The week in pictures

(Photo: Philipp Freitag/Instagram)

This week, in “skin contact”, Philipp Freitag of Weingut Freitag has been causing a stir on Instagram, posting images of himself naked every Friday.

Why? Well, why not?

(Photo: Philipp Freitag/Instagram)

Ok, so it’s in aide of his new range of natural ’naked‘ wines, named Naked Friday (or indeed, Weingut Freitag). Naked Friday Riesling and Silvaner have already been produced, with a Naked Friday red on the way, which might explain the extra maceration…

Speaking of risqué publicity,  Playboy has launched a branded red wine in partnership with US retailer Lot18 to mark its 65th birthday.

Released ahead of Valentine’s Day, the 13.9% wine features a label depicting the iconic Playboy Bunny Costume, designed by Playboy illustrator and designer, Katie Bailie.

In London, Guy Bascou, honorary president of AOP Picpoul de Pinet, and Picpoul colleagues celebrated their wines of the sea on Wednesday evening at Mayfair’s 12 Hay Hill members’ club.

It is the largest white wine region in South of France, accounting for 57 percent of still white wines produced in the Languedoc.

Bascou was joined by Marc Médevielle, author of new book Picpoul de Pinet: The White Mediterranean Vineyards of the Languedoc, Joyce Arends, Costières de Pomerols’ marketing manager, Claude Joudan, owner of the eponymous Domaine Félines Jourdan, Cave de l’Ormarine MD Cyril Payon, and Olivier Azan, owner of Domaine du Petit Roubié.

Over at the House of Commons, a team led by MPs Therese Coffey and Simon Hoare quizzed their way to victory in the inaugural All Party Parliamentary Beer Group and PubAid Pub Quiz on Tuesday.

Perhaps slightly overly optimistic about the country’s future this year, the quiz team, called “Bling”, beat 20 other MPs on the night, alongside other parliamentary colleagues, brewers, pub companies and journalists.

Mark Labbett – aka The Beast as seen on The Chase – played the role of quizmaster for the evening.

Also in Westminster, Aston Manor Cider boss Gordon Johncox addressed MPs, government officials and industry figures at the All Parliamentary Cider Group reception.

Johncox, who is also the chair of the National Association of Cider Makers, called for producers of all sizes to band together and collaborate to help convey to MPs the unique problems faced in the small but fast-growing category.

Of course, there was a nod to the recent tax hike on White Cider (ciders with an ABV between 6.9% and 7.5%). While headlines from the Autumn budget stated that cider duty was frozen, ciders in the middle duty band received a 25% tax increase, impacting many small cider makers as well as the companies producing high-strength, low cost products.

The cider chief raised concerns about ministers’ lack of understanding over the industry’s inner workings.

“We need the support of politicians to work with us to return cider to more positive results, remove red tape and the unnecessary rules that limit innovation and investment,” Johncox said. “This support can enable cider makers produce fantastic products that interest in our category.”

The Sommelier’s Atlas of Taste by Rajat Parr and Jordan Mackay was crowned the winner of the André Simon Award 2018 for best drinks book on Tuesday night.

The book beat stiff competition in the form of works by Oz Clarke, Jamie Goode, Simon Woolf and Alex Maltman on wine experiences, faults, orange wines and the science of vineyard geology.

Winemakers, buyers and writers put their rosé tinted glasses on on Thursday to mark the start of the International Rosé Festival in Cannes, the first trade show entirely focused on rosé and featuring a hundreds of pink bottles sourced from all over the world.

Over the past 10 years, production and consumption of rosés have increased by 16% and 20% respectively throughout the world, according to the organisers.

The highlight of the two-day extravaganza was the Pink Awards, which presents trophies to wineries that have perfected the art of food and wine pairing. Every exhibitor is able to enter a wine into a competition which sees a panel of sommeliers and experts match them to a meal curated by the chefs at the Michelin-starred restaurant of the Grand Hotel in Cannes.

In avant-garde cocktails, Fitzrovia’s Riding House Cafe has launched a limited edition drinks menu to be served throughout London Fashion Week (Friday 15th February to Tuesday 18th February), paying tribute to the iconic portraits taken by Andy Warhol that are currently on exhibition at the Bastian Gallery.

Bartender/author extraordinaire Jim Meehan embarked on another instalment of the European tour ‘Please Do Tell’ talks, hosting a series of events for the trade at some of the continent’s leading bars including Fragrances in Berlin, Schumann’s in Munich and Roses in Amsterdam in partnership with Banks Rum. Meehan shared stories of his time behind the bar, and served up some seriously sip-able rum cocktails.

This week UK wine importer and distributor Ellis Wines held its portfolio tasting in the resplendent interior of the Vintnerss Hall. Hosting over 50 of its suppliers, the tasting showcased wines from South Africa and Italy through to England and the Czech Republic. What better way to finish the day than with one of Ellis’ famous group photos.