Week in pictures

A room with a view – azure sky at Bollinger HQ in Aÿ

Bollinger president Jerome Philipon keeps court at Madame Bollinger’s house, which has been kept the same since she lived there.

The Australian Vintage team celebrates victory in a Dodgeball competition organised by the Sainsbury’s BWS department, part of an afternoon which raised a total of £33,000 for Sport Relief

Freixenet’s technical expertise is unquestionable. After all, it invented the gyropalette and produces almost 100 million bottles of traditional method sparkling every year. However, db was intrigued to find this somewhat unscientific looking folder in their state-of-the-art laboratory.

One can understand why Freixenet’s company car scheme had so few takers having spotted this sleek number at the Cava producer’s headquarters at San Sadurni de Anoia. For those who prefer the wind through their hair, there are also some Cordon Negro shaped scooters.

db stumbled across this novel way to hide a drinking habit at the Dry Martini Bar in Barcelona. Sadly we never found the mother, but we did enjoy a cava and Calvados cocktail.

One of Bompas & Parr’s culinary alchemists creates Maker’s Mark smoked ice cream from liquid nitrogen at the dynamic duo’s lastest madcap event.

db was lucky enough to try the near-mythical, truffle-scented, Bollinger Vieilles Vignes Françaises 1997 at Madame Bollinger’s house.

The next morning, db‘s Lucy Shaw got to visit Clos Chaudes Terres where the wine is made from ungrafted vines.

Whisky specialists Joel Harrison (l) and Neil Ridley (r) (and their glamorous assistant) dressed as airline stewards at last weekend’s Whisky Live event in London presented guests with boarding passes before offering them a taste of the new Laphroaig PX Cask single malt whisky.

A verdant Michael Cox lays on the charm with Emma Wellings at The Drinks Business Green Awards

One of the many wild boars said to roam the forests of Champagne is immortalised on Madame Bollinger’s drawing room wall.