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News
Week in pictures: 2-8 March
This week in pictures features sister title The Spirits Business’ IWD event, Women’s History Month, Simpsons Wine Estate in Scandanavia, Scarfe’s Bar, Napa vintners visiting Abbey Road, and Pasqua at the Saatchi gallery.
The Spirits Business x The London EDITION
The Spirits Business and The London EDITION hosted an event for International Women’s Day, ‘Raise a Glass!’ on Wednesday this week.
The event celebrated the amazing women in the drinks industry and their extraordinary contributions.
It kicked off with a sparkling welcome reception, providing guests the perfect opportunity to mingle and connect with fellow industry professionals, whilst sipping on a signature cocktail.
The highlight of the event were a panel discussion featuring trailblazing women in the drinks industry, followed by a Q&A. The panel included: SB editor Melita Kiely, Aaisha Dadral co-founder of Equiano Rum Aaisha Dadral, fonder of LALA Tequila Ambre-Jalisa Van de Berg, Manager of the London EDITION Anne Lomas, co-founder of Maya Jules Mezcal Katina FM Aziz, CEO of Be Inclusive Hospitality Lorraine Copes and CEO of DUSK, Sophie Abrahamovitch.
Thank you to the sponsors of the event Aresti, Benchmark Drinks – Kylie Minogue Rose, Familia Martinez Zabala (Faustino), Juve y Camps, Eko Brewery and Little Pomona.
Women’s History Month
Coinciding with Women’s History Month, and International Women’s Day, mighty supporter of sommeliers, and diversity in wine specialist, Queena Wong of Curious Vines hosted a lunch with “rebel with a cause” (says Forbes), Philana Bouvier, president of Demeine Estates, St. Helena, California. Wong brought together a complimentary miscellany of hospitality-related souls at the symposium, food of which was overseen by chef-patron, Angela Hartnett. These included: Elizabeth Carter of Good Food Guide who indicated reviews might hereafter become more vinously encompassing, Catriona Felstead MW, senior buyer at Berry Bros & Rudd, Victoria Mason, buyer at Bordeaux Index, Lauren Ballentyne, head of product developer at Tesco, and head sommeliers and buyers, Melania Bellesini (The Fat Duck), Emer Landgraf (Clove Club), Gareth Ferreira MS (Core by Clare Smyth), and Christopher Delalonde MS (Tao Group: Hakkasan).
Also present was Diva Maddalena Moretti Polegato, export area manager UK & North America for Villa Sandi, which is also under the parapluie of Demeine. Her Cartizze was the aperitif. Alongside discussions on inclusion and diversity, notably poised wines were poured by Murano’s deft head sommelier and “head of excellence”, Ali Dwyer. These included the mineral, baked apple scented 2020 Ink Grade Sauvignon Blanc, and from Heitz Cellar, the opulent 2018 Lot C-91 Cabernet Sauvignon, and the outstanding 2017 Martha’s Vineyard Oakville Cabernet.
Simpsons
Kent based Simpsons’ Wine Estate is flying the flag for English wine in Scandinavia with their wines now available in Sweden, Finland and Norway.
Export now makes up 45% of the winery’s overall turnover, with Norwegian sales being one of the main contributors.
Norway accounts for 63% of Simpsons’ total exports, and over a quarter of overall sales. Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs and Gravel Castle both have a fixed listing in the Monopoly shops and a report from the Monopoly in summer 2023 showed four SWE wines in the Top 10 performing cuvées over the previous 12 months (three still wines – Simpsons’ Railway Hill Rosé, Simpsons’ Gravel Castle Chardonnay and Simpsons’ Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir – and one sparkling – Simpsons’ Flint Fields Blanc de Noirs sparkling).
Earlier this year in Finland, Simpsons’ Rabbit Hole Pinot Noir 2022 launched in 70 Alko stores (via the Finnish Monopoly). And across the border in Sweden, Simpsons’ White Cliffs won the Blanc de Blancs sparkling tender with the Systembolaget Monopoly at the end of last year and will launch online and in their shops on 8th March 2024.
