Caterer and Hotelkeeper – 14028
Golden and glossy
There will be a brandy and chocolate tasting at the International Festival of Chocolate, at the Royal Horticultural Halls, Vincent Square, London SW1, on Saturday and Sunday, 28 and 29 November. Cognac buff Dominique Jousson from producer Rémy Martin will talk you through a line-up of the amber nectar, while you nibble on a chunk of Valrhona. Call the ticket office for more details: 01634 296005.
Calming bubbly
The new vintage of 1990 Piper-Heidsieck Brut "offers a calmer mood", says its producer. Quite what that refers to is anybody's guess, but expect a pleasant whiff of orange blossom on the nose, with honey, marzipan and ginger on the palate. Latest figures from the Champagne Information Bureau put vintage Champagne sales up by 88% in the run-up to the millennium celebrations.
Signed and sealed
Mentzendorff & Co (0171-415 3200) announces that it will represent the Rustenberg Estate, Stellenbosch, in the UK from the New Year. And the Wine Treasury (0171-793 9999) declares it has acquired the exclusive agency for Domaine de Coutelle, near Narbourne, which, according to Neville Blech produces a formidable Merlot. It has also picked up a small Napa winery, Benessere, which produces Sangiovese.
