The week in pictures – New Year special

The Maharaja of Jodhpur hosted the Diamond Jubilee polo cup and the Diamond Jubilee Ball at Umaid Bhawan Palace, where Royal Salute honoured the Maharaja’s celebratory year with a one-off Scotch whisky crafted especially by the master blender.

San Francisco Chronicle‘s wine editor Jon Bonné, enjoyed his New Year’s Eve with this Twitter picture, writing: “Beginning our Champagne duels …”

Cindy Crawford posted this picture on Twitter, saying, “Happy New Year! We’re popping champagne tonight although it probably won’t be as fun as this shoot with @Terry_World!”

US rapper Jay-Z spent his New Year’s eve in a private lounge watching a Coldplay concert, before joining them on-stage. He is pictured here backstage with bottles of Armand de Brignac.

Sean Coombes was also in party mode for the New Year, with his Cîroc Vodka brand.

Pamela Anderson was another celebrity Champagne tweeter over New Year; with this picture she wrote: “Matt, please bring me some water… Enough Champagne…”

Joule’s Brewery managing director Steve Nuttal celebrates securing a seven-figure investment for more pubs with Daran Harding from The Co-operative bank, outside the brewery in Market Drayton.

Eric Asimov of the New York Times, was enjoying Champagne after the New Year. He tweeted this picture, with the comment: “A brilliant Champagne, rich, deep, complex and young. By all means don’t drink too cold.”