; the hotel’s courtyard is resplendent in blooms and taxidermy inspired by the botanical infusions found in Hendrick’s gin. 

Across town from the London Wine Fair, Matthew Jukes unveiled his annual 100 Best Australian Wines with a tasting at Australia House. It was a particularly strong year for Pinot Noir, which Jukes attributed to the “fresher, sleeker” character encouraged by the 2012 and 2013 vintages.

A neat snapshot of the diversity in this year’s line-up: a prime example of Australia’s ever-strengthening Pinot Noir prowess in the form of Circe from Mornington Peninsula, a rare rosé to make the cut thanks to Turkey Flat’s quirky Dolcetto/Grenache/Cabernet/Shiraz blend from Barossa, and an established giant of the Aussie fine wine scene in the form of Giaconda, whose Chardonnay deserves to give the Burgundians some sleepless nights.

(l-r) David Cox, Julia Trustam Eve and Peter Darbyshire

More than 500 trade partygoers gathered together for The Benevolent’s Pink Flamingo Party to mark the end of the London Wine Fair this week. Held at the Kensington Roof Gardens, guests were able to take in views of the London skyline while enjoying a variety of entertainment including flamingo themed garden games, a lucky dip and live music by ‘Camilla and The Majors’. All proceeds from the event will go directly towards helping vulnerable members of the drinks trade.

David Cox, The Benevolent CEO, and best dressed female Anne Burchett, managing director of Sopexa UK, let their hair down at the Kensington bash.

The Wine Australia team (L-R) Camilla Coste, Emma Symington, Laura Jewell MW, Hannah Silverman, Kirsty Savory

Wine Australia hosted its ‘May Day BBQ’ on Sunday celebrating its former European director, Yvonne May, who passed away in August, in aid of drinks charity The Benevolent. A barbecue designed and prepared by Roger Jones and his team at The Harrow at Little Bedwyn was served to guests while a series of retro games including Welly Wanging, ‘Hoopla’, Hook the Duck and Giant Jenga was responsible for lots of laughs.

John Quarisa, of Quarisa Wines, and Andrew Kay, Wirra Wirra’s managing director, have a go at “welly wanging” (throwing a wellington boot at a target) – one of several retro games enjoyed by guests.

Neil McGuigan, CEO of AVL, captures a wine bottle with “Hoopla” while John Quarissa and David Cox look on.

db enjoyed an evening of wine and food matching with Les Vignobles Foncalieu Wines on Tuesday at cookery school L’Atelier des Chefs in London. As well as sampling some delicious wines, guests were taught how to create three dishes to perfectly pair with the wines on offer.

One of the chefs on hand to walk guests through the kitchen was celebrity chef Cyrus Todiwala, owner of Café Spice Namasté in London. Hungry diners were given a crash course on how to produce a spicy beef fillet accompanied by a Pinot Noir-based reduction, paired with a glass of La Lumière Corbières 2012.

Earlier in the evening French Michelin-starred chef Lionel Giraud taught his eager cohort how to assemble a dish of asparagus with morels and a sabayon sauce with almonds and coffee, topped off with some edible flowers. Here’s db’s effort!

Caorunn Gin hosted a foraging experience in Epping Forest, led by wild food and foraging expert Mark Lloyd, as part of its global initiative to highlight how foraged ingredients can be mixed to create world-class cocktails. The adventure was later topped off by a wildly sophisticated dinner and cocktail mixology session by Caorunn Gin brand ambassador Stu Bale.

Credit: Chris Roche – Flick Productions

On Tuesday Champagne Jacquart held a Garden Party for the UK launch of The Rosé Cube during Clerkenwell Design Week, where Champagne Jacquart was sponsoring the Secret Garden in partnership with Danish exterior design company Cane Line. Designers, trade partners and design and lifestyle press joined Laurent Reinteau, Emilie Guth and Diane Gonzalez for the occasion.