The week in pictures

Fine wine merchant Berry Bros & Rudd announced that longstanding buyer Simon Field MW is to leave the firm at the end of the month.

After 20 years at the company, Field has announced his resignation as wine buyer, BBR confirmed to the drinks business.

He joined the company in 1998 after several, in his words, “misguided but lucrative years” as a charted accountant in the City.

He is best known for his work on BBR’s Spanish portfolio and his commitment to Spanish wine has led to him being inducted into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino.

The popularity of Prosecco in London is immortalised in the form of Prosecco-only wine near One Tower Bridge, fittingly called the Prosecco House.

Officially opened this week by Kristina Issa, the bar curates more than 20 different Prosecco DOCG brands, including five that are exclusive to the bar, namely Marchiori, Rivalta, Cirotto, Tasi Bio and Andreola. A glass of Prosecco starts at £7.50 and a bottle start from £38.

This Saturday Spanish winery Emina will host 60 budding oenophiles in a bid to spread the good word of wine in its Youth For Wine program.

Julio Carnero, president of the Provincial Council, and Carlos Moro, founder of Bodegas Familiares Matarromera (among which is Bodega Emina Ribera) will welcome the young ones, where there will be a debate to trace ideas of development and development of the wine culture among 18-35 year-olds.

The recruits will enjoy different wines from Matarromera Family Wineries, housed in the producer’s own bares.

Kendal pub The White Hart is back in business with a striking new look following a refurbishment from Robinsons Brewery.

Helen and Wayne Chorley have been licensees at the White Hart for 17 years but have worked at the pub since 1976 when Helen’s parents first ran it.

Helen said: ‘Our pub has been in the family for over 40 years, so it was really important that we delivered a refurbishment that showed how the pub has changed and moved with the times.”

French president Emmanuel Macron reassured winemakers on Thursday that there would be no amendment to the current Evin Law, restricting the advertising of alcoholic beverages in the country, as long as he is leading the country.

Speaking at a meeting with farming industry leaders, he said: “I drink wine for lunch and dinner, and I really believe in Pompidou’s formula: ‘Do not bother the French,’” reports the Huffington Post.

“There is a scourge of public health when young people get drunk at an accelerated speed with alcohol or beer, but it is not with wine.”

“As long as I’m president, there will be no amendment to harden the Evin law,” he said.

Across the pond, Hollywood heartthrob Ryan Reynolds bought a “significant” stake in US-based gin brand Aviation, becoming the new owner and creative director of what he calls the “best damn gin on the planet”.

As part of his investment, Reynolds will also take a seat on its board, become a creative director for the brand and “play an active role in the day-to-day business” as part of his “mission to introduce the world to the great taste of Aviation,” a press release stated.

While Reynolds is named clearly as the company’s new owner, neither the size of his stake in the company nor its value, have been disclosed.

Naturist hospitality firm Dine Naked Bristol is planning a second “inclusive” dinner that promises to be a “positive, life-affirming experience” after a successful launch party this week.

The event took place at pizza specialist Flour and Ash, which itself regularly hosts life drawing classes. Dine Naked Bristol encourages people to enjoy a meal with their clothes off in a “safe and friendly environment”.

It is holding a second dinner, this time at the Greenbank pub in Easton on 20 March, which has already sold out.

HUGE EXCITEMENT TIME!

We’ve been working with @TinyRebelGames on a super special top secret project and the time has come to share it with you!

Introducing…Beer Money Inc. THE GAME!https://t.co/oQHBwM0hDQ pic.twitter.com/AmS20Rq4gP

— Tiny Rebel Brewery (@tinyrebelbrewco) February 22, 2018

Newport-based brewery Tiny Rebel was keen to show off its millennial touch, launching a free video gaming app called Beer Money Inc. which allows users to brew and sell virtual beer, hire staff and buy a brewery.

It’s a smart stunt from the brewer, whose co-founder Bradley Cummings announced his intention to stand as a candidate in the Campaign for Real Ale’s (CAMRA’s) national executive election this year.

Cummings said that the app, Beer Money, is inspired by Tiny Rebel’s own journey, from a brewing kit in a garage to owning a new £2.6m purpose-built brewery in Rogerstone.

The app takes a lead from one of Cummings’ favourite games, Drugwars. It lets you select a site, buy ingredients for the brewing process, brew virtual beer and then sell it to customers.

Tom Kerridge is famous as being the first pub chef to be award two Michelin stars (Photo: BBC)

Tom Kerridge, the owner of two-Michelin-starred gastropub Hand and Flowers in Marlow, announced that he is set to open his first restaurant in London.

The restaurant will be located inside the five-star Corinthia Hotel on the site that is currently Massimo Restaurant & Bar, with a separate direct entrance off Northumberland Avenue.

The British Hop Association has announced the screening of a new Heritage Lottery-funded film called Stories From The Hop Yards inspired by a rediscovered photo collection and old film footage.

The film includes photos from a rediscovered collection, taken by local Herefordshire photographer Derek Evans. Capturing snapshots of life from the 1950s and 1960s, some of the images show families arriving for working or ‘hop holidays’ by train, cattle lorry or charabanc.

Ellis Wines hosted its annual portfolio tasting at the Vintner’s Hall in London this week, with almost 600 visitors tasting the range over two days. Afterwards, staff and suppliers posed for a group photo.

We were given a (La) tour of shiny new private members’ club Ten Trinity Square at The Four Seasons hotel in Tower Hill this week, which includes a room dedicated to Bordeaux first growth Château Latour where magnums, Jeroboams and imperials of old and rare vintages dating back to the 1930s sleep behind glass.

The mouth-watering wine list is looked after by Jan Konetzki, who also presides over the wine at the Michelin-starred La Dame de Pic restaurant in the hotel. Chef Anne-Sophie Pic has returned the favour, devising the food offering for Ten Trinity Square with a short but perfectly formed menu of French classics including rustic patés and scallops with apple.

The 65th Oxford-Cambridge Varsity blind tasting match was held this week where Oxford (above), for the fourth consecutive year, walked away as winners, despite a solid performance from a much less experienced Cambridge side (below).

Last weekend db was lucky enough to have been invited to Mas de Daumas Gassac in the Languedoc for one of the estate’s periodic verticals. This year the assembled judges sat down to assess 23 of Daumas Gassac’s white vintages from 2017 to 1987.