On the grapevine

For sale: Angelina Jolie has petitioned a judge to allow her to sell the fabulous Ch Miraval. This is the successful wine estate where she and Brad Pitt were married in 2014. Because they are going through a divorce, their assets have been frozen, but Jolie apparently has a buyer lined up and wants to sell this 35-room, 400-hectare estate. It was bought for around £40m in 2008, so you will need deep pockets if you want to launch a counterbid.

Bordeaux’s loss: The Left Bank of Bordeaux classified its wines in 1855 and, apart from a few small changes, the hierarchy of properties has remained in place since. The Right Bank did things differently and since 1955 its classification has been rejudged every 10 years or so. The two top properties, Châteaux Ausone and Cheval Blanc, were given the status of Premiers Grands Crus Classés (A), and that remained so until 2012 when Châteaux Angélus and Pavie joined them. Now the 2022 classification is being drawn up and Ausone and Cheval Blanc have decided not to take part. Their reasons are complex, but it is a shame that these two glorious properties will no longer head the classification. While gaining that top ranking undoubtedly helped prices rise, I suspect that their non-participation will not have the opposite effect.

Leeds drinks pink: Sainsbury’s has done a survey of shopping trends and it has discovered that Leeds is the Pink Drink capital of the UK. From Prosecco Rosé to pink Vodka, the city beats Manchester, Brighton, Birmingham and Sheffield in the proportion of pink drinks bought from the retailer. In particular, Sainsbury’s says sales of its Taste the Difference Prosecco Rose (£10) are up by 50 per cent over forecasts.