Record breaking auction was only one highlight of Napa's "Premiere Week"

Last week's Premiere Napa Valley barrel tasting and live auction, held at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in Saint Helena, set the stage for bidding on a unique and highly-selective range of the appellation's finest wines resulting in a new record of $6 million USD in fundraising for local charities.

IGNORE (DUPLICATE)

Diageo is launching a 'smart bottle' that will enable it to send personalised marketing message to its consumers after purchase.

Diageo harnesses mobile technology with new 'smart' whisky bottle

Diageo is launching a 'smart bottle' that will enable it to send personalised marketing message to its consumers after purchase.

WSTA's Call Time on Duty campaign wins major PR award

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's Call Time On Duty campaign, which helped see the end of the duty escalator on wine and spirits in last year's Budget, has won a prestigious national public relations award.

How to drive a wine brand in the UK on-trade by Wine Business Solutions

Peter McAtamney, principal at research body, Wine Business Solutions, gives his personal assessment on how best to drive and build a wine brand in the UK on-trade with a particular nod to Kleine Zalze, which has been named number one South African brand in its latest 2014 Wine On-Premise report,and Matthew Clark which is reaping the rewards of an astute wine listing strategy

Cîroc vodka is first alcohol brand to launch Instagram advertisements

C&icircroc vodka is set to be the first alcohol brand to launch paid for advertising on Instagram, as it kicks off a six week campaign today.

Treasury Wine says progress is being made, despite profits tumbling nearly 60%

Treasury Wine Estates has seen profits tumble nearly 60% - but boss Michael Clarke insists the company is making progress in "resetting" the troubled business.

Gallo targets new wine drinkers with its first fruit and low-alcohol wine ranges

American wine giant, E& J Gallo, is continuing its drive to appeal to so-called millennial consumers, with the UK launch of a low-alcohol and a fruit wine range which are targeted at drinkers who are currently intimidated by wine but aspire to drink it.

March for Indies: Still time to get local MP and media on side and back duty campaign

Harpers is today repeating its calll out to independent wine merchants across the UK to lobby both their MP and local media to back the Drop the Duty campaign and invite both to their business so that they can hear their story for themselves.

Hunters of Helmsly named Best Small Shop in the UK

Hunters of Helmsley, the Yorkshire deli and fine wine merchants, is the 2015 winner of the Best Small Shop Competition.

Entries for Harpers Awards extended by a week to March 6

The deadline to enter the 2015 Harpers Awards has been extended by a weeek to March 6 to alllow extra time for the trade to collate their entries.

WSTA welcomes Home Office decision to scrap locally-set licensing fees

The WSTA has welcomed the government's decision to scrap proposals for locally set licensing fees.

TescoGate: Dan Jago to return to retailer following investigation

Dan Jago, who was suspended from his role as Tesco's director of wine, spirits and beer at the height of the fallout from the £263 million shortfall in the retailer's profits, is being reinstated and will return to the retailer in a new role on March 9.

Doctors call for the duty escalator to be reintroduced

Doctors and alcohol charities are calling on the government to reinstate the alcohol duty escalator in the Budget in March.

Now or never call by WSTA's Miles Beale for trade to back Drop the Duty campaign

With less than three weeks to go before the Budget, Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, has made an empassioned appeal to the industry to act now and get fully behind its campaign to persuade the Chancellor to cut alcohol duty by 2% in his March Budget.

Brazil wine sales quadruple on back of strong multiple support

Brazilian wine sales in the UK have more than quadrupled over the last year following strong support from multiple retailers.

Major trade figures urge whole industry to act now and back the Drop the Duty campaign

Senior trade figures are rallying around the Drop the Duty campaign and urging everyone in the sector to play their part and lobby their MP to call on the Chancellor to cut alcohol duty rates by 2% in the March Budget.

Conviviality Retail signs franchise deal for GT stores to push its c-store off-licence model

Conviviality Retail has signed a 10-year franchise agreement with award winning East Anglian-based convenience retailer, Jonathan James to run 35 franchise stores. 

Soul Tree exceeds crowdfunding target to boost its Indian wine business

Indian wine producer Soul Tree has raised more than £388,000 through crowdfunding, which it says will help it put Indian wines on the map.

Champagne Jayne supporters launch fundraising effort to pay legal fees