The week in pictures

Sauvignon Blanc Day (6 May) was marked in style by New Zealand Wine Growers with a sky-high tasting in the Penthouse of New Zealand House in London. During the celebration, Sir Lockwood Smith, High Commissioner of New Zealand to the United Kingdom, presented Oz Clarke with his certificate to mark his induction to the New Zealand Wine Hall of Fame.

The tasting showcased a range of styles and regions of Sauvignon Blanc with creative food matches, with The Oyster Men offering guests freshly shucked oysters while taking in the London skyline.

King prawns with chilli, lime and coriander with a glass of Marlborough was just one of the tempting food pairings on offer. 

Water appeared to turn into wine, as a fountain flowing with vino appeared outside the new Humble Grape wine shop in London. Guests to the opening night were able to top up their glasses from the novel source. The new premise is now open on St. Bride’s Street near St Paul’s.

Robbie Mitchell, selling wine on behalf of Thorne and Daughters, South africa

Students of Plumpton College, which specialises in agricultural educational courses including viticulture, were on hand at an Open Day on 14 May, which also featured equine displays and forestry demonstrations. Students from the MSc Viticulture and Oenology also conducted a tasting of their 2015 project wines, while wine business students sold wine from successful Plumpton graduates: Chateau de Monfaucon (Bordeaux), Thorne & Daughters (South Africa) and Wines of Momentary Destination (Croatia).

Georgina Smillie and Francisco Jimenez  selling wine for Chateau de Monfaucon, Bordeaux, France.

Joe Trevelyan, Tara Dunbar Smyth and Tom Bere selling wine for Wines of Momentary Destination, Croatia and Greece.

Shaun Foster, selling wine on behalf of Domaine Treloar, Roussillion, France.

Head winemaker Francisco Baettig and Eduardo Chadwick, president of Errazuriz, proudly display a bottle of their Vinedo Chadwick Cab Sauvignon 2014, which recently awarded 100 points from James Suckling – a first for a Chilean wine.

The drinks business hosted the penultimate masterclass as part of its Bourgogne Wines on Tour series in Edinburgh this week. The masterclass, at the Balmoral Hotel, was hosted by Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW, who presented a session that explored the region’s wines while shining a light on its more off-the-beaten-track producers.

Tuesday saw the official launch of Moët’s Ice Imperial Rose – the first rosé Champagne produced with the intention of being served over ice. The event took place at Madison’s Terrace in London, offering spectacular views across St Paul’s Cathedral.

Cahoots’, the London bar housed in a 1940’s-themed train carriage, celebrated its first birthday aboard the historic warship HMS Belfast.

Guests boarded the boat in their 1940s vintage best for an evening of cocktails, music and swing dancing.

Guests were welcomed with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Champagne before sipping on Bombay Sapphire cocktails lonf into the night.

Jura bid a fond farewell to its distillery managers Willi Cochrane this week, who has retired after an incredible 39-years. He hands over the reins to Graham Logan, a former Jura mash/stillman, who has worked at Willie’s side for over two decades. Willie arrived on the island of Jura in 1977 and planned to stay just one year. Since then, he has worked his way up from mash/stillman to distillery manager, a role he took on 11 years ago.

As official wine supplier of The Cannes International Film Festival, Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Bordeaux wine brand Mouton Cadet has hosted a series of celebrities and Hollywood superstars at its wine bar on the rooftop of the Palais des Festivals. Actress Eva Longoria and former Arsenal player French international footballer Robert Pires, pictured here with Robert’s wife Jessica and Baron Philippe de Rothschild’s Madame Camille Sereys de Rothschild, were among its guests.

Robert de Niro and Ana De Armas, who star in new movie “Hands of Stone”, were spotted at The Mouton Cadet Wine Bar in the glorious Cannes sunshine.

Mouton Cadet also welcomed singer, song-writer and actor Usher to its sunny rooftop terrace at the Cannes International Film Festival.

Mr Trotter’s marked the launch of its Sausalamis, 100% British air dried pork snacks, with a fun-filled evening at Bompas & Parr’s Alcoholic Architecture cellar in Borough Market – which allows guests to breath in alcoholic beverages.

Amid misty G&T’s, guests were served Trottatinis – Martinis dusted with Mr Trotter’s meaty seasoning and a Sausalami garnish – and schooners of Mr Trotter’s Chestnut ale.

Champagne Pommery played a key role in the launch of Mayfair’s first flower show, which runs until 29 May, supporting the event alongside London design studio Sketch. Five exhibitors have installed floral displays at 9 Conduit Street, each one with a brief to celebrate the British Landscape while showcasing their craft, passion and dedication to the environment.

The Champagne Pommery Lounge features an enchanted forest, a suspended garden and an upside down meadow, offering a peaceful retreat in which to sip a glass of fizz.

db’s Chloe Beral headed to the launch of Sailor Jerry’s ‘The Ride’ at the Bike Shed in association with Harley Davidson last week. The Ride, taking place for a second year, sees three bike-building teams from across the UK compete in a series of tasks and “epic challenges” over the course of a nine day tour. The winning team’s grand prize is getting to keep the Harley Davidson thet customised for the trip, as well as a trip to Hawaii –  the spiritual home of Norman Sailor Jerry Collins.

The Hellfire was the order of the night, a powerful mix of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum, tabasco, fresh lime, lager and ginger beer.

db was lucky enough to dine at the top of St Pancras clock tower this week at an intimate supper club – Una – organised by Grub Club with wines from Argentina’s Bodegas Argento and Bodegas Garzón in Uruguay. The dinner was hosted by Argentinian chef Martin Milesi, who explained his dream of opening a pop-up with just one table to make it feel more like a dinner party than a formal gathering.

After a few glasses of wine, db felt fortified enough to brave the perilously steep steps up to the clock face…

…sadly the door was shut but we did get to enjoy it from the kitchen below

Milesi whipped up a six-course feast, which included a juicy hunk of Argentine steak with squid ink and truffle spaghetti, and this tangy gazpacho

… which proved a perfect pairing for a refreshing, mineral Albariño from Bodegas Garzón – the first of its kind from Uruguay.