The week in pictures

db donned its glad rags and headed to Hurlingham Park in Fulham last week for Chestertons Polo in the Park, which for the third year was sponsored by Champagne Lanson. This year, the theme of Lanson’s sponsored areas, which included a VIP paddock and separate bar, was white to highlight its White Label Cuvée, which was also available in Magnums and Methuselah formats.

db’s Lauren Eads takes a break from the polo at Lanson’s all white bar with the Mail on Sunday’s Zoe Griffin.

And they’re off! No polo match is complete without a glass of fizz. A host of international teams, including Zurich, England and Argentina, taking part in a series of matches, played under simplified rules to create a faster-paced game.

“We were proud to be the first event of Champagne Lanson’s #ThePerfectStart to…Summer campaign, ” said Rory Heron, managing director of Sportgate International, whose team organised the event. “Champagne Lanson’s choice to lead with their Rose Label across the site led to record Champagne sales inside their incredible pink Champagne Garden last year; and  Lanson’s White Label cuvée this year resonated with our guests this year as it fit perfectly with the theme of Polo.”

Lanson’s tie up with Chesterton’s Polo in the Park marked the start of its innagural “Perfect Start to….” summer campaign, which culminates with its sponsorship of The Championships, Wimbledon. This year will mark the house’s 40th year as sponsors of the event, which will take place from July 3 to 16.

Its Wimbledon-themed neoprene jackets, which have have become synonymous with the event, have this year been given a limited edition makeover turning green to resemble a tennis court with white stripes. The jackets can keep your bottle chilled for up to an hour. This year, for the first time, the bottles will be available at Selfridges.

Lewis Hamilton celebrated his win at the Canadian Grand Prix with a bottle of Carbon Champagne.

Rachel Taulelei, CEO of Kono NZ (Tohu & Aronui wines) and New Zealand Winegrowers board member, met with His Excellency The Right Honourable Sir Jerry Mateparae GNZM, QSO, KStJ, the New Zealand High Commissioner to the UK at New Zealand House in London this week.

To celebrate the reopening of Borough Market following the terror attack in London, our very own Andrew Oliver and David Hennelly, both rarely short of an excuse to visit the local watering hole, headed to the Wheatsheaf pub for pint (or two) to show their support.

Neil Phillips, The Wine Tipster, presented a masterclass at Taste of London for Prosecco DOC and Grana Padano DOP with Michelle Cherutti-Kowal MW and Chef Danilo Cortellini.

From left to right is two generations of the Barry family; Peter (managing director), Tom (third generation winemaker) and Sam (commercial manager)

Clare Valley’s finest Jim Barry Wines celebrated 25 years of the “The McRae Wood Shiraz” yesterday in true Jim Barry fashion!

db was treated to a Champagne Devaux dinner at London’s Texture restaurant on Tuesday, featuring Champagne Devaux Cuvée (aged 5 years in magnum), Ultra (Extra Brut aged 5 years), Champagne Devaux & Michel Chapoutier Stenope 2009, Champagne Devaux D Millésimé 2008 and D Rosé (aged 5 years).

Chef Leon Mazairac of Podium Onder De Dom puts the finishing touches on his oyster starter at the Copa Jerez this week, an event that saw chef and sommelier teams from seven key Sherry export markets compete for the ultimate food and Sherry pairing menu.

Leon’s starter comprised of ‘Zeeland’ oyster with green olive jelly and sardine cream dressed with Iberian ham sauce, which was paired with Bodegas Delgado Zuleta La Goya Manzanilla Pasada.

Podium Onder de Dom’s head sommelier. Goos van der Berg explains to the judging panel why he chose to pair Bodegas Callejuela Oloroso El Cerro with Leon’s main course of Dutch rabbit seasoned with masala spices, carrot and orange cream. The pair went on to win the competition with their menu, with Leon also being crowned the best chef.

During the Copa Jerez we were treated to lunch at Bodegas Fundador, where Jerez’ signature Albariza soils were blindingly white under a canopy of blue sky.

Even the bulls have wine-themed names in Jerez.

Our waitress looked less than delighted to be serving Harvey’s Bristol Cream cocktails.

The hash browns topped with a fried egg went down easy…

The ebullient Glen Remarkers, head sommelier of Humphrey restaurant in Belgium, shows off his stick of reindeer heart, which he grated on top of his main course of celery root, tobacco cheese and chickpea miso. db couldn’t resist having a nibble – it tasted rather like biltong to us and shared its salty tang.

One of the many delicious Sherries that featured in the food pairings.

The Copa Jerez judging panel, including head of the Jerez Consejo Beltran Domecq, and El Celler de Can Roca sommelier Josep ‘Pitu’ Roca,  are presented with one of 21 courses they deliberated and cogitated over during the completion.

Robin Alexander Leypoldt, head chef of Humphrey in Belgium and all-round entertainers charms the judges during the competition.

A selection of the dishes whipped up during the Copa Jerez competition.

Dynamic duo Kerin Auth-Bembery and Flannery Klette-Kolton, sommelier and head chef of En Rama in New York, smile for the cameras with their three-course menu, one of db’s favourites in the competition, which included a main of kombucha and kaffir lime braised short ribs with an espresso rub, carrot soufflé and walnut soil.

Flying the flag for the UK was chef Michael Nizzero and sommelier Giovanni Ferlito of The Ritz, who won the award for the best pudding pairing, with their hazelnut and fig semifreddo, which Ferlito paired with Bodegas Gonzalez Byass Noé VORS Pedro Ximénez.

After the competition, Giovanni and Michael kicked back and relaxed to the sounds of flamenco, which Josep Roca of El Celler de Can Roca paired with ten old and rare Sherries, as he believes both flamenco and Sherry share the same levels of complexity.

We couldn’t help but notice the striking resemblance of the flamenco singer to Brazilian footballer Ronaldo.

Guest enjoyed bespoke Berkeley Square Gin Elderflower Fizz cocktails and Martinis, created by The Cocktail Service, for the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair talk on investing in jewellery, held at Wealth Management firm Killik & Co’s Mayfair office just off Berkeley Square. The Berkeley Square Elderflower Fizz was mixed with elderflower liqueur, gin and topped with Prosecco garnished with a lemon twist.