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Week in pictures: 9-15 September

15 September 2023 By James Evison

This week in pictures features California wine at a fashion awards, Diageo’s vintage whiskies, Rémy Martin in Chicago, Irish food and French wine pairing, and rugby players at a bar in Cardiff.

DAOU Vineyards

This weekend, DAOU Vineyards debuted as the Official Wine of Daily Front Row’s Fashion Media Awards 10th anniversary event, hosted by Alan Cumming on Friday, September 8, at the Rainbow Room in New York City. The FMAs celebrate the biggest, most influential names in today’s fashion media landscape. Throughout the evening, the glitterary flocked to the exclusive DAOU Rosé Bar to enjoy a special pouring of world-class wines from the renowned California winery in Paso Robles, California.

Diageo

Diageo unveiled the fourth release of the “Prima & Ultima” compilation of vintage, cask-strength single malt Scotch whiskies following a tour of the Royal Academy of Arts’ inner sanctum. Reached via an incongruously contemporary oval lift, the institutional fine arts library is home to such tomes as, beyond a red goatskin cover, “Ruins Of The Palace Of Emperor Diocletian At Spalatro In Dalmatia” by architect Robert Adam, who donated it one month after the RA was founded (11th January 1769) and “Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences”. The title of the latter could also sum up the work of Master Blender, Dr Emma Walker who, with Senior Global Brand Ambassador, Ewan Gunn, showcased remarkable bottlings from the collection in the less antique of aroma Richard Sharp Room below.

Here, two canvases depicting calm seas and a seething volcano unintentionally evoked the smoke and maritime notes of two of the most notable releases in the eight-strong line-up. Having spent 43 years in American hogsheads, the lifted Port Ellen 1978 (53.4%) evoked barley, Bakelite and orange oil on the nose, followed by a luscious palate of Lapsang Souchang and mandarin. Like a gremlin, it rejected water – at first. Meanwhile, from a heatwave year which caused the stills to run hot, Talisker 1976 (50.9%), which did accept water, rested in a single puncheon offering travel sweets on the nose then white pepper, brine, and an increasingly well-drawing campfire on the palate. 413 sets of Prima & Ultima Fourth Release are available through ballot which closes 11th October 2023, RRP. £45,580.

Rémy Martin x Usher

Rémy Martin x Usher “Life is a Melody” pop-up experience in Chicago that took place at the Chicago Athletic Association. The event featured special guests, including Designer Jon Stan (pictured), Celebrity Jacket Designer Jeff Hamilton, The Bachelorette’s Aven Jones, RuPaul’s Drag Race’s Kahmora Hall, Blogger and Influencer Jennifer Worman, Beauty Influencer Isimeme Edeko and more. The evening served as the fourth installment of the Rémy Martin x Usher “4 on The Floor” Roller Skating Pop-up, an immersive experience that embodied the fusion of exquisite cognac, the enchantment of music, and the art of roller skating.

Signature Chef Wines by Anna Haugh

Chef Anna Haugh celebrated her eponymous wine range at Myrtle, her Chelsea restaurant, this week. In conjunction with brand owner Signature Chefs and importer Buckingham Schenk, she paired the three southern French wines with her signature Irish cuisine across five courses.

Guests enjoyed Ireland’s finest produce, including Clonakilty black pudding, Burren beef sirloin and a chocolate and Guinness dessert, alongside the crisp rosé, Chardonnay-Viognier blend and Cabernet Franc led red. Haugh even made an appearance mid-service, beaming as she explained her excitement to collaborate on these wines.

Candover Brook

English sparkling wine producer Candover Brook hosted a ‘Candover Brook & Canapés’ evening to mark their new partnership with the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust (HIWWT). The collaboration will seek to protect Hampshire’s rare chalk streams and the endangered white-clawed crawfish that live in them.

The vineyard’s co-founder, Mark Sainsbury, commented: “our partnership with the HIWWT is the perfect expression of how important the surrounding landscape and its ecology is to us”. Candover Brook has pledged 50p for each bottle they sell locally or through their website to the HIWWT’s project.

Gaucho

On Wednesday 13 September, Gaucho Cardiff threw a star-studded party to celebrate the opening of its first restaurant in Wales in the heart of the city’s historic St David’s Centre. Already a firm favourite of sporting heroes, Gaucho Cardiff was joined by Lawrence Dallaglio and Jamie Roberts for the opening of Gaucho Cardiff with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers for a night of tango with Becky Tong on the DJ decks.

With music from DJ Becky Tong, guests dined on the restaurant’s signature sustainable steaks, showstopping South American canapés and bowl food whilst sipping on cocktails including the Citrus Negroni, a Clean Paloma and the standout Amber Noir, crafted using Welsh gin, Hensol Castle, a traditional copper pot London Dry gin.

Asda Christmas special

The db events team attended the Asda Christmas Event this week at the Hellenic Centre in Marylebone.

New Zealand wine tasting

New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) hosted a ‘Made with Care’ campaign launch event to celebrate the entry into force of the NZ – UK Free Trade Agreement on Wednesday night.

Held at the Waitrose Kings Cross Cookery School this event showcased some of the most exceptional food and drink from New Zealand, led by a menu developed by renowned chef Anna Hansen. A large selection of premium wines, beers including a new and unique manuka honey cocktail, non-alcoholic drinks and new innovations not yet launched within the UK were served.

The head office team from Brakspear’s Honeycomb Houses managed pubs division recently staged a ‘takeover’ at The Lion near Bicester, to give the pub team a night off and to welcome new general manager Theo Benson. Chief executive Tom Davies and finance director David Nathan were among the team of seven who poured pints for regulars while the permanent team partied.