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Week in pictures: 21 – 27 October
This week in pictures features db‘s Wine and Spirits Show, a new blanc de noirs from Kent, Langham’s bumper harvest, Sud de France with Ox Clarke and a celebration of Day of the Dead tomorrow.
Wine and Spirits Show
Last weekend (20-22 October) saw the return of db‘s Wine and Spirits Show to Chelsea Town Hall. The packed-out event was a storming success, with the trade and general public enjoying a collection of Global Masters competition gold and master medallist wines, spirits and beers as well as stalls by producers (Richard Dennis of Watermill Wines, pictured top). Guests were also able to enjoy masterclasses by Patrick Schmitt MW (pictured bottom) and a variety of food stalls.
Silverhand
db staff writer Louis Thomas attended a glitzy reception to mark the launch of Kyng, a prestige blanc de noirs sparkling from Kent’s Silverhand Estate at London Hilton on Park Lane.
Gary Smith, CEO of estate owner MDCV UK, said in a speech delivered to guests: “Organic farming is unusual in the UK, and incredibly, incredibly difficult. We’re also moving to a regenerative farming model, which is even more difficult.”
Teasing the “new chapter” that Kyng signifies for Silverhand Estate, Smith concluded: “The future is sparkling.”
Other speakers included Helena Nicklin, part of The Three Drinkers, and incoming WineGB CEO Nicola Bates.
At dinner, Kyng, which is made from 100% Pinot Noir that spends five years on the lees, was paired with a starter of beef carpaccio, mushroom ketchup & pickled radish.
Sud de France
The Sud de France Top 100 team finished a full-on week showing new winning wines from Occitanie. First stop was the Wine & Spirits Show in Chelsea. Then they presented the big annual Top 100 tasting with the line-up of all 100 wines with 18 visiting producers in Lincoln’s Inn Fields (26 October). There was a welcome visit by Oz Clarke OBE. The week ended with a dinner for producers and UK buyers, hosted at the Residence of the French Ambassador in London. Celebration dishes were created by Chef Mosimann to highlight the wines.
Shown in the image (left to right): Olivier Legrand, CEO of the Conseil Interprofessionnel des Vins du Languedoc (CIVL); Carole Ponsar, L’Agence de Développement de la Région Occitanie (AD’OCC); Oz Clarke OBE; Sébastien du Boullay, Project Manager, Bureau de la Région Occitanie; Isabelle Kanaan, Executive Director, Bureau de la Région Occitanie
Langham
After a record 99 tonnes in 2022, Langham Wine Estate in Dorchester has hit 123 tonnes. As the last grapes were picked, estate owner Justin Langham admitted to being very worried about the harvest after challenging weather for the last three months and a very wet summer, but due diligence and hard work won the day. He said: “After 17 days of picking, pressing, pumping and now fermenting, the winery is absolutely full to capacity with grape juice on its journey to becoming Dorset sparkling wine. It has been a mammoth effort from the winery and vineyard teams and I couldn’t be more proud of the work they’ve done.” (Image: Estate owner Justin Langham (second left) and Head Winemaker Tommy Grimshaw (fourth left) with Langham’s vineyard and winery team. Credit: Lara Jane Thorpe)
Gaucho City
London venue Gaucho City is setting up a Day of The Dead Brunch special on Saturday 28 October.
For 90 minutes, guests will sip on delicious cocktails, enjoy a Casamigos tequila tipple and feast their fangs on a three-course South-American inspired menu featuring free-flowing starters, a main and a dessert. There will also be a Mexican Mariachi band and house DJ, who will be waking the dead and encouraging them to swing on by.
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