There may be trouble ahead…

The number of leaders with confidence in the future of their own company within the eating and drinking-out market took a knock in the three months to November 2018, according to the latest CGA Business Confidence Survey.

The Aussie-Anglo Alliance

It’s well reported that Australian wine sales into mainland China have been booming, driven by a compelling mix of favourable trade deals, attractiveness of style to Chinese consumers and a firm commitment by the Australian industry to push into that market. Moreover, as with many other territories around the world, the US included, such buyers are prepared to pay a good price for the pleasure of listing the wines.

Lea & Sandeman expands on-trade team

Lea & Sandeman has expanded its on-trade team with the addition of Sophie Picheta.

NZ 200th anniversary focus turns to regionality after bumper UK year

The annual New Zealand trade tasting pushed a new focus on regionality at this year’s London event on 16 January, with the aim of furthering understanding of the country’s diversity of wine styles with restaurants and independent merchants.

Hallgarten expands Lismore portfolio

Hallgarten & Novum Wines has expanded its line of wines from South Africa's Lismore Estate with the addition of the producer's Reserve trio.

Back to business

Bibendum PLB is reasserting itself as a major premium player on the UK wine scene. Andrew Catchpole meets chief executive Michael Saunders to discover what’s in store

Naked Wines awards Plumpton student £9,000 bursary

Naked Wines has announced it will award a Plumpton College wine student a £9,000 bursary as part of its 10th birthday celebrations.

Festive period provides cheer for on-trade

Managed pubs and restaurants saw a 4.1% collective like-for-like sales increase across the festive season compared to the same period the prevous year. 

Distell names new premium wine company

South African juggernaut Distell has officially announced the launch of its new premium wine division which will go by the name Libertas Vineyards and Estates.

Greencroft on target to become largest UK bottling operation

Major investment by Lanchester Wine Cellars in its bottling subsidiary Greencroft is to see production boosted from 100 million litres in 2018 to a capacity of between 3-400 million litres by early 2020.

That was the year that was

As we eagerly await the Christmas trading results, Lisa Riley looks back at 2018 and the ups and downs across the drinks categories

31Dover director Jay Swanborough resigns

Jay Swanborough, director of ecommerce, operations and marketing for 31Dover, has resigned.

Babydoll gears up for UK push

Babydoll wines from New Zealand, part of Yealands Estate, is gearing up to increase its UK presence with a new campaign and its first appearance at the annual ‘Flavours of New Zealand’ tasting taking place this week.

WSTA calls for wine tariffs suspension to avoid ‘no deal’ price hikes

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has called on the government to temporarily suspend wine tariffs to prevent prices rocketing in the event of a ‘no deal' Brexit .

New Zealand's evolving vinous landscape

New Zealand’s wine scene has come a long way since its inception in the 1970s. Jamie Goode meets the personalities driving change in leading region Marlborough

Guy Woodward: Judging the winemaker, not just the wine

GUY WOODWARD, Louis Roederer International Wine Columnist of the Year 2018

Halewood Wines & Spirits not dialling down wine despite ramping up spirits

Liverpool-based wine and spirit producer Halewood Wines & Spirits has denied it is slowing down its wine business after several moves this year to boost its international spirits profile and selling off its “loss making” Romanian wine arm.

Tim Atkin MW: Wine is never a one man band

Naked partners with Garçon to launch ‘customer-acquisition’ initiative

Naked Wines has joined forces with Garçon Wines to launch a customer-acquisition initiative.

Le Cordon Bleu to launch new wine and beverage certificate

Le Cordon Bleu will launch a new certificate in wine and beverage studies in March 2019.