Currency update June 14, strong trade in Asian markets spurs risk appetite

Currency analysis for June 14, 2010 from Smart Currency Exchange, Harpers Wine & Spirit's currency partners.

Richard Siddle,World Cup wine blog: Recovering from a Green day

Richard Siddle, World Cup blog, Day 5: The English are coming!

After a great last day sipping and tasting my way through Stellenbosch I have now flown up to Johannesburg to the heart of the World Cup in readiness for tonight's England game.

Roll up, roll up for Sud de France Festival

The Sud de France Sommelier Competition is being held in four cities around the world later this year as part of the annual Sud de France Festival.

CWF adds fizz to light British wine range

Huddersfield-based importer and distributor CWF is extending its light British wine brand Silver Bay Point with a new sparkling format.

Appleton launches bartender competition

Appleton Estate rum has launched a new bartender competition to find the top cocktail makers from 10 of its key markets.

Quinta do Noval declares 2008 vintage port

Quinta do Noval have announced its declaration of the Quinta do Noval 2008 Vintage Port.

Richard Siddle, South Africa World Cup and wine blog. Day 4

Oh the shame, oh the embarrassment...
Here I am in South Africa on the day the country makes history and the World Cup comes to Africa for the first time. Here am I a lifelong football fan who can talk Christmas tree formations with the best of  them and who has long been the answer to England's left sided problems for years...but when asked in front of a crowded bar to blow on a vuvuzela - South Africa's icon musical emblem of the games - I fail miserably.

Richard Siddle, South Africa World Cup and wine blog. Day 4

Oh the shame, oh the embarrassment...
Here I am in South Africa on the day the country makes history and the World Cup comes to Africa for the first time. Here am I a lifelong football fan who can talk Christmas tree formations with the best of  them and who has long been the answer to England's left sided problems for years...but when asked in front of a crowded bar to blow on a vuvuzela - South Africa's icon musical emblem of the games - I fail miserably.

Currency update June 11, pound rises to a high of $1.4667/ £1

Currency analysis for June 11, 2010 from Smart Currency Exchange, Harpers Wine & Spirit's currency partners.

The Friends of Laphroaig celebrates its 400,000 member

The Friends of Laphroaig, on and off-line community, has shown the strength of its marketing tool by reaching 400,000 members worldwide.

Blossom Hill's Wimbledon campaign wins award

Blossom Hill's sponsorship of last year's Wimbledon Tennis Championships has won it a gold medal in the alcoholic drinks category of the annual Promotional Marketing Awards.

Bottle Green secures Discovery Channel sponsorship deal

Leeds-based wine trader Bottle Green has signed a six figure deal to sponsor Discovery Kitchen on Discovery Real Time, starting in October.

Win a trip Down Under by 'tweeting' a tasting note

A wine travel company is offering young bloggers the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Australia - by simply uploading a tasting note of their favourite Aussie wine to Twitter.

Concha y Toro launches new website

Concha y Toro has launched a new website to provide fans of South American wines a source of useful and interesting online information.

Mondavi wines to sponsor English Heritage concerts

Robert Mondavi, the Californian wine, has been unveiled as the official wine sponsor of this year's English Heritage Picnic Concerts.

The Friends of Laphroaig celebrates its 400,000 member

The Friends of Laphroaig, an on and off-line community has shown the strength of its marketing tool by reaching 400,000 members worldwide.

Risk of unsold wine for Bordeaux 2009

The 2009 Bordeaux en primeur campaign is "on a knife edge", it has been claimed - and there is a real risk that producers will be left with unsold wine.

Currency update June 10: pound likely to remain under pressure

Today's currency analysis from our currency partners Smart Currency Exchange predicts the pound is likely to remain under pressure in the run up to the emergency budget on June 22 as investors remain cautious.

Bibendum to distribute India's Grover Vineyards

Bibendum has joined forces with India's premier wine producer, Grover Vineyards to distribute its wines on an exclusive basis in the UK.