The corporate world is very fond of quoting an old adage: “Commerce hates noise.” Yet vodka brands cannot hide from the upheaval caused by Ukraine, rising inflation and post-pandemic behavioural shifts. With the political, economic, and social environment in a state of realignment, spirit brands have been presented with a unique set of opportunities, and threats, in 2022.
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Leading distributor Freixenet Copestick has welcomed a new agency into its portfolio: Bodega Navarro Correas.
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Scotland’s oldest wine merchant, which counted Sir Walter Scott, Charles Dickens, and King George IV among its customers, has been reinvigorated with new premises in Edinburgh’s New Town.
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Pernod Ricard has partnered with local communities in London and Scotland for the tenth edition of its Responsib’All Day – an initiative set up with the aim of helping to protect and restore biodiversity around the UK.
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Liberty Wines celebrated its 25th anniversary yesterday at its usual spot at the Oval Cricket Ground, where the event took a greatest hits approach to celebrate a quarter of a century in business.
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Who hasn’t had a love affair with Italian wines? It’s a rite of passage for any true wine lover. Before heading off to the extremes of Chile or the slopes of the Mosel or Douro, wine buffs tend to fall into the arms of Piedmont, Tuscany and Etna. With so much varietal and stylistic diversity, it’s easy to be carried away by the sheer breadth – and to be very promiscuous with – Italy’s array of choice.
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After a two-and-a-half-year break due to Covid, the Gonzalez Byass UK portfolio tasting returned yesterday at the Savoy Place, overlooking the Thames.
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Home to ‘creative and collaborative winemaking’, Liam Steevenson’s company Vineyard Productions takes a novel approach to its portfolio. Andrew Catchpole dropped by to discover more.
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Bancroft Wines has announced John Hutton will be joining as a consultant to its sales and buying teams. As the former MD and latterly chairman of Fields, Morris & Verdin, Hutton brings a wealth of industry experience to the growing Bancroft Team.
Jon Worsley Bancroft’s CEO commented: "It is great to strengthen the company with John’s considerable knowledge and expertise, we are delighted to have him on board at such an exciting time for our business".
Highlights will include the newly released 1975 vintage sherry and the latest Tio Pepe en Rama from GB, the 2021 range from Zind Humbrecht in Alsace and two new prestige cuvees from Champagne Deutz.
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The UK market for alternative formats was given a boost yesterday, following the launch of Wild Steps at the LWF.
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Paul Symington has been awarded a CMG (Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours List, published 2 June, for services to UK/Portugal relations and social, environmental sustainability in the Douro.
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Following the acquisition of Biondi-Santi in Montalcino in 2017, EPI is strengthening its presence in Italy with the addition of a leading Tuscan estate.
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Les Grands Chais de France (GCF) is continuing its international expansion programme with the recent acquisition of Viña Las Niñas in the Apalta region of Chile.
In addition to GCF’s 68 properties in France, the business has already extended its footprint in Europe with the purchase of Castillo de Aresan in Spain and Danubiana in Hungary.
Now GCF has made its first major international acquisition with Las Niñas, becoming an influential player in the Chilean wine industry. This move is part of GCF’s new strategic direction to expand its focus to that of a global wine producer with estates in premium wine regions around the world
As the latest Wine Drinkers UK communique suggests, taxing alcohol is set to cost the wine industry an estimated £300 million and push up prices for UK consumers, without bringing any significant boost to Treasury funds.
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Accolade Wines is launching an alcohol-free wine collection, bottled using new de-alcoholisation technology, designed to better preserve the texture and flavour of the wine.
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Wines of Germany is thrilled to be bringing back a live event, The Big G Trade Sessions, to help visitors get the most out of German wines.
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As Enotria & Coe celebrates a whirlwind 50 years, Jo Gilbert catches up with a mixture of longstanding and fresher faces to look at how the company has kept abreast of evolving trends.
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Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) has been invited to join Scotland’s new Zero Emission Truck Taskforce to recognise its ongoing work with members as part of its ‘Decarbonisation of the Wholesale Industry’ project.
The Taskforce comprises industry leaders from the road haulage, logistics, manufacturing, energy and finance sectors who will partner to identify and co-design creative and practical solutions to maximising opportunities. It will also tackle any hurdles about technology, charging infrastructure, costs, finance, and operator engagement in the transition to zero-emission trucks.
The new collaboration will set out the steps required to enable a swift transition to new technologies, identify where further development is needed, and explore new business models.
Over the past few months, importers Les Caves de Pyrene has been helping to relocate families fleeing from war-torn Ukraine and settle them in safe havens across Europe – especially in accommodation generously provided by their European winemaker friends.
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