Tuesday 20 July marks the bicentennial of Colombia’s Independence. And what better way to celebrate than a huge party at Vinopolis!

Colombia Fest at Vinopolis presents live music from world-renowned band Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, traditional Colombian dancing, a Colombian DJ and a special-guest appearance by Miss Great Britain, Tara Hoyos-Martinez (her parents are Colombian).

Meanwhile, there’ll be delicious food platters of empanadas and chorizo, accompanied by Colombian drinks: Sant Fe Rum, Nectar Aguardiente (a fiery aniseed spirit) and Colombia’s premium beer, Club Colombia.

Best of all, Vinopolis and Visit London are giving away three double-passes to Colombia Fest at Vinopolis on 20 July.

To enter, leave a comment below telling us how you’re celebrating summer in London and email competition@vinopolis.co.uk

The deadline for entries is 11.59pm, Thursday 15  July. Winners will be notified by Vinopolis on Friday 16 July.

Don’t want to chance it? Buy yourself a ticket today at www.vinopolis.co.uk

Tickets cost £29 in advance or £35 on the door.

Last night I went to Vinopolis for the launch of their new Nicolas Feuillatte Champagne Bar. I dutifully drank my way through Champagne brand Nicolas Feuillatte‘s Brut Reserve Particulière, Brut Vintage and Rosé Vintage, all of which I’d happily and somewhat drunkenly recommend.

The bar is a large and luxurious space decorated with wenge wood and veneered oak, plus some big comfy chairs to recline in should the bubbles go to your head. It can be visited on a Vinopolis wine tour (either as part of the Celebration Tour or by purchasing an upgrade.)

The launch party was also a chance to take a peek at the rest of Vinopolis and appreciate just how big it is. Their event space was particularly impressive.

Join the Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Jeff Hook along with staff from Laithwaites, Vinopolis, Borough Market Stallholders and other customers for a glass of champagne at the new shop in Vinopolis from 4pm.

Even more exciting is the wine lucky dip Laithwaites are offering on Saturday 20 February (tomorrow).

Between 10am and 10pm, Laithwaites are offering you the chance to buy one of 500 mystery bottles of wine for £5.

Among the wines up for grabs in this lucky dip are Lafite, Haut-Brion, Mouton, and other established classics and New World discoveries. All the bottles are worth over a fiver; you have to leave it up to chance to determine how much more than that you get for your cash!

As well as the lucky dip, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for tasting wines from Laithwaites extensive range, at one of the world’s longest wine tasting tables in the new store.  

Get there early to bag one of the 500 mystery bottles!

Opening of the Laithwaites Store: today from 4pm
Wine Lucky Dip – tomorrow: 10am-10pm
Where to find Laithwaites new store: Vinopolis, No.1 Bank End, London SE1 9BU

Tomorrow, 26 January, is Australia Day: the national day of Australia. The day commemorates the day the First Fleet arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788.

With its thriving Aussie community, many places in London will be holding parties and events to celebrate Australia day.

For starters, there are Australia Day celebrations at the Walkabout Inn in Islington, The One Tun on Goodge Street, the Clapham Grand, at various branches of Belushi’s and, slightly incongruously, at Waxy O’Connors (one of London’s biggest Irish pubs) tomorrow night.

At Jetlag near Great Portland Street, they’re holding an Aussie film marathon, with classic movies Puberty Blues, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Muriel’s Wedding and the ever-brilliant Strictly Ballroom. Add to this the food accompaniment of kangaroo steak with garlic and lime jumbo prawns and ice-cold James Boag’s lager and we think you’ve got the makings of a fantastic Australia Day celebration.

Vinopolis are also celebrating Australia Day with a special tasting of all things Australian tomorrow. In addition to Australian sparkling wine, Victoria Bitter and Australian Bombay Sapphire cocktails, there’ll be a selection of tasty treats to soak up the alcohol: Jumbuck’s pies and Tim Tam biscuits with rum.

This is just a taster of all the fun and frolics planned for tomorrow night in London. What are your plans for celebrating Australia Day?

Azure blue skies, shocking pink ribbons and a thousand purple balloons provided the colouful backdrop for Vinopolis’  10^th birthday celebrations today.

TV wine expert Oz Clarke was the velvety-voiced star turn.  He treated the crowd to reminiscences about being Dom Jolleyed in SE1 and succumbing to the allure of the Green Fairy during  a Vinopoils absinthe tasting. He also joked that Vinopolis really wanted his Big Wine Adventure  chum James May to appear instead of him!

Oz, Rupert Ellwood (MD of Vinopolis) and the Mayor of Southwark cut the celebratory pink ribbon, the nets opened and the purple balloons gently spilled over the London skyline, each carrying a pair of complimentary Vinopolis Grapevine tickets. Catch one if you can as it’s a really good tour. There’s also a mystery prize for whoever finds the balloon that travels the furthest from Vinopolis!

Check the Vinopolis website for more special birthday events.