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News
Week in pictures: 2-8 August
This week in pictures includes db‘s autumn tasting event, WineGB’s annual tasting, Jancis Robinson at Hedonism, and Charles-Heidsieck at Hampton Court.
db’s Autumn Tasting
This week saw our Autumn Tasting, chaired by db’s Editor-in-Chief, Patrick Schmitt MW at Iberica Restaurant in Marlyebone. It was assessed by a panel of leading industry experts, with our groups of judges, tasted 240 wines from 12 different countries, including Patricia Stefanowicz MW, Siobhan Turner MW, Andrea Briccarello, Johnathan Pedley MW, Tim Triptree MW, Mark Savage MW, Beverly Tabbron MW, David Round MW and Demetri Walters MW. Entries were judged blind to discover this autumn’s best brands on the world stage. Look out for the results on the drinks business shortly.
WineGB
Earlier this week, db‘s Eloise Feilden attended WineGB’s annual tasting, where Sam Linter, chair and director of WineGB, told press yesterday at the trade body’s annual tasting that demand for British wines, both still and sparkling, continues to grow.
“English sparkling wine is now established as our main category, and people are now looking wider than that to see what else is on offer,” she said. As such, “we are seeing a trend in the growth of still wines in the UK.”
Cocktails in the City
The final edition of Cocktails in the City is taking place this weekend in London’s stunning Bedford Square Gardens. Following on from a successful summer, the final event will focus on bringing together the finest bartenders and venues reimagined in pop-up form to share their passion, skill and expertise with guests from the Capital’s bar scene.
Hedonism
Within the deliciously air-conditioned cellars of Hedonism wine store, Master of Wine, Jancis Robinson OBE, celebrated the five-year anniversary of the “Jancis Robinson Collection”, created in collaboration with designer, Richard Brendon, a graduate of Kingston School of Art. Alongside two decanters, respectively intended to preserve older wines, and dilate younger ones, is the core glass, cleverly intended to degust every style of wine imaginable. Holding one-sixth of a bottle at its widest point, then tapering to an undistracting, thin rim, it can also endure a domestic dishwasher. The collaboration saw Robinson expand her repertoire from writing to “hardware”.
Charles-Heidsieck
Charles-Heidsieck was once again the Champagne of choice for the annual Concours Of Elegance at Hampton Court Palace Gardens. Of some 60 often extremely rare cars, on display the Maserati A6 GCS/53 Frua Spider, of which just two of three examples ever built survive, took “best in show”. Magnums of the Charles Heidsieck Brut Millesime Concours of Elegance 2012 edition are now available exclusively from The Finest Bubble.
Buzzballz
BuzzBallz Cocktails has continued its UK expansion by announcing that its Tequila ‘Rita, Strawberry ‘Rita and Pornstar Martini RTDs will be stocked in WHSmith Travel retail stores nationwide. Outlets include most major railway stations across the UK, including Manchester Piccadilly, Liverpool Lime Street, London Euston, London King’s Cross, Bristol, Birmingham New Street, and London Bridge. This month it will also be landing on shelves at WHSmith stores in Heathrow Airport Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 5.
This week, the single-serve bar strength premixed cocktail brand took over digital screens within WHSmith stores in key locations to announce its arrival, and is rolling out sampling drives and shelf-talkers highlighting a two for £8 promotional offer in some of London’s busiest travel hubs.