Wine businesses slow to change and connect with consumers, says business guru

Wine businesses are too slow to change and engage with consumers, says business mentor Mike Greene.

The Week That Was: Wine Vision recap, 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.

González Byass invests €2.5m in sustainability

Spanish sherrymaker and wine firm González Byass is investing €2.5 million in a new sustainability programme over the next three years.

UK wine trade slow to react to Millennials' sweet tooth, says Mintel

The 18 to 34 year-old age group is partial to sweeter wines, with 44% of wine buyers believing they're better quality than drier ones, but few UK brands have "attacked this space", says Mintel.

Mintel's Jonny Forsyth: Evolving tastes among global wine drinkers

Wine tastes are evolving but is the industry agile enough to take advantage? Mintel's research clearly illustrates how different the coveted Millennials are to previous generations, global drinks analyst Jonny Forsyth told Wine Vision.

France Summit video: what French producers and generics think of the UK market

Being able to highlight the steps they are taking to promote French wine in the UK as well as understand more the challenges of the British market were some of the key reasons producers and French generic and promotional bodies attended last month's Harpers France Summit.

Home Office Minister praises drinks industry efforts at Alcohol Concern conference

Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone praised the drinks industry for the steps it has taken as part of the Responsibility Deal, and said local communities were best-placed to solve alcohol-related problems, in a speech at the Alcohol Concern conference yesterday.

France Summit video: UK trade figures on how to get the most out of French wine

The chance to understand the France wine category better, hear the views of leading UK buyers, distributors and retailers and meet like-minded people in the trade were some of the key reasons given by visitors  who attended last month's Harpers France Summit.

Beaujolais gains popularity with Millennials

Beaujolais Nouveau Day is here - and this year the festivities are shaking off their fusty image and attracting younger drinkers.

Wine brands need to get on top of Facebook, warns social media campaigner at Wine Vision

Brands should "just be honest and sell their gear" on Facebook and other social media as forcing likes and comments turns off consumers.

Wine designs fail if don't stand for something, Stranger & Stranger's Kevin Shaw tells Wine Vision

The secret to good brand design is for it to stand for something which is where wine often falls down as they just all "blur" into each other, according to Kevin Shaw, founder of design agency Stranger & Stranger.

I Heart wine has chance to become a global wine brand Robin Copestick tells Wine Vision

The "I Heart" wine brand has the potential to become a true global wine brand that could be sold in any country in the world, according to Robin Copestick of brand owner, Copestick Murray.

Consumers are now "risk averse" Future Foundation tells Wine Vision

Simon McMurtrie opens Wine Vision with clarion call to industry

Simon McMurtrie, chief executive of Direct Wines, opened Wine Vision 2014 with a clarion call to the global wine industry to do all it can to get people to not only spend more on wine, but to buy a wider selection of wines.

Wine Vision Live News Blog: Wine has to talk more to young consumers says Wine Riot chief

The wine trade is missing out on marketing to women, with many brands pushing "condescending" butterfly or cupcake messages, says Tyler Balliet, founder of Wine Riot in the US.

Fine wine investment requires 'visionary eye', says Moet chief at Wine Vision

Knight Frank teams up with Wine Owners to create fine wine index

Global property consultancy Knight Frank has teamed up with portfolio management platform Wine Owners to launch the Fine Wine Icons Index.

Isabelle Pangault, Foncalieu' s new winemaker, on opportunities for Languedoc-Rousssillon

Geoffrey Dean talks to Isabelle Pangault, winemaker and brand ambassador for Foncalieu, the leading Languedoc-Roussillon co-operative:

Wine Vision: Wine must engage all the senses, say professors

Winemakers beware - it's "not enough just to get the liquid right" - the emotional connection, background music and lighting also dramatically affect the taste, say top professors.

Wine trade prepares for 'seismic change', says Wine Vision director

Wine Vision 2014's executive director is set to kick off the global conference by telling delegates the wine trade is preparing for "seismic change" in wake of Tesco's accounting scandal.