Majestic boss says wine price inflation has stymied growth

Speaking to Harpers.co.uk following the group's results yesterday, Steve Lewis described the group's total sales growth of 1.4% to £278.2 million as "not where I'd want it to be", adding that the combination of poor harvests and duty increases had made for "difficult trading conditions".

Oxford Landing's ad campaign demonstrates 'absolute' commitment to UK

Australia's Oxford Landing wine brand is launching a 'significant' advertising campaign across London's underground stations, streetscapes and black cabs.

Wine trade has lucrative opportunity through mobile technology

The wine industry has historically been slow to cash in on mobile technology, but the time is right for the trade to ramp up its approach.

Mitchells & Butlers buys Orchid venues for £266m

Mitchells & Butlers has boosted its 1,600 strong estate with the addition of 173 of Orchid Group's venues after completing a deal worth £266 million.

Kathrine Larsen wins UK Sommelier of the Year 2014

Kathrine Larsen MS has become the Academy of Food & Wine Service's Moët UK Sommelier of the Year 2014 following an intense final at London's Mandarin Oriental Hotel last week.

Majestic Wine profits flat in 'difficult year' as investment planned

Majestic Wine has reported a small dip in like-for-like sales, down 0.1%, but fine wine sales have rocketed by a fifth while Provence rosé is up 84%.

Franciacorta producers look to include old Italian indigenous variety to production process

Producers of Franciacorta, the premium Italian sparkling wine, may soon have to make it with an old indigenous grape variety if changes to the production process are approved. 

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week (and a bit of last week due to the long weekend) on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Digital innovation achieves record breaking $18.7 million at Auction Napa Valley

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) non-profit trade association kicked off its 34th annual Auction Napa Valley on the 6th of June, but for the first time permitted bidding for the Barrel Auction via a mobile app.

Bodegas Campillo moves from Cellar Trends to Inverarity Morton

Spain's Bodegas Campillo has switched its UK distribution from Cellar Trends to Inverarity Morton to push sales in premium on-trade venues.

Laroche winemaker Grégory Viennois on a new dawn for Chablis, the difficult 2013 vintage and price changes

Grégory Viennois, the outspoken winemaker and technical director at Domaine Laroche (owned by the Advini group), was in London to present the 2012 vintage of his Chablis premiers and grands crus and hold a master class on the different crus on the right and left bank of the Serein river. Anne Krebiehl caught up with him afterwards: he sees the dawn of a new era for Chablis, reflects on the difficult 2013 vintage and price developments.

Bordeaux producers philosophical following 'catastrophic' hail storm

Bordeaux's wine producers remain philosophical in the face of destructive hail storms, despite some having up to 85% of grapes destroyed.

Bordeaux's wine cultural centre will drive wine tourism internationally

Wine still one of the most heavily promoted grocery categories

Almost six out of every 10 bottles of wine are sold on promotion in the UK, according to figures from Nielsen for the past year. 

UK number one export market for Brazilian wines

The UK is now the number one market for Brazilian wines, accounting for one fifth of its exports, with value sales rocketing 224% by value in the past four months compared to the whole of 2013.

New Zealand's 2014 grape harvest up 29% on last year

Official figures for New Zealand's 2014 grape harvest show it has increased by almost one third on last year.

WSTA gears up for aggressive campaign against duty hikes in 2015

The WSTA is considering calling for a 2% cut in duty on wine and spirits as part of its campaign in the lead up to next year's Budget.

Roof Gardens Party raises over £10,000 for drinks trade charity The Benevolent

Accolade Wine borrows US$300 million to drive global growth

GE Capital International has provided Accolade Wines with a US$300 million cross-border credit facility in order for the world's fifth largest wine producer to continue to grow its brands globally.

Neil McGuigan and Julian Dyer on global markets, top end wines and Masterchef

Neil McGuigan, chief executive of Australian Vintage and Julian Dyer, the group's UK general manager reveal its UK marketing plans, what it sees as opportunities for growth and how the 2014 harvest has shaped up.