Champagne Taittinger and Villa Maria wines from New Zealand, proud Champagne and wine partners to BAFTA, were on hand last night to toast film excellence at the BAFTA Film Awards 2017. This year extra special guests, Their Royal Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the award ceremony which took place at the Royal Albert Hall in London.
La La Land took five Awards, including Best Film as well as Best Actress for Emma Stone and Best Director for Damien Chazelle. Casey Affleck was named Best Leading Actor for his role in Manchester by the Sea, whilst Lion’s Dev Patel won Best Supporting Actor and Viola Davis took Best Supporting Actress for Fences. Mel Brooks was awarded the Academy Fellowship, BAFTA’s highest accolade, in recognition of his outstanding and exceptional contribution to film.
Champagne Taittinger and the Taittinger family are keen supporters of film and the arts, and the house have supported BAFTA for the past 15 years. Vitalie Taittinger was in attendance, adding some signature Taittinger style to the red carpet.
Special BAFTA labelled Magnums and 75cl bottles of Champagne Taittinger Brut Resèrve were produced for the Awards and a bottle was also included in the gift bags, given to all nominees and presenters. Taittinger is one of the few premium Champagne houses to remain owned and actively managed by the named family.
As a recognised icon of the New Zealand Wine Industry and New Zealand’s most awarded winery for more than 30 years, Villa Maria is the perfect choice for the role of official Wine Partner to the Academy. Guests at the glamorous awards dinner enjoyed the classic Villa Maria Private Bin Sauvignon Blanc 2016, which complimented the Cornish crab salad starter and the delicious Villa Maria Private Bin Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 with the Denham Estate Venison Wellington main course, an ideal match made for this starring role.
For the full list of winners visit: www.bafta.org
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