Comments Charles Simpson, “Our team has just returned from a very successful trip to Denmark and Sweden, pouring wines with our importer and at two WineGB events for members of the wine trade and for consumers. We’re delighted to see such a thirst for English wine in these markets and it was a brilliant experience to be there with other English wineries showcasing the diversity of English wine that is now available.”
10 Years of Scarfe’s Bar
Douglas Blyde met the elegant Martin Siska, Rosewood Hotels’ Area Director of Bars for Europe, at Scarfes Bar, London. There, in cosseting surroundings, under two metre high verdigris effect chandeliers, he learnt about the fruits of a partnership between the legendary bar, which is enjoying its tenth anniversary, and The Lakes Distillery, located on the shore of Bassenthwaite Lake, near Keswick, some 321 miles north.
Running to just 402 numbered bottles adorned with a Gerald Scarfe collage depicting a cocktail shaker brimming with fruits, an old style microphone, a depiction of a Marilyn Monroe-esque figure, butterflies, and playing cards, The Whiskymaker’s Editions “Decadence” single malt (49%) was influenced by Bourbon and Oloroso casks, resulting in notes of cherry, chocolate, butterscotch, and buttercream finish. Bottle number ten, signed by Gerald Scarfe, was auctioned on behalf of Equal Measures UK, an organisation dedicated to supporting underrepresented and marginalised people in the drinks industry. Drawn from an impressive double glass fronted display of rare world whiskies, Decadence is available at £45 per 50ml alongside spicy fried chicken sesame and spring onion, or even a Cohiba Robusto.
The Wine Institute
Napa Valley Vintners hosted a tasting on Monday this week at Abbey Road Studios, taking over the historic Studio 2 for an afternoon’s tasting followed by an early evening ‘magnum party’.
Not only was Studio 2, which opened in 1932, the world’s first purpose-built recording studio, but it has also been home to some of the most famous recordings ever made, be they from the Beatles or Pink Floyd, as well as Ed Sheeran and Adele.
Pasqua
Pasqua Wines announced its most significant partnership with a major arts institution outside of its home market, Italy. “Metamorphosis: Innovation in Eco Photography and Film” – a group show starring a quartet of young, emerging artists will open from 26th May-28th July at Saatchi Gallery. At the launch, which enjoyed a strong eco conscious lens, CEO Riccardo Pasqua conversed with two of the four participating multi-media talents, Almudena Romero and Hannah Fletcher. Riccardo Pasqua, CEO, said: “As we approach our centennial year, we are delighted to be supporting Saatchi Gallery to instigate this show, underscoring our cross-generational commitment to innovation, creativity and unconventional approaches. Each of the artists demonstrates what we have always believed to be true – that through experimentation and pushing boundaries we can unlock progress.” In addition, he revealed that Pasqua increased turnover in the UK by 4.5%. The experimental winery has also just been awarded “Innovator of the Year” from US title Wine Enthusiast – the first time an Italian winery has won the accolade.
Young’s pubs
Award-winning Young’s pub, The Guinea Grill in Mayfair, has reopened its doors following an expansion of the pub to create additional dining space and two new private dining rooms.
Located on Bruton Place, the pub has increased its ground-floor dining area by an additional 60 covers, whilst upstairs is now home to two new private dining rooms, The Gallery and The Wine Room, seating 12 and 16 respectively. The new spaces reflect and complement the character of the original pub with homogenised interiors – expect the pub’s signature claret walls, classic oak furniture and historical paintings whilst all the original Guinea Grill’s features including its signature meat counter remain untouched.
At the bar, find a selection of beers and ales, including Young’s Original and Guinness, along with a concise cocktail list, from negroni to martini. There is also an extensive wine list featuring bottles from some of the best wine regions from around the globe, from Tignanello in Tuscany to Vega Sicilia in Ribera Del Duero, along with a dedicated red wine selection of Burgundy and Bordeaux wines.
Opening in 1952, The Guinea Grill is a Mayfair institution as London’s first steakhouse with an inn on the site since 1423.