Spain must plant more international grape varieties, says Rabobank

Spain should plant more international varieties and bill Tempranillo as its signature grape, if it is to combat oversupply issues and compete globally, says a Rabobank report.

Constellation Brands stock hits 52-week high

Constellation Brands hit a 52-week high on the New York Stock Exchange this week, closing at US$84.33 per share, indicating investors faith in the company's ability to continue to deliver strong financial results, following strong third quarter results in January.

Q&A: Brent Marris, Winemaker, Marisco Vineyards, Waihopai Valley, Malborough, New Zealand

The man behind multi-award-winning brand The Ned talks to Harpers about the factors behind its runaway success

Copestick Murray latches on to World Cup fever with launch of Brazilian Moscato

Copestick Murray hopes to tap in to World Cup fever early with the launch of a new sparkling Moscato sourced direct from Brazil which is the latest brand in the award winning I Heart wine portfolio.

Virgin Wines ramps up Fairtrade Fortnight support

Jacob's Creek marks new brand imagery with Fiano and Sangiovese wines

Jacobs Creek has unveiled its first major brand review since it was launched in 1976 that looks to reinforce its history, provenance and sense of place with consumers.

Call Time on Duty: Beer sales up due to impact of duty cuts

Beer sales in the off trade rose 3.9% by volume in the fourth quarter of 2013, marking increases for two consecutive quarters for the first time in 10 years, following the cut in beer duty last year.

Still time for you and your suppliers to get involved in Call Time On Duty campaign

There is still time to make sure your voice is heard in the industry's bid to get the Chancellor to finally Call Time On Duty and scrap the duty escalator on wine and spirits in the 2014 Budget. Harpers has also teamed up the Wine & Spirit Trade Association to give wine producers and drinks manufacturers the chance to take part in the Call Time On Duty campaign and make the government aware of the serious concerns they have about the alcohol duty levels in the UK. Here's how you and your supplier can get involved.

?Q&A with Denis O'Flynn, UK managing director Pernod Ricard

As the trade braces itself for the most important time of the year, Helen Arnold looks back on 2013 with one of the biggest names in the industry

Drinks brands can block underage followers on Twitter

Twitter has launched an age-verification process for users who want to follow alcohol brands.

Fetzer launches new Californian wine blends in to UK with Tesco

Concha y Toro's Fetzer winery in Mendocino, California has launched a red and a white blend into Tesco. The red blend is called Crimson and the white is called Quartz.

Q&A with Col McBryde of Some Young Punks

Following a successful showing of Australia's Some Young Punks wines at Boutinot's Powerhouse tastings in Manchester, Katherine Canfield catches up with winemaker Col McBryde for the story behind the wines and their outlandish packaging

Accolades Wines acquires several brands from the Mud House Wine Group

The Mud House Wine Group has agreed to sell New Zealand brands Mud House, Dusky Sounds, Haymaker, Skyleaf and Waipara Hills, including the Waipara Hills cellar door and café, to Accolade Wines, subject to approval by New Zealand's Overseas Investment Office.

Wine brands with no back story will struggle warns Ste Michelle's Ted Baseler ahead of Wine Vision

New wine launches that offer no back story other than what varietal or blend they are are not going to connect with modern wine consumers, warns Ted Baseler, president and chief executive of US winery, Ste Michelle Wine Estates, speaking ahead of this month's Wine Vision conference in London.

Treasury Wine Estates sets the standard for Californian 2013 vintage

The 2013 Californian wine harvest is set to be "truly outstanding" if a review of some of the premium vineyards of Treasury Wine Estates by Harpers.co.uk is replicated across the state.

Bruno Paillard releases 2004 vintage and praises family-owned Champagne houses

LVMH chief said to be looking to his children to succeed him

Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy's chief executive officer, 64-year-old Bernard Arnault, may be grooming both his son Antoine and daughter Delphine as possible successors to the world's largest luxury goods company, according to Bloomberg News Agency.

Deborah Sleep: what the wine trade can learn from the re-positioning of Hardy's

Deborah Sleep, director of customer insight agncy, Engage Research, looks at the wider lessons to be learnt from the repackaging of Australian wine brand, Hardy's, and how consumer insight is helping it to reposition the brand in terms of price and quality expectations:

Sula Vineyards launches new Indian wine through Laithwaite's

Indian winery, Sula Vineyards, has launched its newly created Nasika wine range in the UK which will be available exclusively through Laithwaite's.

Villa Maria looks to grow in the UK with launch of Italian Arneis variety