The week in pictures

This week also saw the official opening of the brand new Simpsons winery in Kent, as well as a celebration of its first harvest.

Wine critic Oz Clark was guest of honour to open the new state of the art winery on Wednesday (26 October), which was built within two converted barns helpful located equidistant from its two vineyards in Barham, Kent. Earlier this year, owners Charles and Ruth Simpson were awarded a grant from the RDPE (Rural Development Programme for England) to help with its development..

Speaking at the opening, Clarke said: “I’ve known these fields for many years. They are seriously chalky, well protected and south facing, so I have always wondered why people haven’t planted more vineyards in Kent. It isn’t called the Garden of England for nothing as it has always grown the greatest hops, apples, and pears, and now vines.  We probably have more Champagne soil than here than the Champagne region does.”

Charles Simpson said he was excited to have Oz to open the winery, pointing out his ties to the area.

“He is a local boy from the village of Bishopsbourne, a mile away and went to the same school that our children go to now,” he explained, adding: “We’ve finished our first harvest, which is happily bubbling away in our new winery, which he officially opened today.  This is just phase one of our plans and we’re looking forward to starting phase two next year.”

The winery also celebrated the completion of its first Kent harvest from the 10ha plot that was planted in 2014 –   despite Ruth having a helping hand from her four-legged companions.

Chivas Regal launched a new limited Edition gift tin in the Los Angeles Hills this week, attended by Joe Huff, founder of LSTN Sound Co and US actor, single and TV personality, Wilmer Valderrama. The whisky brand has partnered with premium audio producers LSTN Sound Co. to craft a range of unique whisky and music accessories to celebrate a shared passion for craftsmanship, style and generosity, and guests enjoying whisky cocktails while listening to music through special Chivas Regal LSTN headphones. The initiative – Generosity: Amplified – also features a range of activity aimed to raise funds for Starkey Hearing Foundation, including the limited edition Chivas 12 Year Old gift tin, a line of handcrafted headphones and a custom-designed luxury record console.

Japan’s Kenji Tsubokura was crowned as the IBA 2016 World Best Bartender at the World Cocktail Championship held in Tokyo last week.  Tsubokura impressed the jury during the ‘Super Final’ with a cocktail recipe “The Best Scene” (short drink) featuring Gifford’s Wild Elderflower Premium Liqueur, midi, fruit of the moment, Yuzu,  fresh lemon juice and a dash of Cardammon Bitters.

Japan wasn’t the only winner however, with Finland’s Markus Sillanpaä (second from left) claiming the After Dinner round with his Vienna Mocha cocktail, again featuring Giffords Abricot du Roussillon Premium Liqueur with  Havana Club Anejo 7 Anos, Mozart Dark Chocolate, with added flavour from Cinnamon, Angostura orange bitters and  Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters.

Cardiff Blues’ Blaine Scully, Ospreys’ Tom Smith, Scarlets’ Jonathan Davies and Dragons’ Charlie Davies outside the Principality Stadium

Alcoholic ginger beer Crabbie’s celebrated a new marketing partnership with the world of rugby, becoming the official ginger beer of Welsh rugby. The drinks brand has signed up to a five-way joint agreement with the Ospreys, Scarlets, Cardiff Blues, Newport Gwent Dragons and the Welsh Rugby Union which will see Crabbie’s drinks products appear in all five key rugby venues in Wales.

Camilla and Simon Bladon, of English wine estate Jenkyn Place, took part in a joint tasting of its own English sparkling wines and Le Soula biodynamic wines from Roussillon in Westminster this week, celebrating Anglo-French relations.

Following the launch of The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter One in October 2015, this week the distiller unveiled its The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two. Assembled by The Balvenie Malt Master David Stewart MBE’ and titled ‘The Influence of Oak’, this chapter features five extremely rare single malt whiskies, highlighting how each oak barrels influence the flavour of the spirit during the maturation process.

The whiskies in The Balvenie DCS Compendium Chapter Two range in age from 15 years to 43 years and were taken from different cask types, including; European oak Oloroso sherry butts, first fill American oak bourbon barrels, European oak Port puncheon and European oak Pedro Ximénez Sherry butt – with each barrel imparting their own distinct flavour profile to the final expression.

Team db‘s ‘Galactic Masters’ may not have won Inter Rhône’s annual quiz last night (well done Selhurst Parkers) but they did pick up an award having aced (they suppose) the Rhône Round, which is of course the hardest and most gruelling of all the question rounds… no?