October 7, 2025 — Broadcaster and entertainer Graham Norton took centre stage at The Drinks Trust Gala on Monday 6 October, helping to raise an outstanding £60,000 in support of people working across the drinks industry.
Hosted at the world-renowned Claridge’s in London, the black-tie event brought together 240 influential guests for an evening of celebration, generosity and philanthropy.
Norton, alongside global rum ambassador Ian Burrell, delighted the audience as co-MCs for the evening. Their trademark warmth and wit inspired generosity throughout the night, making the Gala an unforgettable success.
Guests indulged in a sumptuous three-course meal crafted by Claridge’s esteemed chefs, and sipped on Graham’s very own New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, provided by Norton and his partners Invivo Wines for the occasion.
The Drinks Trust’s online auction, Bidding Together, concluded during the event, further boosting fundraising efforts and adding to the sense of celebration and community spirit – with guests bidding on exclusive prizes such as VIP tickets to RUMFest, a Silent Pool Royal Ascot VIP Experience for Four and an exclusive stay in a Villa in Florida.
Speaking after the event, Graham Norton said: “It’s been such a joy to host tonight’s Gala, to hear more about the incredible work the Drinks Trust does, and see so much generosity in one room. The drinks industry is lucky to have this kind of support – and I’m delighted I could play a small part in raising such an impressive amount.”
Funds raised will directly support The Drinks Trust’s work providing practical, emotional, and financial support to those who need it most. With one in five drinks industry professionals currently facing financial difficulty and the sector navigating significant job losses, this funding will enable the charity to expand its support and services and reach more people during times of difficulties.
Nicky Burston, CEO of The Drinks Trust, added: “What an extraordinary evening this has been. Graham Norton and Ian Burrell went above and beyond to make the Gala such a success, helping us exceed our fundraising target and filling the room with genuine warmth and support for our mission. We are deeply grateful to them both, as well as to our generous sponsors and guests, whose contributions made this possible. Thanks to the remarkable backing of our industry, we are now just a quarter of a million pounds away from reaching the £1 million target for our Face It Together campaign.”
Alongside raising vital funds, the Gala also celebrated the contributions of companies and individuals who have shown exceptional commitment to The Drinks Trust’s mission, with special awards presented on the night.
The Drinks Trust Gala 2025 is generously supported by Headline Sponsor Hillebrand Gori, Product Sponsors Asahi, BERO, Campari Group, Fentiman, Hildon Water, Graham Norton Wines produced by Invivo, Hatch Mansfield, Jörg Geiger, Mentzendorff, Treasury Wine Estates and William Grant and Sons.
About The Drinks Trust
The Drinks Trust is a trade charity providing financial assistance, emotional support, and opportunity for growth to drinks industry people. Our aim is to alleviate hardship, improve the wellbeing of our colleagues, and support their professional development. For media enquiries, please email Alessandra Brugola, Head of Marketing and Communications, at alessandra@drinkstrust.org.uk
About Graham Norton, GN wines and Invivo
Across his illustrious career, Graham has won nine BAFTA awards including Best Entertainment Performance and Best Entertainment Programme, a National Television Award in 2023, plus a Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards in 2017.
Alongside presenting 32 series of the iconic The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, Graham has commentated for the UK on the Eurovision Song Contest since 2009, co-hosting the show from Liverpool in 2024, and winning an RTS Award. He can also be seen as a regular judge on all series of Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
More recent shows include Last One Laughing Ireland for Amazon Prime, and Wheel of Fortune for ITV. In recent years, Graham also hosted the Graham Norton Book Club podcast on Audible.
Graham is the author of five novels and two memoirs, winning numerous awards and gaining bestseller status. To date, foreign rights to Graham’s fiction have sold in over 10 countries. His latest novel, Frankie, which was published in September 2024, became a Sunday Times Bestseller and won the Popular Fiction Book of the Year at the Irish Book Awards.
Since 2014, Graham Norton and New Zealand’s Invivo Wines have built one of the world’s most celebrated wine partnerships. What began with a single Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand, has evolved into a global, award-winning range of wines and spirits enjoyed in over ten countries. Graham plays a hands-on role each year, blending each new vintage of the GN Sauvignon Blanc alongside Invivo’s cofounders Tim Lightbourne and Rob Cameron. In March 2025, Graham was named Marlborough’s first-ever Grape Ambassador by the Mayor of Marlborough, Nadine Taylor, in recognition of his long-standing advocacy for Sauvignon Blanc.
The flagship GN New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc leads a portfolio of ten wines and spirits, including Prosecco D.O.C, Rosé, Shiraz, Malbec, and a range of Irish gins and vodka. The wines have earned over 300 accolades and are best sellers in the UK and New Zealand and have been included in Ireland’s Top 20 brands four years in a row. Invivo, one of the Southern Hemisphere’s largest crowdfunded companies is celebrated for its innovative approach to wine, exports to 43 countries.
