New Zealand wines on royal menu in LA

Barbra Streisand with a bottle of Villa Maria private bin Merlot on her table. Photo / Supplied

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge toasted Britain's up-and-coming talent at a red-carpet event in Los Angeles - and sipped Villa Maria Estate wines from New Zealand.

Hollywood celebrities Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Jennifer Lopez, Jack Black and Quentin Tarantino were among the 280 guests at the Brits to Watch Gala, an off-shoot of the British Film and Television Awards (Bafta).

They enjoyed champagne and dinner - and Villa Maria's private bin sauvignon blanc, private bin merlot and cabernet sauvignon.

Villa Maria owner Sir George Fistonich said the historical initiative from Bafta brought "British talent to the attention of the world-famous US moving-image industry".

"We are thrilled that our sauvignon blanc and merlot cabernet sauvignon were chosen for guests to enjoy."

Caterers Patina plan to use the evening's fare as the basis for a "Royal Menu" for events and weddings throughout the US in the coming weeks.