Spanish chef Pizarro signs as ambassador for wine producer Codorníu in the UK

Spanish wine producer Codorníu Raventos has signed up chef José Pizarro as its ambassador in the UK for the next two years.

Quiet Man opens Derry's first new whiskey distillery in 150 years

Cream liqueur manufacturer Niche Drinks is to open a distillery in Derry, Northern Ireland, the city's first in 150 years.

'No reason' UK gin exports can't match Scotch whisky's £4 billion says environment secretary

The environment secretary Elizabeth Truss has said the UK government has ambitions to help the gin industry match the UK's whisky exports, which topped £4 billion in 2014.

KWV plans export sales for Cruxland premium gin made from Kalahari truffles

South African wine and spirit producer KWV is planning an assault on export markets for a new craft London dry gin made with truffles.

Indian whiskies dominate world's fastest-growing spirit brands

Four out of the five fastest-growing spirits brands in the world are Indian whiskies, according to new research from the IWSR.

Indian whiskies dominate world's fastest-growing spirit brands

Officer's Choice, produced by Mumbai's Allied Blenders & Distillers, is the fastest growing brand. Last year it overtook Diageo's Smirnoff to become the world's leading brand by volume, selling 28.4m cases.

William Grant invites London's leading bartenders to Highland fling

Access Uncorked partners with Capital On Tap to unlock cashflow for wineries

Access Uncorked has announced an exclusive global partnership with small-business finance specialists Capital On Tap to provide a range of innovative financial services to wineries.

Majestic finance chief steps down

Nigel Alldritt, group chief financial officer and company secretary of Majestic Wine, is to leave the company in November.

AI better than humans at predicting value of wine, new study finds

Artificial intelligence (AI) can be successfully used to predict fluctuations in the price of fine wines, according to a recent study from researchers at University College, London.

Conviviality Retail invests in perfecting franchise model

L'Avenir to launch Provence-style premium rosé at Cape Wine 2015

Stellenbosch estate, L'Avenir is to launch a new premium rosé at Cape Wine in September. The wine, named Glenrosé, will be 100% Pinotage.

McKinley adds award-winning Cognac ABK6 to portfolio

McKinley Vintners has announced the addition of Cognac ABK6 to its portfolio. The Cognac is made by the father-and-daughter team of Francis and Elodie Abécassis under the name Domaines Francis Abécassis.

Gruppo Campari announces strong half-year sales and margins

Gruppo Campari has posted strong sales and higher margins for the first six months of 2015.

Louis Latour poaches Nightingale from McKinley Vintners

Louis Latour Agencies has announced the appointment of Guy Nightingale as its new key accounts manager.

Majestic launches click-and-collect service for Naked Wine customers

Naked Wines has launched a click-and-collect service for its customers through the Majestic network of stores.

Wines of Chile launches Mercado Chileno event for consumers

Wines of Chile has announced a new consumer event to follow its trade tasting in September. Mercado Chileno will take place at Old Spitalfields Market in London on 11 and 12 September.

Suntory explores space-aged whisky

Leading Japanese distillery Suntory is to send a batch of its whiskies to the International Space Station. The drinks giant wants to study the effect of zero gravity on the drink's maturing process.

WSET welcomes Crown Cellars as latest corporate patron

Crown Cellars, the specialist wine and spirits division of Carlsberg UK, has become the latest business to become a patron of The Wine and Spirit Education Trust.

Cube wins Vinho Verde account

Portuguese wine region Vinho Verde has appointed drinks-sector communications specialists, Cube to handle both consumer- and trade-facing PR.