Duty reforms: What’s the cost for wine and spirits?

Chancellor Rishi Sunak revealed plans to simplify the current alcohol duty regime during yesterday’s Budget, when it was revealed that the Treasury would be adopting a new principle of “the stronger the drink, the higher the rate”.

English and welsh producers celebrate end to sparkling ‘Super tax’

The news that the duty premium on sparkling wine being sold in the UK has been removed has been met with encouragement from the English and Welsh wine sector.

Business rates for hospitality cut by 50% for one year

Today’s Budget announcement included a year-long cut to business rates for the leisure and retail industry, meaning pubs, restaurants and bars will pay 50% less for 12 months.

Landmark overhaul for alcohol duty is the biggest shakeup in 140 years

Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced the most radical simplification of alcohol duties for over a century by slashing the number of main duty rates from 15 to six, while also cutting the premium on sparkling wine.

Kingsland Drinks backs eco wine brand with new listings

Kingsland Drinks is expanding the reach of eco wine brand The Hidden Sea with new listings in both Booths and Asda.

SLTA issues call for ‘level playing field’ in pubs and supermarkets duty

The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) is calling on the Government to overhaul the alcohol excise duty system and introduce new measures that would create a differential between alcohol sold in pubs and supermarkets.

Vaccine passports halve late-night sales in Scotland

Domaine Bousquet commits to UK bottling to reduce carbon emissions

Argentinian organic winery, Domaine Bousquet, has committed to bottling in the UK in a bid to ‘substantially’ reduce its carbon emissions.

Aperol supremacy continues to drive UK growth for Campari

The UK has been trading positively showing a “solid performance” with sales up 42.5% for the first nine months of 2021, Campari Group has revealed.

Over 100 vinous gems take centre stage at inaugural Sud De France tasting

Over 100 wines, including Armagnac, from the southern French Region of Occitanie, will be showcased at a wine tasting in London this month, focusing in the region's litte-known wines. 

Goedhuis & Co Fine Wine Merchants launches Ox Hardy in the UK

Goedhuis & Co Fine Wine Merchants is to become the exclusive importer of the Ox Hardy range, launching it for the first time to the UK market.

Delivery and takeaway sales not compromising consumers’ out of home spending

Delivery and takeaway are still booming having become a “crucial part of restaurant and pub operations”, the latest edition of the CGA & Slerp Hospitality at Home Tracker, which covers the month of September, has said. Encouragingly, this is not compromising consumers’ out of home spending, which is also on the rise and recovering post-pandemic.

Aldi launches premium Winemasters’ Lot wines for festive season

Aldi is introducing a ‘super premium’ wine range, Winemasters’ Lot, in time for the festive season, to complement and build on their Specially Selected selection. The wines will be available from 8 November, available in stores and online.

Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting to be hosted by Tim Atkin MW

Tim Atkin MW and Harpers columnist is to host his annual Ribera del Duero Top 100 Tasting, which will showcase the best wines from the region in 2021.

Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino three new Caballeros

Three new Caballeros have been invested into the Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino (GOVC).

Over 200 hospitality bosses join call to keep VAT at 12.5%

Over 200 hospitality CEOs have signed a letter urging the Chancellor Rishi Sunak to permanently keep VAT at 12.5%.

Indigo Wine adds new producers to portfolio

Indigo Wine is adding a range of new producers to its portfolio, spanning some of the wine world’s most distant regions.

Symington Family Estates launches new ‘School of Port’ series

Symington Family Estates has launched a new video course ‘School of Port’, an online video course about port and the Douro.

Long read: Top tips for a roaring recovery

All businesses were hit hard by the pandemic, though arguably none more so than the hospitality industry. Having worked with hundreds of bars, cafes, wineries, breweries, distilleries and cideries across the world, Erik Wolf, executive director of the World Food Travel Association, takes us through his top tips on how beverage business managers and owners can super-charge their post-pandemic recovery.

WSET takes a new approach to events via training hub

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is launching the WSET Events Hub, which will offer virtual events, as part of a new trade and consumer events strategy.