The week in pictures

Louis Jadot put together a one-off meat and wine matching masterclass at Steak Restaurant in Edinburgh this week. Some of the highlights included pulled Lothian rabbit and sage hummus teamed with a selection of whites – 2014 Château des Jacques Clos de Loyse and a 2013 Puligny-Montrachet and reds – 2010 Château des Jacques Moulin-a-Vent and a 2010 Savigny-lès-Beaune Premier Cru. Followed by a double steak main of sirloin complemented by 2009 Nuite St George and 2009 Chateau des Jacques Morgon and rib-eye which went particularly well with the 2010 Fixin.

This week the team at Aresti launched two new wines; Cabernet-based Assemblage 2011, from the Curicó Valley and a Sauvignon Blanc from Hualañé. Both wines have been made to celebrate Aresti’s 65^th anniversary, which will also be marked with a limited edition coffee table book of the winery’s history.

Pictured at the launch from left to right: Mike Ritchie Master of Wines and Business Development Manager at Copestick Murray, David Percival, Business Development Manager at Copestick Murray, Cristián Becerra, Sales Director at Aresti, Matt Johnson, National Account Manager at Copestick Murray, Karl Von Molendorff, Head of Business Development, Strategy and Export at Copestick Murray, Francisco Nuñez, Export Manager for Europe at Aresti, Robin Copestick, Managing Director at Copestick Murray.

Ferrari Trento was this week named as the Official Sparkling Wine of the Emmys. The brand are encouraging viewers to throw their own Emmy party using the Trentodoc after it was named as “World Champion Blanc de Blancs” at the Champagne & Sparkling Wine World Championships.

Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky and premium gin business of Pernod Ricard, this week announced new roles for revered Master Blenders Colin Scott and Sandy Hyslop. The move coincides with the unveiling of an enhanced Chivas Brothers Blending Team, reinforcing the company’s expertise in crafting world-leading, blended Scotch whisky.

The great and good of the wine writing world gathered at the Royal Academy of Arts on Monday for the annual 2016 Louis Roederer Wine Writer Awards. More than 200 entries from 19 different countries were sifted through by its judges, which included chairman of judges Charles Metcalfe, Tim Atkin MW, Fiona Beckett, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Bill Knott. Winners included Jane Anson, who took home the feature write of the year gong, and Andrew Jefford, who was awarded the Champagne Louis Roederer International wine columnist of the year award.

Two of the drinks business’ writers had been shortlisted for awards, with Lauren Eads being shortlisted for Emerging Wine Writer of the Year and Lucy Shaw in the running to collect the Food and Wine Writer of the Year.

While the mercury rose outside, db kept cool at Aqua Kyoto with oodles of Sherry at a lavish lunch hosted by Beltran Domecq (pictured) showcasing dry Sherry’s versatility with Japanese cuisine. Among the guests at the lunch were wine writer Rebecca Gibb MW (centre) and food and wine writer Fiona Beckett.

During the lunch we were treated to a plethora of food and Sherry pairings, from Barbadillo Solear with chicken yakitori with shaved truffle to Lustau La Ina with black cod sushi with yuzu miso. For us, by far the best pairing of the lunch was Gonzaléz Byass Viña AB Amontillado with Japanese mushroom and green tea soba noddles with ginkgo nut.

Wednesday night saw us head to The Running Horse pub in Mayfair for a decadent dinner hosted by Herefordshire-based, family-owned distillery Chase, where we were treated to the likes of mackerel with beetroot and horseradish and lashings of beef wellington.

To pair with the mackerel was Papillon, a racy Vermentino/Viognier blend made by Chase in Luberon in Provence, which was brimming with notes of white peach and acacia. We particularly loved the pretty butterfly label – papillon means butterfly in French.

The Surrey Hills came alive on Sunday, September 11, as 2,000 participants ran, traipsed, strolled and tasted their way around the picturesque Bacchus full and half marathon route, which starts and ends at Denbies Wine Estate.

The Bacchus full and half marathon is an established event in the racing calendar. Runners tour a 13.1-mile route that takes them through the vines on Denbies 635-acre wine estate. The race attracts participants from all over the world and was once again a sell-out event.  The full marathon, which involves two laps of the circuit, was won by Richard McDowell in a time of 2:58:40, while Neil Boniface finished first in the half marathon with a time of 1:14:26.

Raj Holuss, who is the first sous chef at the Waterside restaurant in Bray, was announced as the winner of the 50^th Taittinger Prix Culinaire International competition last weekend. Following a closely fought final of the competition at Roux at Parliament Square, UK presidential judge, Michel Roux Jr, and Champagne Taittinger’s marketing director, Vitalie Taittinger, revealed Raj as the winner at the evening celebration.

Naomi Campbell captured by photographer Dave Benett

Naomi Campbell attends the opening party for L’Eden by Perrier-Jouet in London’s Wardour Street last night – the world’s first “bio-responsive garden” created by Bompas & Parr.

db joined New Zealand winemakers Paul Pujol from Prophet’s Rock, Mike Allan from Huia and Matt Stafford of Craggy Range this week for dinner at Providores in Marylebone on Wednesday, hosted by Bibendum. Each winemaker was asked to bring along their ‘hero’ wine to accompany a menu, which was specially created by executive chef and co-owner of Providores, Peter Gordon. Pujol chose his 2013 Pinot Noir to pair with a plate of ducks breast, figs, walnuts and shitake mushrooms.

Other highlights included miso-baked aubergine, pine nuts, dates, feta, crispy buckwheat and tahini yoghurt paired with Huia’s 2015 Sauvignon Blanc…..

….and Craggy Range 2013 Te Kahu Bordeaux blend, which matched brilliantly with a Peter Gordon classic ­– beef fillet with courgette and beetroot salad topped with a garlic and pesto dressing and Kalamata olives.