Champagne Retailer Views

Views from: Ben Stephenson, managing director, Hangingditch, Manchester; Tracy Ford, BWS category director, Asda; Laura Jewell MW, Tesco

Spirits Retailer & On-trade Views

Views from: Sukhinder Singh, Whisky Exchange; Simon Van Moppes, Pernod Ricard UK; Mal Evans, Mojo bars in Manchester

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...

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Q&A: Gareth Lewis, chief executive, By the Glass UK

The chief executive of the wine-preservation manufacturer speaks to Carol Emmas about

How Treasury Wine Estates is turning heads with its premium Californian wines

If David Dearie's shock sacking as Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) chief executive last month was indeed connected to the $160m writedown the company's US division suffered earlier this year, its stable of Californian wineries continues to produce premium wine that keep turning heads.

Meet Mark Jarman, head of wine operations, Morrisons

"We are developing a strategy that is collaborative and essentially, the rationale for this is that the buying role is massive with a lot details day to day. It is very hard in a traditional wine-buying structure to give the time and resources required to the sourcing element because it is a very complex sector and product"

Meet Trish Lorimer, wine buyer, Morrisons

"It has been very exciting. I have been on the sourcing team for two and half years. In that time it has changed beyond all recognition, with the focus that has been put on wine since Steve [Mosey] has got the team structure that he wants and the layout."

Meet Laura Sheen, wine buyer, Morrisons

"One of the biggest challenges I have been tasked with is Morrisons Cellar. It's a really interesting challenge and it is still fairly early days. We are really trying to get the message right around wine online. As part of the online buying experience, Taste Test is part of that design."

Meet Jonathan Olding, wine buyer, Morrisons

"We all have completely different strengths in completely different areas. It does help a lot to be able to have different members of the team able to focus on the very different areas. We have massively different experiences in wine from some of us with only a little bit too expert levels, but it all helps to strengthen the overall structure of the team."

Meet Georgina Reed, wine buyer, Morrisons

"As a buyer merchandising in under £5 and under£ 8, what is actually on the shelf the quality is there and we are delivering. For over £8, we need the proper quality of the wine to really come through. If someone is buying an over-£8 bottle then they know their wine, so we need to make sure we get that right."

WSTA Conference: The trade needs to stick together

Last month's WSTA conference demonstrated how powerful the drinks sector can be when it is united and the dangers when it is not, says Richard Siddle

Big, bold, but Beautiful?

The Beautiful South Tasting challenged the concept of generic wine tastings. Erin Smith analyses what worked and lessons for the future

Are you making the most of international trade shows?

Love them or loathe them, international wine trade fairs are an intrinsic part of a buyers' calendar. But what are the best ways of making the most of your time? For those seeking, for example, to gain a greater understanding of Spanish wines, the town of Ciudad Real is not an obvious first port of call. Being 200km north of Madrid, the town has no obvious links to the wine trade. No links, that is, apart from every two years hosting the Fenavin trade tasting.

Team Morrisons

The success of any team rests not in how good any individual might be, but how all the team members work together.

Steve Mosey on: Morrisons' wine opportunity, moving from supplier to retailer, suppliers and wine prices

Steve Mosey on: Morrisons' wine opportunity, moving from supplier to retailer, suppliers and wine prices

"We have a £100m opportunity in wine..."

Having been born and brought up in the north you know what to expect when visiting Morrisons. Dubbed the "Supermarket of the north", it was the place you went for the weekly fruit and veg and Sunday roast ingredients. It was different from other supermarkets; it was more like going to a big indoor market with different shops selling fresh meat, fish, bread and cakes. I certainly wasn't disappointed when I walked into the, unsurprisingly, spick-and-span Morrisons next door to its headquarters in Bradford last week. Dry ice floated across the fresh fruit and veg, and the usual line-up of mini emporia selling fresh meat and baked goods were all there along the back wall. Gondola ends were filled with good northern favourites like Batchelors Bigga marrowfat peas and boxes of snowballs.

Port & Sherry Supplier Views

Views from: Jim Grierson, on-trade sales director, Maxxium UK (Harveys); Tony Brown MW, Boutinot (Wiese & Krohn Port); Anthony Habert, UK marketing manager, Sandeman Port; Mark Symonds, marketing controller, Port and Madeira, Fells (Symington Family Estates); Damian Carrington, sales and marketing director, Fields, Morris & Verdin (Lustau, Quinta de la Rosa); Jeremy Rockett, marketing director, González Byass; Jackie Brown, senior brand manager, Maisons, Marques et Domaines (Ramos Pinto); Andrew Hawes, managing director, Mentzendorff (Fladgate, Hidalgo).

Sparkling

Traditionally sparkling wine and Champagne were considered special purchases and were strictly reserved for high days and holidays when there was something to celebrate, such as weddings, Christmas and birthdays. However, sparkling wine is increasingly becoming the drink of choice in a far wider range of social situations, and occasions, be it simply enjoying a meal or drinks with friends or family and is often selected in preference to still wines.

Port & Sherry Buyer & Sommelier Views

Views from: Gyles Walker, wine buyer, Morrisons; Hal Wilson, managing director, Cambridge Wine Merchants; Rémi Cousin, assistant head sommelier, the Fat Duck; Andrea Briccarello, head sommelier, Galvin La Chapelle.