The week in pictures

Photo credit: @ Riccardo Trudi Diotallevi Photography www.facebook.com/trudiphotography

Cantine Maschio showcased its Prosecco in the 20cl format, called “the Prosecchino” in Italy, at series of events taking place in botanical gardens throughout Italy. Cantine Maschio is the Italian market leader in this format.

Photo credit: @ Riccardo Trudi Diotallevi Photography www.facebook.com/trudiphotography

In order to revitalise the segment and to reach new consumers, Cantine Maschio is targeting younger consumers by arranging new events.

Photo credit: @ Riccardo Trudi Diotallevi Photography www.facebook.com/trudiphotography

The events, branded “en plein air”, took the form of special picnics in botanical gardens of historical villas run in different towns of the “Bel Paese”.

L-R: Hugh Liddell, event organiser from Cottonworth Vineyards, Jane Devonshire, Masterchef Champion 2016, and Caroline Stevens, event organiser from Danebury Vineyards.

The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of the 700 attendees who attended the annual Vineyards of Hampshire festival. Cottonworth Vineyards hosted the fifth edition of the event this year.

Despite the dark clouds looming, in true British fashion, festival goers donned wellies, walking boots and waterproof. When the rain did come, marquees and umbrellas helped to keep guests dry.

Among the exhibitors was Danebury Vineyards based in near Stockbridge. The event was opened by MasterChef champion 2016 Jane Devonshire, who is a great supporter of Hampshire produce.

The vineyards taking part were: Cottonworth, Danebury, Exton Park, Hambledon, Hattingley, Raimes and Jenkyn Place.

Last friday saw the first ever Bartender Boxing Finals, taking place in New Orleans during Tales of The Cocktail, between LA and TX bartenders.

An initiative between the Bartender Boxing Organization and Cazadores Tequila the event helps push the liquor industry to embrace wellness and health.

Honouring the life of famous British bartender Dick Bradsell, Grey Goose invited cocktail enthusiasts from both sides of the pond to raise an Espresso Martini to the man and join in the parties which were live-streamed between the bars at 1pm-3pm in New Orleans and 7pm-9pm at Swift in London.

At Swift, Bradsell’s daughter, Bea, hosted the evening with all funds from the sales of the Espresso Martini going to The Benevolent, the drinks industry charity.

The Astoria Wine Estate hosted a summer concert at the top of Refrontolo’s hills to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the wine brand.

Seated beside the vines, guests were treated to a musical programme entitled: “The thousand and one night – Exotic seduction in music.”

Tackling works such as Habanera from Carmen, Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky and ‘por a cabeza’ by Gardel, guests toasted the show with a glasses of Prosecco.

Les Dauphins was served up at The Ambassador’s official summer party at The French Embassy. Pictured is drinks journalist Sam Wylie Harris and her husband Giles.

Guests included prominent French and British politicians including Philip Hammond who made a speech on behalf of the government, and Amber Rudd.

1,500 guests were invited to French Ambassador Sylive Bermann’s Summer Garden Party to mark Bastille Day 2017.

Diplomats, leading business figures and sports stars rubbed shoulders with celebrities including TV presenters Emily Maitlis and Jon Snow, whilst enjoying Les Dauphins.

Woodford Reserve brand ambassador Tom Vernon and Davide Segat of the Punch Room at the London Edition hotel hosted a ‘Scandal Water’ seminar to bartenders to educate them on the history of punch.

During the seminar, attendees got to enjoy Woodford Reserve-laced punch cocktails like the Oxford Punch, Wedding Punch, A La Diable Punch, Milk Punch and the Oak Moss Old Fashioned.

Last night saw the launch of Santo de Piedra Mezcal at Dandelyan on the Sountbank, which was named the world’s best bar at Tales of the Cocktail. The evening was hosted by Santo de Piedra founder David Santillán Giles, and Barrie Wilson and Fabrice Limon of Highball Brands.

For the event, Dandelyan developed two serves using the mezcal – the Mexican Firing Squad, made with Santo de Piedra, coconut, Americano, absinthe, and Champagne, and the Million Dollar Cartel, which blends Santo de Piedra, with roasted sweet potato, spices and a grass distillate.

The Fiz team, including founder Barnaby Lewis (left) celebrate the success of their sparkling wine pop-up at Lights of Soho, which runs until the end of August. Inspired by the Cava bars of Barcelona, Barnaby hopes to introduce consumers to sparkling alternatives to Champagne, from Prosecco, Cava and English sparkling to Crémant, to fizz from Australia, Austria, Brazil and Portugal served with pork belly and shredded duck buns.

Portuguese ambassador to the UK, Manuel Lobo Antunes, takes a ‘brain scan’ as part of ‘The Grand Cork Experiment’ – which was launched last night in London to find out whether the pop of a cork affects our perception of wine quality.

Pictured left to right outside The Grand Cork Experiment in Soho is: Rita Fernandes from the Embassy of Portugal in London; the Portuguese ambassador to the UK, Manuel Lobo Antunes; and APCOR chairman, João Rui Ferreira.

Zonin Prosecco relaunched its Cuvée 1821 in its new silver and teal bottling in the beautiful surroundings of the The Orangery in London’s Holland Park.

Among the guests was Francesco Zonin, vice president of Zonin1821 (above) as well as Neil Philips, otherwise known as ‘The Wine Tipster’ and Andrea Rinaldi, president of the UK Sommelier Association (below).