Castello Banfi cleared in wine fraud investigation

Magistrates in Sienna have cleared and released from impoundment almost the entire production of Castello Banfi's Brunello di Montalcino 2003, following an investigation into commercial fraud regarding grape blending.

Wines in the Press: From old wines to sweet wines

Pub in the Park gets government backing

The recently launched Pub in the Park initiative has received the support and backing of the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

Weekend round-up: Crisis hit pubs set for council tax bail out

A round-up of stories from the weekend newspapers.

Drinkaware launches £1 million ad campaign

The Drinkaware Trust is ploughing £1 million into an ad campaign designed to raise awareness of home drinking habits.

Diageo ups ad spend on Smirnoff Black

Diageo is upping its marketing spend on Smirnoff Black by 80% in a bid to align the brand with the 'modern day gentlemen'.

Stock Spirits Group appoints Keenan as non-executive chairman

Stock Spirits Group has appointed Jack Keenan as non-executive chairman.

Carlsberg appoints new UK CEO

Carlsberg UK has appointed Isaac Sheps as its new CEO.

Harpers Wine & Spirit Directory

The Harpers Directory is currently being radically re-developed and will be available soon in greater detail than ever before.

MP drops bid for 125ml wine measure

A Liberal Democrat MP is dropping his bid to make bars and restaurants sell wine in smaller glasses, saying ministers have since indicated they will back the plans. Text A Liberal Democrat MP is dropping his bid to make bars and restaurants sell wine in smaller glasses, saying ministers have since indicated they will back the plans.

VC Family Estates makes major Argentine investment

Viñedos Corpora Family Estates (VC Family Estates) has invested $15 million (£8.7 million) in vineyards in Patagonia as part of its drive to produce "exceptional" malbecs and pinot noirs.

Wine drinkers "penalised" for ordering smaller measures

Research by the Evening Standard newspaper concludes that drinkers are being penalised by pubs and bars when they order a small glass of wine.

Harpers steps up "facts" campaign

Harpers is today stepping up its "Alcohol: Know Your Facts" campaign by sending letters to the Prime Minister, Chancellor of the Exchequer and other key government ministers and Whitehall departments calling on them to take on board the real facts about drinking levels in the UK. Text

CAMRA takes full pint petition to PM

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has visited 10 Downing Street to hand in a petition calling for an end to short beer measures in pubs and other licensed premises.

Vladivar launches £1 million ad campaign to promote new look

Vladivar vodka has revealed a £1 million advertising campaign themed around responsible drinking.

400 wines go on display at French fair

Nearly 400 wines from over 80 producers went on display at the Autumn Exclusive French Wines Fair in London last week.

Wine fraud 'worth' £300 million

Wine fraud has cost unwitting investors around the world up to £300 million in recent years.

Bushmills campaign remembers its roots

Irish whisky brand Bushmills has launched an on and off-trade promotion to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the original licence to distil whisky in the Bushmills area.

InBev "categorically denies" launch of stronger Stella

InBev has issued a statement categorically denying that it is to release a higher ABV variant of Stella Artois.

Diageo holds on to profit target despite downturn

Diageo is holding onto its full year profit target of between 7% and 9%, despite the financial crisis. TextDiageo is holding onto its full year profit target of between 7% and 9%, despite the financial crisis.

The drinks giant, which produces Smirnoff vodka, Johnnie Walker whisky and Guinness said organic net sales growth in the three months ended 30 September 2008 was 6%.

Chief executive Paul Walsh said that Diageo had delivered a "good trading performance" in its first quarter, which ran from July to September, despite anticipated global GDP growth slowing.

Walsh said the company has not seen significant adverse changes in its markets over the past three months, but said that it will be "alert to the impact the recent dislocation in the financial markets is likely to have on trade customer and consumer behaviour during the rest of the financial year."

In August, Diageo reported a lower than expected 7% rise in sales for the year ending June 2008 and a small drop in pre-tax profit to £2.095 billion, but said that operating profit had improved 9% to £2.23bn.