Illegal vodka vending machine seized in Ukraine

Tax inspectors in the south-eastern city of Melitopol, Ukraine are looking for the owners of a converted coffee machine that dispensed vodka that was installed in the middle of the town centre, according to a report on a local television channel.

ProWein claims it is already sold out for 2014 show

ProWein has announced that six months before the 2014 international wine fair is due to take place that the event has already sold out.

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Key global wine trends and winnners and losers in 2013-2014

Erin Smith takes a look at the overall trends influencing the wine industry and looks ahead to who are the likely winners and losers from a changing global economic picture.

Media executive Lord Black to deliver WSTA conference keynote speech

Newspaper executive, Lord Black of Brentwood, will deliver the keynote address at this month's annual Wine & Spirit Trade Association Conference looking at how the media industry has responded to the threat of government intervention and regulation.

Media executive Lord Black to deliver keynote speech at WSTA conference

Newspaper executive Lord Black will deliver the keynote speech on how an industry needs to respond from potential government regulation at this month's annual Wine & Spirit Trade Association conference.

Cutty Sark to host the 'Cutty Cargo' tour starting in London

Cutty Sark is preparing to host a new event series, "Cutty Cargo", which looks to promote whisky to a younger audience with a mixture of live music, DJs and street food with a tour across major cities around the world starting in London on September 12.

Naked Wines looks to raise £3m through new bonds scheme

On the heels of securing an additional £6.4 million from one of its major shareholders, Naked Wines hasannounced it will be issuing Naked Fine Wine Bonds in an effort to raise a further £3m.

New speakers lined up for Digital Wine Communications Conference in Rioja

New speakers have been added to the impressive line-up of panellists for the renamed Digital Wine Communications Conference (DWCC), formerly knon as the EWBC, which is to be held in Rioja, Spain, between October 25- 27.

Italian producer Fulvio Luca Bressan in hot water over online racist storm

Italian wine producer Fulvio Luca Bressan of Bressan Mastri Vinai has found himself in very hot water after making what have been seen as racially offensive comments last Friday on his Facebook page regarding the Italian integration minister Cécile Kyenge ? Italy's first African-Italian minister and the recent implementation of new policies affecting undocumented immigrants in the country.

Start planning your Beautiful South Tasting

With over 300 tables and 330 producers the first Beautiful South Tasting, to be held on September 11 and 12 in London's Olympia, demands a plan and the full show catalogue is now available online to download so attendees can devise a tactical plan of what producers to put on their 'must-see' list.

Illegal vodka pipeline discovered in Kyrgyzstan

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have shut off an illegal eight inch-wide tube being used to smuggle illicit alcohol between Kazakhstan for a third of mile under the Chu River into Kyrgyzstan, according to local agency reports.

California's early 2013 harvest looking to be a good vintage

While the European 2013 harvest is several weeks behind schedule, California's 2013 harvest, which began the first of August for sparkling wines produced in the region,  is ahead of schedule and looking to be of a good quality and quantity.

Selfridges offers Rhuby Rhubarb Liqueur

Selfridges and Coe Vintners have acquired the exclusive UK distribution rights for Rhuby, a Swedish produced, natural rhubarb liqueur created by Ylva Binder for the UK market.

Anheuser-Busch to host well-being and responsibility forum

Anheuser-Busch is hosting an InBev Well-Being & Responsibility Forum on September 17, with topics covering well-being and responsibility, road safety and drink-driving prevention, underage-drinking prevention, and excessive-drinking prevention with 200 participants already confirmed.

William Grant & Sons takes New Zealand Whisky Company to court

Global Scottish whisky giant William Grant & Sons is taking Dunedin DoubleWood, part of the New Zealand Whisky Company, to court, claiming the DoubleWood name confuses consumers with its Balvenie brand's DoubleWood.

Naked Wines secures additional £6.4m for expansion abroad

Norwich-based Naked Wines has announced it has secured a third round of funding of £6.4 million from German WIV Wein International AG, a founding shareholder in the company, bringing the total amount invested by WIV in the online retailer to £15.4 million.

London Cru winery names grape suppliers

London Cru, the first urban winery to set up shop in central London, has announced its first vintage grapes will be supplied by top French producers including Jeff Coutelou of Mas Coutelou, from Languedoc-Roussillon, William Jonquères d'Oriola of Château in Roussillon and Jacques Lurton, the renowned French Flying Winemaker.

Marlborough celebrates 40 years with a record 2013 harvest

This week marks the 40^th anniversary of the first grapes planted in Marlborough at Brancott Estate and coincides with New Zealand's recording-breaking 2013 harvest of 345,000 tonnes.

The 2013 harvest begins in France and Spain

This week marks the start of the 2013 harvest in Europe, with the vineyards in Tenerife, Spain in the Canary Islands and Roussillon region in France, reports wine-searcher.com.