Week in Pictures: Wine Paris awards, Alpine cocktails and New York State pours
From Paris to Chamonix to Shoreditch, this week brought a lifetime honour for Andrew Jefford, a mountain-crowned cocktail champion and a run of tastings putting both classic regions and newer voices in the spotlight.
Andrew Jefford receives IMW lifetime achievement award for 2026
At Vinexposium’s V d’Or awards ceremony in Paris, the Institute of Masters of Wine named Andrew Jefford as the recipient of its 2026 lifetime achievement award in association with the drinks business. The honour was presented by Sarah Harrison, executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine, alongside Patrick Schmitt MW, editor-in-chief of the drinks business and Kylie Minogue, V d’Or awards guest of honour.
Jefford, one of the most distinctive voices in wine writing for more than three decades, was recognised for his contribution to wine culture and communication, with the award voted on by Masters of Wine.
High West Mountain Experience crowns Europe’s top bartender in Chamonix
High West Whiskey returned to the French Alps for the fourth edition of the High West Mountain Experience, bringing its European cocktail competition to a close in Chamonix. Joeri D’Heuvaert of The Little Red Rooster in Belgium was named High West 2026 grand champion, ahead of Callum Berney of Dr Jekyll’s Pub in Norway and Markku Lohmus of Barify in Estonia.
His winning cocktail, Forest Walk, combined High West Double Rye with a forest liqueur infused with porcini and morel mushrooms, thyme, rosemary and juniper berry, finished with chocolate bitters and an umami solution. The prize includes an all-expenses-paid trip to Park City, Utah, home of High West Distillery.
db launches The Master Winemaker 100 at Wine Paris
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On Monday night, db launched The Master Winemaker 100 guide at Wine Paris, with guests getting first access to the printed edition alongside a tasting of top wines from The Global Wine Masters. The evening also revealed this year’s master winemaker of the year, awarded to Tommasso Maggio of Marsala producer Cantine Floria.
Casas Patronales meets new travel retail partners at Wine Paris
Chilean producer Casas Patronales marked Wine Paris with meetings and introductions, including a catch-up with its new partners at R&F Travel Retail, part of the Stena Line Group in Sweden, a major operator in the Nordic travel retail market. The producer’s team was also pictured in Paris, including its global commercial manager and export manager, Cristóbal Traub.
New York wine producers pour in Shoreditch for inaugural UK tasting
Wine producers from across New York State gathered in Shoreditch, London, for an inaugural tasting hosted by the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. The event offered a snapshot of winemaking across Long Island, Lake Erie, Hudson River and the Finger Lakes, with a strong focus on cool-climate styles.
db editor Sarah Neish attended to taste New York Cabernet Franc with Jenny Menges of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard.
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