The week in pictures

Brancott Estate’s chief winemaker was in town to show off the Marlborough producer’s range and explain why lack of new vineyard space means that value rather than volume growth needs to be the future focus.

The Brancott event took place in the basement of the Haymarket Hotel in London – but rather a glamorous basement, with db sorely tempted to linger in this unexpected subterranean pool, big screen tv and bar area.

If only every morning started with Montrachet. UK merchant Corney & Barrow introduced its latest Burgundy signing, Domaine Jacques Prieur, whose enviable holdings include parcels across many of the region’s grands crus.

db’s Lucy Shaw was snapped enjoying the summer sun in Chile this week, stopping to admire this oversized bicycle at Viña Cono Sur. Using pedal power around its vineyards is just one of the ways that the winery is making efforts to be green. Check out our top 10 green initiatives here.

Our winery dogs round up sparked a lot of interest with a wineries eager to show off their own pooches. This is Latte the Labrador, of Chateau La Couspaude and Chateau Piquet Caillou in Bordeaux, on a visit to Taylor’s cellar. “He is the best bodyguard in the world”, says his owner.

Here is a picture of PressTon, as in press a ton of grapes. He is the resident winery dog at Longevity Wines in Livermore, California, and yes the wine with his picture is named after him.

Paul Symington’s beloved boxer Mungo is often seen patrolling the Douro River by speed boat. He’s so famous he even has his own Facebook page. Symington presides over Symington Family Estates, which includes Graham’s, Cockburn’s, Warre’s, Dow’s and Quinta do Vesuvio.

Chinook, mascot of the Blue Mountain Vineyard & Cellars in Okanagan Falls, British Columbia, is no stranger to the white stuff.

While Snoop is often seen helping Chris Foss, head of wine at Plumpton College, in the vineyard.

Ballantine’s unveiled the results of its latest project to create the world’s largest animated GIF in Rio De Janeiro, forming the basis of a three minute film. The giant animated artwork was painted on the ground in four stages over four days and measured a total of 57,515m2 (made up of four images measuring 14,379m2 each). The huge paintings were each captured via a satellite orbiting 431 miles above the earth and transformed into a moving piece of animated ‘GIF-ITI’.

(L-R) Gary Birchall, business development manager at Yorkshire Bank, Adrian Moeckell, managing director, Carol Barnes, relationship manager at Yorkshire Bank and Richard Rankin, corporate finance partner at Armstrong Watson

Lancaster-based wine import and wholesale business, EWGA Wines, were celebrating this week after becoming one of the largest operators in the UK following a successful acquisition supported by a multi-million finance package from Yorkshire Bank. The company, which supplies quality wines from across the world to the hotel and restaurant market, has recently completed its acquisition of assets owned by Heritage Wine Company in Gloucestershire and Helvan, increasing business revenue by 40%.