Insights: What wine trends will be driving this year's festive period

et the planning, stock, marketing and sales mix right and Christmas should deliver a bumper season, with a sales uplift over the extended period that, for many, can come close to matching the take for the rest of the year. Conversely, though, at its most extreme, depressed or underperforming, Christmas trading can seriously impact on the ongoing health of a business. Which is why it is so important to make the most of this seasonal drinkfest.

Harvest hailstorms fail to marr first-rate Chablis vintage

Winemakers are reporting an excellent Chablis vintage this year, despite potential turmoil caused by hailstorms as the harvest began.

Austrian wine producers roll out new classification system for Sekt

After two years of discussion and research, Austria's wine producers have agreed a new quality-identification regime for Sekt.

Wakefield takes two top awards at Great Australian Shiraz Challenge

Wakefield Wines has won both Best Australian Shiraz and Best Australian Shiraz under AU$25 at the 2015 Great Australian Shiraz Challenge.

New Zealand wine industry welcomes new EU free trade talks

The New Zealand wine industry has welcomed the possibility of a free trade agreement (FTA) between New Zealand and the European Union.

Rapeneau family deal brings first Champagne to Off Piste range

The Rapeneau family has appointed Cheltenham-based Off Piste Wines to distribute its Charles de Cazanove range of Champagnes in the UK off trade.

Insights: Retailers' Christmas strategies revealed

Rioja 10 x 10: 100 of Rioja's Top Wines 2015

Record 2015 harvest set to push English wines to new heights

The English wine industry is set to break £100 million this year on the back of an excellent harvest, according to reports from the Wine & Spirits Trade Association.

Calabria family wins 15 medals at world's largest wine competition

Australian wine producer, the Calabria Family Winery, has taken home 15 medals from the AWC Vienna International Wine Challenge 2015.

Analysis: Greatest Champagne vintage for 70 years?

Geoffery Dean gets the inside scoop on this year's harvest from some of the iconic Champagne houses

Analysis: Gavin Quinney weighs in on the Bordeaux harvest 2015 and how the 'rule of five' may come into play

As the harvest draws to a close in Bordeaux, Gavin Quinney talks us through the early predictions and explains why the 'Bordeaux rule of five' is likely to come into play this year

Tim Atkin MW: Has Alberto Antonini opted to lead rather than follow the market?

Tim Atkin asks whether Alberto Antonini has decided to break away from more traditional styles of wine defined by the likes of Michel Rolland and to forge his own path.

Guy Woodward: Why aren't restaurants offering more wines by the glass?

Along, it seemed, with half the UK's wine press, I was at the launch of Les 110 de Taillevent in London's Cavendish Square last week. My verdict? Go - and be sure to order the crab ravioli. What was most notable about the night, though, was not the guest list or the menu, but that here was a major restaurant being launched off the back of its wine offering.

Accolade takes Grant Burge distribution from Hatch Mansfield

Australian winery Grant Burge is to end its 10-year distribution deal with Hatch Mansfield.

Israeli-Palestinian partnership makes wine from era of King David

Israeli scientists have recreated wines from what they believe are Biblical era grapes.

Lanson releases limited edition Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2000

House of Lanson is to make its award-winning Noble Cuvée Blanc de Blancs 2000 available in the UK.

New wine-buying app promises to perfect consumer taste profiling

A new smartphone app has launched promising to eliminate uncertainty in consumer wine choice.

Alsace growers see promise of greatness in 2015 vintage

The Alsace harvest looks set to be high-quality, despite slightly lower yields, according to early reports.

Major Indian wine fair to launch in London next month

November will see the first Indian Wine Fair to be launched in London.