Your chance to vote in Harpers France Wine Awards and take part in France Summit

Harpers is once again looking to reward the very best retailers, restaurants, distributors and individuals that are leading the way in selling and promoting French wine in the UK in our second Harpers France Awards.

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.

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

Prosecco firm Frizzenti to open wine bar chain

Prosecco and sparkling wine supplier Frizzenti is to open a series of permanent and semi-permanent wine bars, with plans to open 10 within 12 months of an initial launch in October.

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.

Bob Rishworth semi retires from Halewood International

Bob Rishworth will be semi-retiring from his role as the board director at Halewood International in order to focus on his own consultancy business.

House of Lords calls for drinks industry's advice on next EU Alcohol Strategy

The drinks industry has been invited by the House of Lords to send in its suggestions for what the next European Union Alcohol Strategy should look like.

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.

Liberty Wines sees sales jump 14% for first half of 2014

Liberty Wines has seen its overall revenues grow 14% in the six months to the end of June 2014, with on-trade sales putting in a particularly strong performance up 18%.

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.

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.  

Hallgarten Druitt boosts sales and marketing teams

Hallgarten Druitt & Novum Wines has recruited a former Mirror journalist to head up its communications team and added an extra national accounts manager.

South Africa's Sodbuster wine targets UK farmers

A South African wine has decided to bypass the usual UK retail channels in favour of directly targeting farmers as its would-be consumers.

How a 'yes' vote from Scotland would affect alcohol taxes and logistics

Excise duty expert Alan Powell considers how Scottish independence could affect drinks firms operating both sides of the borders in terms of excise duty and logistics.

A 'yes' vote from Scotland could cripple drinks firms with duty headaches

If Scotland splits from the rest of the UK drinks firms could face potentially crippling changes to duty which would add a significant cost and administrative burden - even causing some to go out of business.

My Choice: Steven Gerrard,Barwell & Jones, on drinking with Bill Clinton and his LFC namesake

Steven Gerrard is the first to kick start our My Choice series where we ask leading figures in the trade for their favourite drinks, and where and when they would like to drink them. If you would like to join in and send yours then email your answers to the list below to richard.siddle@wrbm.com.

LVMH's wine and spirits business drags down overall performance of luxury group

Louis Vutton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) stock price is taking a hit as financial markets react to the conglomerate's half yearly results announced at close of business yesterday. This morning the stock was trading 6.12% lower, down from yesertday's close €141.25 per share to €132.75 (Bloomberg).