The week in pictures

(Photo: Jeff Spicer/PA Wire)

Kicking off yet another star-studded week in pictures, Deadpool’s alter-ego Ryan Reynolds held a private cocktail reception at Hide in London’s fashionable Mayfair district to celebrate his recent acquisition of craft gin brand Aviation, of which is now owner and creative director.

Canapés were designed by trendy London restauranteur Ollie Dabbous, and Reynolds drank straight gin on the rocks, because he’s just that classy.

Across the Channel, Rothschild winery Mouton Cadet celebrated opening night of its new bar at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday.

International artist Keren Ann entertained guests with an intimate musical performance, while bright young things sipped on sundowners.

A programme of cinematic events will run at the Mouton Cadet Wine Bar throughout the Festival, including a Tribute to 2001: A Space Odyssey, a lunch with the cast of the latest Star Wars movie, and an event with the 2018 Cannes Film Festival judges on the closing night.

Bottega owner and MD Sandro Bottega won the 2018 Riedel Winemaker of the Year Award on Tuesday evening at the glassmaker’s annual awards. Bottega said he was “deeply honored to dedicate this prestigious recognition to my parents and to the entire company.”

Bertrand Steip, Stephanie Alys, Liv Garfield, Amanda Nevill and Chloe Stefani attending the annual Veuve Clicquot Business Woman Award at Claridge’s (Photo: Dave Benett)

Over in the world of money, Veuve Clicquot clinked glasses with the most powerful women in London to celebrate its annual Business Woman Awards at Claridge’s.

Liv Garfield, CEO of Severn Trent picked up the gong for Business Woman of the year, following in the footsteps of the likes of Anita Roddick, founder of the Body Shop, and architect Dame Zaha Hadid CBE.

Princess Anne looked thoughtful on a small hill overlooking Sussex winery Rathfinny’s 210-acre vineyard on Wednesday.

The princess flew in by helicopter to the Rathfinny in Alfriston, Sussex, to officially open the new bottling and cellar buildings.

She was also handed some flowers by one of the winery’s hospitality apprentices, at which point the royal joked: “is this part of your training?”

Evidently, it was.

And now for something completely different. Do you watch Love Island?

For those who need clarification, it’s a reality show on ITV2 where beautiful young people are sent away to an idyllic Spanish resort, and have to couple up with each other in order to stay on holiday. At the end of the show, the most-convincing pair wins £50,000.

There are lots of weird couples-bonding games contestants have to play as well, a bit like that week in Malia that you swore you’d never, ever talk about again.

Why is this relevant? Well purveyors of student-friendly wines Echo Falls have landed a major advertising partnership with the show’s producers, which means they’ve won key advert slots between programmes, will be releasing limited edition wine labels, and will even launch a competition to send two Echo fans to the live finals later this year.

Celebrating the news, Echo Falls sent the author this care package, containing heart-shaped chocolates, a bottle of White Zinfandel, some inflatable drinks-holders shaped like flamingos (for the swimming pool in my north London council estate that clearly exists), a bottle of fake tan, and a lot of pink.

Down in South Africa, the Cape Winemakers Guild’s Protégés are one step closer to living their dream and making their own wines.

Morgan Steyn of Riversdale, Gynore Fredericks of Malmesbury and Elouise Kotze of Brackenfell have successfully barrelled their first wines after the 2018 harvest, as part of the second year of their viniculture course.

Steyn (right), who is making a Bordeaux-style Sauvignon/Semillion blend, became interested in wine when his teacher spoke about the industry in his Agriculture class. It was the language of wine that enticed him to pursue this career.

“I want to be a winemaker that leads by example and brings change to the industry. I want to follow in the footsteps of my mentors, because I can see their love for wine. If this love is nurtured, the wine industry will flourish.”

Who remembers that time Iron Maiden made a beer with brewer Robinsons? Well, Trooper Beer celebrated its fifth birthday on Wednesday night, proving the crossover between metal fans and cask ale drinkers is as strong as ever.

Since its launch in 2013, the 4.7% ABV Premium British Beer has sold over 20 million pints, and is sold in more than 50 countries worldwide.

In 1988, Christian Bizot founded the Madame Bollinger Foundation to permanently recognise the contribution and values of his aunt, Madame Bollinger, who led the House from 1941 to 1973; choosing London as its base and its mission to be the fostering of the highest standards in wine education.

Earlier this month, 30 years on, the recipients of the award were invited to London by Chairman of the Madame Bollinger Foundation Etienne Bizot, son of Christian Bizot and great-nephew of Madame Bollinger to celebrate the anniversary.

db‘s Phoebe French travelled to Turkey this week to visit pioneering producer Kayra Wines. Visiting the winery in Elazığ, a mixed group of press and retailers tasted the range under the expert stewardship of Californian-born head winemaker, Daniel O’Donnell. After the tasting, O’Donnell invited guests downstairs to try a barrel sample before heading out to explore the vineyards.

Stunning views were to be had from Kayra’s Elazığ vineyards, growing indigenous varieties such as Öküzgözü and Boğazkere. O’Donnell explained that in the absence of a written rulebook produced from centuries of winemaking and viticultural heritage, Kayra is conducting its own research into how best to grow Turkey’s historic grape varieties.

And finally, we at the drink business love a good game of five-a-side, and today we will be taking part in a tournament with some 50 people from the wine trade at Arsenal’s Emirates stadium in north London, courtesy of the premier league team’s Chilean wine partner Santa Rita.

We’re live-streaming the whole thing on our website, so play that video to see us crash and burn in oenophile footy.