March for Independents: new online and EU labelling regulations for merchants

There is a whole raft of legislation that retailers need to be on top to make sure they are on top what are termed as "distance sales", wine lawyer Andrew Park advises.   

'Painful moment' for Argentina's wine exporters, says Rabobank

Argentina's wine exporters are having a "painful moment" as fast-rising inflation rates make it unprofitable to ship goods, says Rabobank.

Education franchise Local Wine School grows turnover 42%

The UK-wide Local Wine School network has seen turnover grow 42% to £1.26 million in 2014, as seven new franchises opened.

South Africa brings in earliest wine harvest in over 20 years

South Africa is reporting its earliest harvest of the millennium, with leading Swartland producer, Adi Badenhorst, having finished picking all his fruit by Valentine's Day.

Cape Wine 2015 auction raises over R10.5m

The 2015 AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction raised R10.565 million for education in the Cape Winelands, up 50% on last year.

Pernod Ricard shakes up Havana Club rum's look and recipe

March for Independents: keep on top of waste packaging and avoid big fines

Today as part of the March for the Independents campaign we turn the spotlight on waste packaging. Not the most glamorous of topics but if you are an independent wine merchant, importing or distributing wine then you need to make sure you are compliant with your recycling oblilgations or risk potentially crippling fines.

Sales up 5% at Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres

Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres, which also produces wines in Chile and California, has seen its sales grow 5% to €240 million in 2014.

Wine sales rocket 20% to €44m at Vente-Privee

Wine sales rocketed in 2014 at flash sales site Vente-Privée, which is celebrating a 20% increase in wine turnover to €44 million, as it ramps up its UK focus with the appointment of a new managing director. 

Tim Atkin takes the Vinopolis stage for Skin Côntact Comic Relief gig

Anyone in the wine trade who has been on the receiving end of a review by wine critic and journalist Tim Atkin MW - good or bad - will get the chance to give him a critique back when he bravely takes the stage as one of the guest singers for the ever growing Skin Côntact band when it plays its one off gig on March 9 to raise money for Comic Relief.

UK wine industry backs calls for alcohol duty cut

The UK's growing wine industry has called for the Chancellor to cut the high rate of alcohol duty rate by 2% in the upcoming Budget.

Vinoteca's Kings Cross site to open in March

Vinoteca's fifth site, this time at the One Pancras Square development in Kings Cross, is getting ready to open its doors as head chef Kieren Steinborn joins the team.

Yealands relaunches Hawke's Bay Crossroads with Enotria

Yealands Wine Group is moving is its Hawke's Bay Crossroads wines to Enotria from Mentzendorff to streamline UK distribution.

March for Independents campaign keeps merchants on right side of the law

Today Harpers starts its third Action Week initiative as part of its March for the Independents campaign with a focus on helping merchants keep on top of the latest changes in business, employment and drinks legislation.

French wine exports to the UK fall 10% by value in 2014

France's wine exports to the UK have fallen 10% by value in 2014, although British consumers still take in 12.2% of their neighbour's wines, making it the second biggest export market for France.

Bibendum sets aggressive integration target, but postpones move

Bibendum PLB has been working towards an aggressive six month integration target, but has decided to postpone plans to move to a new London location at least for the short term.

Global sales of Rioja wine grow by 5m bottles in 2014

Global sales of Rioja wine grew by 5 million bottles in 2014, hitting a new record of 281 million litres of wine, driven by a thirst for barrel-aged Rioja wines and whites.

Armit Wines boosts Tuscan portfolio with Fattoria Le Pupille

Armit Wines, UK distributor for a host of Italy's icon wines, has added southern Tuscany's Fattoria Le Pupille to its portfolio.

Damien Wilson named faculty chair for Sonoma State University's wine business programme

Dr Damien Wilson has been named as the first head for the newly-created role of the Hamel family faculty chair for the Wine Business Institute at Sonoma State University and is expected to start in August 2015.

Joe Wadsack shares his musical likes as Skin Contact's Comic Relief gig is selling fast

We've met the band, the backing singers and plugged the concert enough to surely convince you to buy a ticket for wine band Skin Côntact's one-off concert on March 9 at London's Vinopolis to raise money for Comic Relief.