The week in pictures

Liberty Wines has launched its 2017 apprentice programme. Now in its eleventh year, the two-year programme sees successful candidates work two vintages with Liberty’s producers and experience all aspects of the UK wine business. Its latest apprentice, Cecilia Gibbons (pictured) has just returned from working a vintage in Argentina.

During her time in Argentina Cecilia worked in Mendoza at Altos Los Hormigas, where she played an active role in the winemaking process.

Also on the adventure trail is Richard Bigg of the Camino restaurant group, who has raised an impressive £9,000 for Action Against Hunger having undertaken a weeklong trek through the Annapurna range in the foothills of the Himalayas in Nepal with a willing team of chefs and restaurateurs.

Climbing at 2,800 feet, he was treated to spectacular mountain views and met a lot of colourful characters on the way, including this cheeky monkey.

Richard’s group raise £116,000 in total for Action Against Hunger, which works to save the lives of malnourished children around the world. There is still time to donate to Richard’s page by following the link here.

Chef Neil Rankin, owner of über cool taco joint Temper in Soho, hosted a grilling masterclass in collaboration with Argentine wine brand Trivento this week, where he talked attendees through how to get the most out of their meat.

Rankin (far right) was joined by Trivento’s winemaker German Di Cesare and brand manager Natasha Erlandsson, who devoured mountains of meat after the masterclass.

Alex Layton of Negociants UK poses proudly with the latest vintage of actor-turned-winemaker Sam Neill’s single vineyard Central Otago Pinot Noir called The Fusilier from his Two Paddocks estate, which offered the perfect balance of savoury, gamey notes and attractive bright fruit at The Ninth on Charlotte Street.

During our dinner with Alex at Jun Tanaka’s Michelin-starred The Ninth, we tucked into truffle arancini, a duck Scotch egg, beets and burrata, and langoustine ravioli, and indulged in a museum release of Pewsey Vale’s The Contours single vineyard Riesling from 2006, whose nose was pure kerosine and palate lime cordial and lemon meringue.

Joanna Lumley, winner of the Fellowship, added her signature.

Sue Perkins hosted the Virgin TV British Academy Television Awards 2017 at the Royal Festival Hall, where television royalty gathered to hear the winners. As Official Champagne and wine partners to BAFTA, Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria were on pour. Guests were invited to sign bottles of Taittinger.

Dame Joan Collins also signed the bottle.

Sarah Lancashire, Winner of Leading Actress for her performance in BBC’s Happy Valley.

Attendees toasted the winners at the ceremony with Champagne Taittinger, Official Champagne Partner to BAFTA, which was served to guests throughout the evening from special BAFTA labelled Magnums and 75cl bottles.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge, winner of best female performance in a comedy programme for Fleabag.

The Mouton Cadet Wine Bar on the rooftop of the Palais des Festivals at the Cannes International Film Festival, opened its doors on Wednesday as many of the world’s most famous faces arrived to launch their latest films.

Julianne Moore and Géraud de la Noue of Mouton Cadet.

Picture shows L-R: Julián Chivite, president of J. Chivite Family Estates and Spanish Michelin starred chefs Juan Mari Arzak, Elena Arzak Espina and Ramón Freixa.

The new Las Fincas Rosado 2016 was launched in Madrid yesterday. The acclaimed rosé wine from northern Spain is the unique creation of two of Spain’s leading families in food and wine: Arzak and Chivite.

Katherine Brown and her husband.

Katherine Brown, the eldest daughter of Ross and Judy Brown of Brown Brothers, came to London this week to host a tasting showcasing the winery’s ‘Patricia’ range. db was lucky enough to try a number of recent releases served alongside older vintages. These included the Patricia Brut Sparkling 2010, Patricia Chardonnay 2008 and 2011, Patricia Shiraz 2012, 2008 and 2002 and Patricia Late Harvest Riesling 2013 and 2002.

Former US president Barack Obama has given a helping hand to the Italian wine region of Trentodoc by raising a glass of its traditional method sparkling wine at an event in Milan.

He was also spotted tucking into a glass of Ferrari fizz.

Finally, what better way to start a Sunday than with a nine course brunch at Sexy Fish in London’s Mayfair. The Asian-inspired restaurant is launching ‘Sexy Brunch,’ a new brunch menu featuring Japanese inspired meat, seafood and vegetarian dishes and a creative cocktail list, alongside a stellar line up of music and world class DJs.

Throughout the months of May and June, Sexy Brunch parties will take place every Sunday from 11.30am – 4.30pm.

db was treated to the likes of wasabi and edamame croquettes, wagyu beef gyosas, chunky tuna tartare, ‘sexy eggs’ – lobster eggs benedict, and green tea waffles with blueberries. Also on offer is Sexy Fish’s signature Bloody Mary served in a copper fish.