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The week in pictures

In competitions, Sussex winery Albourne Estate has teamed up with Brighton-based independent retailer Seven Cellars to give away bottles of English Pinot Noir and a vineyard tour in exchange for candid fox photos.

(Photo: Seven Cellars)

To enter, you need to capture a photo of a fox from your local area, then enter your details to the Seven Cellars website and upload your photo.

There are three prizes up for grabs, including an Albourne Estates’ vineyard tour and wine tasting for two, and one or two bottles of Albourne Estate’s new 2018 Red Pinot Noir.

 

In quiet nights in, New Zealand wine label Villa Maria has relaunched its Wine Down podcast series, where brand ambassador Natalie Walsh waxes lyrical with leading lights from the worlds of music, entertainment and culinary arts. Guests on the roster include MOBO Awards founder Kanya King, Mancheste chef Doug Crampton, and film agent Laurily Adams.

 

North Piazza Covent Garden November 2017

In campaigns that give back, Covent Garden estate has launched a four-day charity auction on Thursday (26 November) to raise more than £10,000 for London’s homeless population.

The public will be able to buy unique culinary and hospitality experiences as well as products from the estates range of high end eateries, hotels, brands and stores.

The 40 lots include stays at the new NoMad Hotel, based in the old Grade II listed Bow Magistrates’ Court building, a home delivered Christmas feast prepared by the superstar chef Adam handling, of the Frog, one-to-one cooking lessons with chefs Asma Khan, of the newly opened Darjeeling Express, and Mark Greenaway, of The Gentlemen Barristas and products from Tiffany & Co., Paul Smith and Mulberry.

Proceeds from the event will go to the charity A Pavement Away, which is working with Crisis, to purchase 1,800 thermal flasks that will allow homeless people to takeaway hot food and eat when they most need it.

There are currently roughly 8,855 registered rough sleepers in London, although any homeless charity will tell you this is a conservative estimate of the true figure.

The flasks will be handed out by Crisis to those who are part of Crisis at Christmas. So a rough sleeper will get a flask as part of the pack they’re given.

They are also entering every bidder into a prize draw that could mean they win a £1,000 hamper donated by the estate owners.

Meanwhile, whiskey brand Wild Turkey is highlighting The Drinks Trust as part of its Thanksgiving-focused Local Legends marketing initiative. As part of the campaign, Wild Turkey’s brand creative director and A-list actor Matthew McConaughey has recognised the work of the Drinks Trust to keep hospitality workers afloat this year with a personalised message.

 


In small screen news, Ehrmanns-owned wine brand Beefsteak Club is launching its first national television campaign this winter.

The ad will air on ITV and Sky TV channels from 1 December, with a potential reach of up to 7.3 million viewers.

 

The Birley Wine Club has launched a London delivery service for its members, who can be sent bottles of Dom Pérignon 2010 directly to their door for £100.

The Birley Wine Club, which launched this summer, features weekly wine offers for its members across two lists – one features five Champagnes, 10 whites and 10 reds, and the other features older vintages from the likes of Petrus and Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

 

Spirits group Maison Ferrand has launched a barge it claims is the world’s first floating cellar to study how the waterborne vessel’s movements affects Cognac and rum ageing.

The floating cellar, called Barge 166 – will drop anchor in the Seine at Issy-lesMoulineaux spring 2021 and will be used to create the “best conditions” for studying dynamic ageing for its brands Maison Ferrand Cognac and Plantation Rum. The group has also invited Swedish whisky maker Mackmyra to age some casks on the barge.

 

Irish whiskey label Redbreast has unveiled a limited edition copper bottle holder that doubles up as a bird feeder.

The Irish Distillers-owned brand is selling the bird feeder alongside bottles of Redbreast 12 Year Old whiskey, with €15 (US$18) from every sale going towards aviary charity Bird Life International.

Laura Hanratty, head of prestige and speciality brands at Pernod Ricard’s Irish Distillers unit, said the company worked closely with the charity “to ensure the bird feeder honours our mission of helping to protect not only robins, but all common birds, as we move into the colder months and food begins to become scarce.

 

In hospitality, Michelin has released its 2020 guide for Italy, with 26 new chefs awarded a Michelin star.

Among them is Chef Domenico Francone of Sala dei Grappoli at the Castello Banfi-Il Borgo vineyard estate in Montalcino who was awarded one Michelin Star.

 

Back in London, Deepak Mallya, the sous chef The Ritz Restaurant in London, has been announced as the UK winner in the 54th edition of the “Le Taittinger” International Culinary Prize.

Every year, Taittinger’s culinary judging panel asks chefs all over the world to come up with a winning recipe.

Last year marked a turning point in the proceedings, with organisers placing a single product at the heart of the competition and giving candidates a free rein to showcase this ‘hero’ ingredient.

This year’s hero product was beef, with the gauntlet being thrown down for chefs to use their creativity and flair to choose a cut – or cuts – and design a dish that is both delicious to eat and visually spectacular.

A single candidate per country is selected for the international final to represent their own culture. UK competitors submitted their detailed recipe creations with photographs and the story of their inspiration, which were all judged anonymously.

Deepak wins €2,400 and will now go forward to represent the UK at the International Final in Paris in January 2022. Until then, the victorious chef’s winning creation remains under wraps.

The winner of the International Final will receive €20,000 and a medal, with the runner-up getting €5,000 and €2,500 being awarded to the chef in third place.

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