Robin Copestick's Asian and Australia adventure: week two

In part two of Robin Copestick, co-founder of wine agency, Copestick Murray, travels around Asia and Australia exploring the wine markets for trends and opportunities for his business he visits Seoul, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore

Mark Fiddes on the art of good storytelling when advertising vodka

What does a Long Slow Comfortable Screw Up Against The Wall have in common with Plutonium?

Carol Emmas: why I sometimes prefer cheap wine

I prefer cheap wine. There you go - I've said it. I feel like I should be standing in a confessional with my head hung low muttering the words in shame.

Christophe Bernard to become new chief executive officer at JF Hillebrand Group

Christophe Bernard will be replacing Gerard Desbois as chief executive officer at JF Hillebrand Group, the global drinks logistics company, from January 1, 2014. Desbois, who has been chief executive since 2000 will be joining the company's supervisory board.

Q&A: Eva Minguez Lobato, marketing director of Regulatory Council for D.O RÍAS BAIXAS

Ahead of next week's Rias Baixas Mini Fair at London's Glaziers Hall on November 25 we talk to Eva Minguez Lobato about what plans the Spanish region has to build on its growing popularity in the UK.

Wine Vision's leader view: Don St Pierre Jr, ASC Fine Wines

"The US is number one at approximately 315 million cases. Of the 180 million cases consumed in China, 36 million are imported but the imported market has been growing approximately 55% a year since 2007."

Wine Vision's leader view: Simon McMurtrie, Direct Wines

"People focus more on enjoying life when they get older. Wine is part of that and if there are more people getting older, more people will be drinking wine"

Wine Vision's leader view: Paul Symington, Symington Family Estates

"Sometimes people ask me: 'Why do you sell to supermarkets?' I'm astounded by the question. If I didn't, we would have to lay off at least 80% of our staff and sack
more than 90% of our growers."

Wine Vision's leader view: Ted Baseler, ceo Ste Michelle Wine Estates

"I call our approach the 'string of pearls' - we keep each winery separate, with its own manager, its own name and winemaker. Then we have the string through the pearls which is the back-of-house admin"

Wine Vision's leader view: Christophe Salin, Domaines Barons de Rothschild

"I don't like to see amateurs getting into vineyards. They don't realise that it takes a long time for it to be profitable - as the saying goes: "How do you make a small fortune out of a vineyard? Start with a large fortune."

Robin Copestick's Asian and Australian adventure. Week One...

In the first of a series of blogs from his travels around South East Asia, Australia and Sri Lanka over the next six weeks, exploring the wine markets and opportunities for his own wines, Robin Copestick, co-founder of Copestick Murray, reports in from Shanghai

Mike Paul: in search of the true value of a bottle of wine

The BBC Watchdog reporton the questionable value of half price deals in the supermarkets sparked a great deal of interest. Such deals have always stirred emotions, but the ensuing discussion also  highlighted  a concern I have when I hear commentators making definitive statements about the price a particular wine is worth.

Global wine shortage: reality or myth?

You could be forgiven for the panic - even if it is a year late in coming. It seems that in 2012, we drank 300 million cases more wine than was made. If true, that would be first time demand has exceeded supply in two generations.

Interview with: David Harker, owner, Newcastle wine school

I think the most surprising finding coming out of the workshop was how many respondents weren't fazed by the price of some of the Champagne - even up to £70 a bottle, which was a lot more than most of them said they would originally be prepared to pay...

Why are UK retailers so afraid of innovation?

In the past year Stranger & Stranger alone has trialled three shiny new ideas in the US wine market.

Q&A with Sandro Saadé, one of Syria's leading winemakers

Discovering the world of sake cocktails

With Japanese eateries becoming ever more fashionable, sake cocktails have become increasingly popular. Due to the huge variation of sake styles and flavour profiles available, and the added element of variable serving temperature, sake is particularly dynamic. During London Cocktail Week, I asked some trade experts for their opinion on how sake can best be used in cocktails.

Everything you know about wine is wrong

The death of ungrafted vine rootstocks has been much exaggerated, says Heather Dougherty of the Association of Wine Educators

joe bloggs

Q&A with Michel Roux on his link up with Everyday Bordeaux wines

Michelin star chef Michel Roux of Le Gavroche fame has teamed up with the 2013 Everyday Bordeaux collection of wines, to promote those wines considered by a panel of judges from the Association of Wine Educators to offer some of best value Bordeaux currently available in the UK.