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News
Week in pictures: 7 – 13 October
This week in pictures features Pasqua Wines at the Italian embassy, a trip to Pol Roger, Aix’s harvest, and the beginning of London Cocktail Week and Frieze art fair.
This week saw the annual Milan Wine Week with a series of masterclasses in London and globally. There were classes on the expressions of Carignano, Italian indigenous grape varieties and Prosecco DOC.
Pasqua Wines
db‘s Louis Thomas (left) and Lewis O’Sullivan (right) attended the Italian Embassy this week. Innovative and independently owned Verona-based winery, Pasqua Wines, celebrated its zeal for creative innovation and artistry by supporting the fourth edition of the Italian Embassy’s showcase for Italy at Frieze London 2023. Entitled “Conversation Piece”, this comprised contemporary art by emerging artists donated by Italian galleries participating in this year’s 20th anniversary edition of Frieze London.
In addition to providing wines in the setting, such as the wittily named, multi-vintage, field blend, “Hey French you could have made this but you didn’t”, third-generation Pasqua CEO, Riccardo Pasqua participated in a talk entitled, “Investing in Art: The Private Sector’s Role in Nurturing Creativity” moderated by Nicol Degli Innocenti of Il Sole 24 Ore, and alongside Mattia Carretti, director and co-founder of fuse* – a prominent multidisciplinary art studio and with whom Pasqua has collaborated twice on large-scale, public-facing installations.
Says Pasqua: “We believe passionately in creativity and experimentation and these values straddle both our winemaking and contemporary art. Our family winery has a long-standing track record in arts patronage in Italy and internationally – and we are committed to continuing this. Art speaks a universal language, pushes boundaries, sparks conversations and also brings joy.” Pasqua’s devotion to the mantra, “House of the Unconventional” continues to build towards its centenary in 2025. According to one attendee of the showcase, Ruchira Neotia, a wine consultant, Pasqua “has helped usher in a new creative era that has propelled the House to new heights in the trendy new era by linking the brand to an intersection of Art/creativity and wine.”
She continued: “The Pasqua family started this effort circa seven years ago as a support platform to develop local talent in Verona which then went countrywide and we are now witnessing global collaborations.”
Pol Roger
This week db‘s editor Sarah Neish visited Champagne Pol Roger to hear about its new production facility and also to discuss other ongoing developments for the producer.
Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG
Diego Tomasi, director of the consorzio for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, gave a masterclass in London offering an overview of the appellation, and how its terroir influences the aromatic makeup of the Glera grapes used for the Italian sparkling.
Aix
From 19 to 21 September, Maison Saint Aix hosted their annual Harvest AIXperience event at their domaine in Provence. The event brought together brand ambassadors, esteemed importers, valued partners, and wine & lifestyle journalists from around the world, including countries like America, England, Australia, and Greece. The guests experienced ‘a day in the life of a winemaker,’ helping to pick the 2023 grapes, exploring the cellar, and taking part in a masterclass featuring Riedel rosé wine glasses, conducted by a Riedel agent. The French chef, Frédéric Aumeunier, known for his Michelin-starred experience, took care of the lunch amidst the vines. He prepared it on OFYR barbecues and drew inspiration from the rosé colour, Mediterranean products, and the ‘vines of Provence.’ The day concluded with a dinner in the charming city of Aix-en-Provence.
La Hechicera
La Hechicera ‘The Enchantress’ ultra premium rum from Colombia co-hosted a party [12 October] with Velvet by Salvatore Calabrese to celebrate the 10th anniversary of La Hechicera in the UK,. On this first night of London Cocktail Week, Velvet was joined by a guest bartending team from Alquímico Cartagena, Colombia, no.10 in the overall World’s 50 Best Bars. The Best Bar in South America 2022. They served exclusive new cocktails for this one night only in London – and simultaneously in Berlin during Bar Convent earlier in the week. Laura Riascos (second left) and Miguel Riascos, founders of La Hechicera, co-hosted the night with Salvatore Calabrese (centre) and Christian Maspes of Velvet, featuring Laura Arrieta of Alquímico (right).
Ruinart
French Contemporary Artist Eva Jospin has curated the ultimate sensorial exhibition of her Ruinart Carte Blanche commission Promenades within the Ruinart Art Bar at Frieze London from 11-15 October 2023.
Visitors will explore Eva’s vision of the terroir of Maison Ruinart through a series of drawings and sculptures, inviting each to immerse themselves in this landscape, as if plunging into a mysterious story intertwining the cycles of history and plants, life and creation.
Brakspear
Brakspear is investing £2 million in refurbishing two of its leased & tenanted pubs, after signing tenancy agreements with talented growing pub companies Little & Large and Friendship and Beer.
Pictured is Brakspear chief executive Tom Davies (far right) with Manu Bhatt (third from right) and Richard Brown (far left) of Little & Large Pub Company and team members from The Running Horses, which won the Best Newcomer title at the Brakspear 2023 Awards.