It was a busy week for drinks events in London. According to The Drinks Business, PIWOSA's 'Return of Wino' tasting filled Soho's Quo Vadis with South African producers during English Wine Week, while Champagne Taittinger took over BAFTA for a World Cup watch party, and Krug unveiled its 2026 releases at The Aubrey.
Highlights included the Jordan winery's Tidebrook Staddle Stone Chardonnay '23, raised in barrels formerly used for the Nine Yards Chardonnay, a literal bridge between Stellenbosch and Sussex. Springfield Estate's 2012 Méthode Ancienne Chardonnay still impressed, Avondale showed off its qvevri-aged GSM, and Bruwer Vintners recast Pinotage as something almost glou-glou.
The week's other notable moments
At the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, Krug's cellar master Julie Cavil walked guests through the latest cuvées during a sit-down session hosted at The Aubrey. Cavil shared thoughts on the house's blending philosophy, an obvious draw for trade buyers building out Champagne lists. The Drinks Business also dispatched a writer to Provence to visit Château d'Esclans, Minuty and Château Galoupet, marking two decades since Whispering Angel helped spark the global rosé boom.
The Gérard Basset Foundation gathered scholars and grantees to celebrate its widening-access mission, with trustees including Nina Basset, Romané Basset and Jancis Robinson attending. Elton John and David Furnish toasted the launch of their 0% sparkling wine Elton Zero at the River Cafe, joined by distributor Paul Schaafsma of Benchmark Drinks. Champagne Taittinger and Hatch Mansfield hosted the England versus Croatia World Cup watch party at BAFTA, pouring Taittinger Brut Réserve from a limited-edition World Cup bottle tied to Taittinger's role as Official Champagne of the 2026 tournament.
- Key facts
- PIWOSA's 'Return of Wino' ran at Quo Vadis in Soho during English Wine Week.
- Jordan, Springfield Estate, Avondale and Bruwer Vintners poured standout bottles.
- Krug's Julie Cavil led a tasting of the 2026 cuvées at The Aubrey.
- Champagne Taittinger turned BAFTA into a World Cup viewing room.
- The Gérard Basset Foundation marked another year of its scholarship programme.
Why this matters
For nightlife readers, this kind of week is a useful reminder that London's drinks calendar runs unusually thick. Trade tastings bleed into consumer-facing events, and consumer events open up access to bottles that wouldn't normally appear on a bar list. Watching the trade press is a free way to spot what might land at your local in six months.
Producers like Jordan are pulling off a clever positioning trick: maturing a Sussex-leaning wine in barrels that previously held a Stellenbosch expression. It blurs old regional loyalties and could quietly reshape how buyers talk about New World Chardonnay. Meanwhile, qvevri-aged South African GSM is moving from geek dinner to mainstream tasting, and Provence is leaning harder into sustainability, with Château Galoupet's regenerative viticulture a clear signal.
Worked example: building a bar list from a week like this
Say you manage a wine list and want to refresh the South African section without risking customer loyalty. Use the PIWOSA showcase as your shortlist: a serious Chardonnay (Jordan), a left-field orange or qvevri wine (Avondale), and a fresh-styled red (Bruwer Vintners). Three bottles, three price points, three different conversations with the table. Quote the producers' UK importer on availability before you commit, and price the Jordan at the top end where a Chardonnay crowd expects to spend.
What to watch next
Watch the rosé category closely. Twenty years after Whispering Angel, Provence is rethinking its visual language and sustainability pitch. Watch also for South African wines to make further inroads in London listings, especially after recent tariff reductions.
Key takeaways
- PIWOSA's 'Return of Wino' at Quo Vadis showcased South African producers during English Wine Week.
- Krug unveiled its 2026 releases at The Aubrey with cellar master Julie Cavil.
- Champagne Taittinger hosted the England vs Croatia World Cup watch party at BAFTA.
- Elton John launched his 0% sparkling wine Elton Zero at the River Cafe.
- The Gérard Basset Foundation recognised its scholars and grantees.
Frequently asked questions
What was the 'Return of Wino' event?
A PIWOSA tasting at Quo Vadis in Soho, highlighting South African wines during English Wine Week.
Where did Krug unveil its 2026 releases?
At The Aubrey, inside the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
What did Champagne Taittinger host?
A FIFA World Cup watch party at BAFTA for England's match against Croatia.
What anniversary did Provence rosé celebrate?
Twenty years since Château d'Esclans' Whispering Angel helped spark the global rosé boom.
Source: thedrinksbusiness.com
