Start-up Wineist sends sample wine packs direct to consumers

Slovenian start-up firm Wineist has landed upon a unique concept - to send out monthly wine tasting kits, complete with samples to consumers the world over.

Independents to compete in the Sud de France Retailer of the Year merchants programme

Diana Hunter, Conviviality CEO, on the new BB's Warehouse concept

Diana Hunter is chief executive of Conviviality Retail, owner of the Bargain Booze network. Last week the firm announced the launch of a new concept - BB's Warehouse - a destination discount off-licence warehouse. Gemma McKenna finds out more.

Circle 360 plans to expand its shopping centre Champagne bar concept to up to 20 UK sites

Champagne and cocktail bar concept Circle 360 is planning to have 15 to 20 UK sites by the end of 2015, with its first international outlets also in the pipeline.

New Zealand's Mission estate eyes UK growth

New Zealand's Mission Estate is targeting UK growth in the independent and on-trade sectors with the appointment of its first UK business development manager.

Tesco invites consumers to come up with wine descriptions

Tesco is inviting its consumers to join in a wine tasting to help come up with more customer friendly and impartial wine descriptors.

Italy's Franciacorta wines double sales to UK

Sales of Italy's Franciacorta wines in the UK have doubled in the first six months of 2014 thanks to growing market awareness.

Origin Wine's Stormhoek Stack launches in UK

Bancroft Wines takes on South African winery Ataraxia

Private equity firm KKR ups bid for Treasury Wine Estates

Treasury Wine Estates has opened its books to private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts following its revised - 10% higher - offer of US$3.15 billion for the wine business.

Put your football knowledge to the test in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League

So do you think your football? Your Christmas Tree formation over your 4-4-2? Know what "running between the lines" actually means? Well why not put those skills to the test and take part in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League - oh and raise some money for the drinks charity along the way.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, financial news for the drinks trade, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Consumers will drink cheap wine until the trade convinces them to do otherwise, warns Jerry Lockspeiser

The UK wine trade should stop lamenting the fact the average consumer is looking to buy cheaper wine and work harder to convince them to do otherwise, according to leading wine consultant Jerry Lockspeiser.

London Cru forced to name its wines Thunderbirds-style as wines 1, 2 and 3

London Cru, the capital's first urban winery, may have succeeded in shipping grapes from Europe to make wine in the UK, but it has had more difficulty with the bureaucrats in what it can now call them.

WSTA conference to focus on engaging consumers

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's annual conference will focus on the role branding, innovation and digital communications play in engaging with consumers in today's wine and spirits world.

Wine brands say promotion forecasting site Bring A Bottle could 'misdirect consumers'

Top wine brands have accused new drinks promotions forecasting website Bring A Bottle of having the "potential to misdirect consumers".

Alex Fisher joins board of Bibendum Wine Holdings

Bibendum Wine Holdings, the parent company of national wine and drinks supplier, Bibendum Wine, has stengthened its board  with the appointment of former Bidvest 3663 managing director, Alex Fisher, as a non-executive director.

Jeremy Rockett leaves González Byass GB after 10 years

González Byass GB marketing director Jeremy Rockett has left the business after 10 years of service.

Broadland Wineries joins Les Grands Chais as UK distributors of Singlz PET wine glass

Broadland Wineries has signed a deal to produce single serve PET wine glass Singlz in the UK  which it will fill with its own wines from its Norfolk base.  

Price comparison site Bring A Bottle pinpoints cheapest times to buy major drinks brands

Customers should be buying and stockpiling lager in June and July, and Champagne at Christmas, according to new data from Bring A Bottle which pinpoints exactly when the biggest promotions start across a range of top-selling brands.