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News
Week in pictures: 15 – 21 July
This week in pictures features Masterchef’s Gregg Wallace, Graham Norton and Invivo’s anniversary, a tasting of Penfolds’ 2023 Collection, a deal for Wimbledon and Jeroboams latest opening.
Graham Norton
Graham Norton and New Zealand wine company Invivo are celebrating ten years of collaborating to produce their award-winning wine and spirits range.
Graham Norton and Invivo Cofounders Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron toasted the major milestone together during their tenth tasting and blending session, held at Arundels-on-the-Pier pub in Norton’s hometown of Ahakista in West Cork, Ireland.
“I’m delighted to be celebrating ten years of GN wines and spirits with Invivo. It’s surreal thinking that our little collaboration together started out all those years ago with just one New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and is now all over the world with ten wines and spirits. I don’t just put my name to the wines, I’m happy to be so involved and I love being part of the process. It really shows we’re building the GN wine brand for the long haul, and I’m looking forward to another ten years (and more!) of wine tasting and blending with Tim and Rob!” Graham Norton said.
Boisdale Life
Roy Sommer (pictured left), Chairman of the Food and Beverage Manager Association and Market Manager UK, Ireland and Netherlands of Davidoff, issued MasterChef’s Gregg Wallace (centre left) with the coveted Davidoff Bon Viveur Award at Boisdale Life’s annual Editors Lunch.
Wallace accepted the award, along with a box of Davidoff Dominicana Cigars which he promptly took to the terrace of the venue, Boisdale, Canary Wharf, to share, with the words, “I only had one posh friend before lunch,” referring to his newfound friendship with the editor of Boisdale Life magazine, William Sitwell, and the applauding crowd of gentries and luminaries…
Penfolds
Douglas Blyde visited the Capital Hotel to taste several wines from the 2023 Penfolds Collection with maths and chemistry teacher turned Chief Winemaker, Peter Gago in advance of their global release.
These included the succulent 2022 Reserve Bin A Adelaide Hills Chardonnay, subject to batonage, guava-scented 2021 Yattarna Chardonnay, described as “the Grange of Chardonnay” by Gago, the joyous, concentrated, oak-free 2021 Bin 28 Shiraz, the inky, piquant, peppery 2021 Bin 169 Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon, and the lush, plump 2021 Bin 707 Cabernet Sauvignon – a favourite incidentally of the performer, Ed Sheeran, and the luscious, sticky 2019 Grange.
Excepting 2021 Bin 798 RWT Barossa Valley Shiraz which will be released via La Place de Bordeaux in March 2024, the full collection, spanning grapes from four countries, will be available from UK merchants and retailers
The new vintages of the following wines will be available on 3 August from Berry Bros & Rudd: Bin 407, Bin 389, Bin 15, Bin 21, Bin 28, Bin 51, Bin 311
On 5 October, the new vintages of the following wines will be available from BBR: Grange, Yattarna, Bin 707, Bin 798 RWT, St Henri, Reserve Bin A
Other UK & European merchants and independent retailing listings are to be confirmed.
Wimbledon
Champagne Lanson has announced it will renew its partnership with The All England Lawn Tennis Club for another five years as Official Partner to The Championships, Wimbledon.
The new agreement will see Champagne Lanson’s relationship extend to 2028 with their 50th year of association with the global tennis event being celebrated in 2027.
François Van Aal, President, Champagne Lanson, said: “We are thrilled to renew our partnership with the All England Club for another five years. Champagne Lanson and the All England Club passionately uphold the values of tradition, transparency, legacy and savoir faire after an already 46 year-long and successful association. Wimbledon continues to be the pre-eminent global tennis tournament, hotly anticipated by our customers worldwide and we love sharing these amazing sporting memories with them. This renewed partnership will also ring in the 50th year of our association with The Championships, Wimbledon in 2027, and will be cause for much celebration at The House.”
Jeroboams
Jeroboams has opened its London neighbourhood shop opening on Kings Road in Chelsea. It is the tenth retail shop within the Jeroboams Group portfolio.
The opening is a key development of the ambitious growth plans by the independent group.
Matt Tipping, CEO of Jeroboams, said: “We are thrilled to have secured such a fantastic location in one of the most sought-after areas of south west London. Our growth aspirations have long included a Jeroboams shop in the heart of Chelsea and were better than on the Kings Road. We are looking forward to bringing our wonderful portfolio of wines, spirits, cheese and specialist produce to this iconic area of London. We already have many existing private clients and trade customers locally, and we can’t wait to showcase the experience, service and enthusiasm we are known for, to the rest of Chelsea.”
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