Vino Wines is gaining ground in Edinburgh

Quality wines combined with the canny idea to sell premium ready-meals is making Vino a destination wine store in Scotland.

Guy Woodward: The wine industry could learn so much from friendly coffee baristas

On the face of it, Waitrose's commitment to making its beer, wine and spirits departments "destinations" in their own right is a no-brainer.

Richard Siddle: Why we just can't get enough of online shopping

The time it will take you to read this first paragraph is all it now takes to buy a loved one a special present for Christmas. The speed, reliability and ultimately convenience of shopping online now means it is quite acceptable to give even your nearest and dearest a gift that comes wrapped in cardboard through the post.

Tim Atkin MW: Why we must all share the blame for cheap wine

Mad Frankie Fraser, the notorious gangster who died last week, was famous for using pliers to extract his victims' teeth under torture. One hesitates to say that the wine trade could have used the skills of a man who worked for both the Kray twins and the Richardson gang, but there are times when persuading consumers to trade up can feel like pulling molars.

Spirit Cartel drives growth through its premium range of spirits for the on-trade

Too often the world of high-end spirits can be a very grown-up affair, but not at Spirit Cartel, which is having great fun making a name for itself with an award-winning range of premium spirits.

Sophia Warner of the Pebbles Projects talks about 10 years of changing lives in South Africa's winelands

As the Pebbles Project celebrates its 10th year, co-founder Sophia Warner explains how the trade has helped provide support and education to children in South Africa's winelands and what a difference it makes.

Dominic Roskrow on why politics, intrigue and gossip are rife in the world of craft distillers

Brothers James and Richard Manning are doing their bit to shake up juice bars

Brothers James and Richard Manning started out in the industry selling fresh British juices made at their Herefordshire farm. Little did they know that their old wooden apple crates would transform their business, says Bernadette Costello, and they are now looking to work with wine and spirits brands.   

Cruz Liljegren picks up on the hot debates at the World Bulk Wine Exhibition

Glengoyne's Stuart Hendry: 'We're still selling too much whisky'

Stuart Hendry, brand heritage and commercial director for Glengoyne Distillery near Glasgow, talks Scotch whisky's enduring popularity, barrel prices, slow distillation and long-term plans with Geoffrey Dean

Tracy Ewen: Don't let cashflow issues burst your bubble this Xmas

Commercial finance expert Tracy Ewen reveals how not to get caught out with cashflow this Christmas trading period. 

Roger Jones concludes his wine tour of New Zealand with praise for its sustainability

Sadly my time in New Zealand has come to an end, however, amongst all the highlights and amazing experiences, including flying a plane, one common theme kept coming up, besides the quality of the wines, and that is the word sustainability.

Avril Tooley on dangers for drinks brands from plain tobacco packaging

The announcement about warnings on alcohol packaging is reminiscent of recent rumblings in the legislative sphere that may see tobacco products move to plain packaging. Although warnings won't take up the entire pack, there is a concern amongst those in the industry that alcohol will eventually suffer a similar fate.

AWE's Lindsay Oram on how regulation and innovation is working for German producers

One of the most common questions posed by students is, 'Why is winemaking in the Old World so heavily regulated compared to winemaking in the New World'? Many students also assume that regulation leads to lack of innovative thinking. And nowhere is there more wine regulation than in Germany.

Justin Keay is bowled over by the first Winchester Wine Festival

Not long ago, Winchester called to mind England's oldest public school and wealthy retired folk clutching their Daily Telegraphs and taking the inevitable black labrador for its daily constitutional. Whilst these images still hold true, a quiet revolution has taken hold in England's former capital city.

Brands - they're more than just a name, says Stuart Whitwell

Stuart Whitwell, joint managing director at brand valuation firm Intangible Business, considers the importance of branding and its correlation to the commercial success of an alcohol brand - as well as tackling the tricky issue of how these profitable brands are valued as intangible assets.

Anne Krebiehl MW gets to grips with the intricacies of grower Champagne

For the first time in its history, the Institute of Masters of Wine put on a tasting of grower Champagnes, that burgeoning category of growers who decide to bottle their own wines rather than sell grapes to either a co-operative or one of the large Champagne houses. By doing so, they create Champagnes that often represent a very local, sub-regional character, sometimes down to a single vineyard.

My Choice: Mario Pablo Silva of Chile's Casa Silva

Mario  Pablo managing director of Chile's Casa Silva shares his likes for wines and spirits and why an Oxford pub is his favourite bar in the world.

Roger Jones on falling in love with the "wild west" of New Zealand's Central Otago

If there was one area in New Zealand which defines the whole ethos of its wine industry it must be Central Otago.

Andy Barrington on why consumers buy drinks brands that reflect well on them

Andy Barrington, managing director at creative agency The Minimart, tells us how the consumer's personal brand is affecting drinks marketing. Many now choose drinks brands based on how it can boost their own brands - think about the drinks selfie, Barrington says.