Wine must adapt its branding for China or face failure

Wine firms that do not adapt their brands for the Chinese market - such as by having a Chinese brand name - face "immediate disadvantage" and possible failure.

Bloom gin launches upmarket rose lemonade RTD

Bloom gin is expanding its range of upmarket ready-to-serve drinks with its gin and rose lemonade - presented in an old-fashioned glass bottle.

Scotch whisky The Macallan gets green light for £100m distillery

Edrington's The Macallan whisky brand is to get a new £100 million distillery and visitor centre in Speyside, after Moray Council granted planning permission.

New Zealand's Mission estate eyes UK growth

New Zealand's Mission Estate is targeting UK growth in the independent and on-trade sectors with the appointment of its first UK business development manager.

Italy's Franciacorta wines double sales to UK

Sales of Italy's Franciacorta wines in the UK have doubled in the first six months of 2014 thanks to growing market awareness.

Jean-Claude Mas on how he has helped build a global French wine brand

Panos Sarantopoulos takes charge of Rémy Cointreau's liqueurs and spirits division

Panos Sarantopoulos has been promoted to chief executive of Rémy Cointreau's liqueurs and spirits division after a successful time headling up Metaxa, the company's Greek spirit business.

Origin Wine's Stormhoek Stack launches in UK

Put your football knowledge to the test in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League

So do you think your football? Your Christmas Tree formation over your 4-4-2? Know what "running between the lines" actually means? Well why not put those skills to the test and take part in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League - oh and raise some money for the drinks charity along the way.

House of Lords calls for drinks industry's advice on next EU Alcohol Strategy

The drinks industry has been invited by the House of Lords to send in its suggestions for what the next European Union Alcohol Strategy should look like.

Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque expands to 18 members with three new recruits

Three new rums have been granted approval to carry the Authentic Caribbean Rum (ACR) Marque as the initiative widens its portfolio and presence in its key international markets including the UK.

London Cru forced to name its wines Thunderbirds-style as wines 1, 2 and 3

London Cru, the capital's first urban winery, may have succeeded in shipping grapes from Europe to make wine in the UK, but it has had more difficulty with the bureaucrats in what it can now call them.

WSTA conference to focus on engaging consumers

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's annual conference will focus on the role branding, innovation and digital communications play in engaging with consumers in today's wine and spirits world.

Diageo results: sales and profits slide but western Europe stabilises

Diageo released is year-end financial results ending on 30 June 2014 and show that net sales declined and operating profits took a big hit for the 2014 fiscal year.

Rie Yoshitake on promoting sake around the world with the IWC

Anna Greenhous talks to Rie Yoshitake, UK representative of the Sake Samurai Association, about how the IWC sake category came about, its impact and success in promoting sake across the world.

Major wine companies should not pin their futures on China, warns Krug chief

The wine world needs to let go of its obsession with China, and stop believing that the market can solve all its problems, according to Margareth Henriquez., chief executive of Krug, the top branded Champagne house.

CYT signs Premiership rugby sponsorship deal for Trivento Argentinian wine

Trivento, the Concha y Toro Argentinian wine brand, has signed the first wine sponsorship deal with Premiership Rugby which will see its wines promoted across all grounds and coverage during the 2014-2015 season.

Oxford Wine Company signs deal to be exclusive UK importer of Downton Abbey wines

Ted Sandbach of the Oxford Wine Company has become the exclusive UK importer for a special Downton Abbey range of wines, created by French producer, Les Grands Chais de France.

Brown-Forman celebrates 2014 as one of the most successful years in its 144-year history

Brown-Forman shareholders celebrated yesterday the success of its 2014 financial results which it said was "one of the company's most successful years in its 144- year history."

Prosecco producer Bisol reveals plans to launch new Venetian wine

Bisol, the leading Italian Prosecoo producer, is to release a Venissa red in 2014, accroding to Matteo Bisol, the director of the family's Venissa tourism project on the Venetian island of Mazzorbo.