Recently in wine Category

Although Kitchen Rat can't attest for the validity of this one, rumour has it that an issue fought over vociferously on the departure of former Aramark chief executive Bill Toner was, wait for it, a £50,000 wine cellar at his London pad.

Mr Toner, who left Aramark in 2005, had quite legitimately amassed the collection of fine wines at his South Bank home for the purpose of corporate entertaining, as was the vogue in those halycon days of greed in the City.

However, on having his contract terminated Aramark's American owners demanded the wine back and Toner had to ultimately relinquish it. Surely not the best way to avoid sour grapes.

Still, given the pursuit of disgraced RBS boss Sir Fred Goodwin and his £703,000 pension pot, perhaps losing some fermented grape juice isn't all that bad in the larger scheme of things.

Where are they now? Bill Toner>>

Marcus Wareing enters into partnership with Aramark>>

Newly elected President Barack Obama is being hailed as the saviour of America. Not only is he being tasked with righting the country's trashed economy and saving the world from global warming, but now wine enthusiasts are also praying for the White House wine cellar to be redeemed.

Under the auspices of tee-totaller 'Dubya', the cellar's stocks had depleted from Thomas Jeffersen's 20,000 cache to a paltry 500 bottles. To make matters worse, those served were, by all accounts, pretty awful - with wines that are described as having enough "presence" to stand up to the 55 minute state meals. No delicate aromas or subtle flavours there then.

It's hoped that the suave and sophisticated Obama, as a lover of fine food and wine, will restore the collection to something of its former glory, although foodies have already been disappointed by the retention of George Bush's white house chef, Christeta Comerford.