Alternative formats are sometimes looked down on by the wine elite, but the best packaging innovations don’t just stand out on shelf, they create entirely new ways of reaching and interacting with the consumer. Jo Gilbert investigates
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As automated technology gets more affordable and efficient, it will free up businesses to place people at the heart and soul of the drinks trade – if used correctly. Jo Gilbert reports
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A census in a rabbit warren, needle in a haystack – numerous similes come to mind when attempting to get to grips with 2019’s plethora of events. Concern over the looming prospect of Brexit hasn’t dampened the trade’s voracious appetite for putting on a grand show, and next year promises to be no exception.
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As the halo effect from health and sustainability grows, pulling in everyone from full-time vegans to flexitarians, consumers are increasingly looking for the “V” symbol on wines. Jo Gilbert asks, can the wine trade afford not to be vegan?
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There’s been no shortage of innovation in wines and spirits over the past year.
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Rioja’s Viñedos Singulares classification is a major step towards elevating the region’s status, writes Tim Atkin MW.
Rioja’s Consejo Regulador is the oldest in Spain, a body that owes its existence to a Royal Decree, no less, of October 22, 1926. From the start, the Consejo’s mandate included the right to take legal measures against “usurpers and counterfeiters of the Rioja brand”, as well as to issue production seals, demarcate the region and decide on its future direction.
Thanks to its renewed reputation as a drink to be taken seriously, Lisa Riley looks at tequila’s potential in the UK as an upmarket and fashionable spirit.
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Good design may only sell the one, first bottle if the liquid inside is discovered to be below par. But present the most sublime booze in a mediocre or off-putting package and the painstaking craft of the distiller or winemaker is likely to be left collecting dust.
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Linking up online and offline channels is now expected by not only consumers, but B2B clients too. Jo Gilbert looks at the companies bringing greater visibility to the supply chain while oiling the wheels of stock management and logistics
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Christmas and spirits go hand in hand, with festive sparkle helping to boost the sales of retailers and operators who can convince consumers to shop with them. Jo Gilbert sits down with brand owners and distributors working to make this Christmas the best one yet.
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It’s been just over a decade since North Dakota, the final state to host a winery, joined the party, adding to the substantial growth of many states’ wine tourism and consequent direct consumer sales. California’s primacy remains constant, though its share of US production continues to slide from what
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Following The Vineking’s soft opening of The Tasting Rooms in Reigate last month, Lisa Riley meets the brains behind the new venture and hears about the raison d’être – accessibility
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Leading lights from Oregon and Washington talk Andrew Catchpole through the trends and developments in their respective states
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At first glance, the day-to-day logistics of running a bonded warehouse is scarcely of any interest to the wider trade, let alone consumers. Regarded as a prosaic stepping stone in the overall supply chain, firms such as Berry Bros & Rudd (BBR) have been managing these “holding bays” for decades, a regulated space where imported goods that are intended for export can be stored without actually entering the UK market. Duty and VAT payments are deferred until the wine is sold or removed from the bonded warehouse. It’s that simple.
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Travelling with fellow MWs in the Golden State, Natasha Hughes MW delves far beyond the usual suspects.
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Chris Wilson looks at the age-old conundrum – how can fortified wine break away from its seasonal reputation?
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US wines have been generating an unprecedented buzz in the UK. Andrew Catchpole discovers why
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Less is often more when it comes to turning a profit says consultant Sean Finter, a master at optimising returns from on-trade businesses. Harpers tuned in to his message at Bar Convent in Berlin.
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Drawing on sparkling wine research carried out with Wines Direct, Harpers assesses the state of play
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As the French region looks to revitalise its reputation, Lisa Riley meets the growers introducing greener methods and pursuing organic certification
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