Joe Wadsack: my take on Marks & Spencer's new East Mediterranean wine range

Lemonia, the most family-friendly, plate-smashy, authentic Greek restaurant in all of London was the venue for Marks & Spencer's latest press tasting on Friday.

First Drinks launches £2 million Green Mark vodka campaign

First Drinks has launched a £2 million marketing programme for the Russian vodka Green Mark, which joined its portfolio earlier this year.

Sainsbury's own label wine range performing strongly

Sainsbury's own-label wine range has grown by 13% in the last year, with its Taste the Difference leading the field, up 34%.

Harpers Awards finalists revealed

The runners and riders for the inaugural Harpers Awards include leading players from the national and independent on and off-trade sectors, as well as major wine and spirits suppliers and distributors.

Indie merchants shortlisted for awards

Independent merchants from across the country are in the running to win a series of accolades at the inaugural Harpers Awards, taking place at London's Honourable Artillery Company on May 22.

Drinks trade makes the Rich List

The drinks trade secured around a dozen spots in the Sunday Times' Rich List 2012, published yesterday.

Oddbins matches London's mayoral candidates with wines

Oddbins, the 35-strong high street wine retailer, has selected seven wines that "sum up" each of the mayoral candidates.

D&D Wines enters administration

D&D Wines International has gone into adminstration.

Vintage Seekers launches wine and spirits site, Shop by Celebration

Vintage Seekers, an online site aimed at the luxury market has launched 'Shop by Celebration' a curated collection of wines and spirits to celebrate anniversary years.

Struggling drinks firms should seek help early

Drinks firms shouldn't wait until they're in distress before seeking help in the form of financial support, one expert has said.

Oddbins' creditors left hanging

Oddbins creditors still haven't got any money back after the company went into administration and, while "preferential" suppliers will recover all monies owed, unsecured creditors will get just 1p in the £1 back, a creditors' report has revealed.

Les Vignobles de Foncalieu - coup for co-op

Southern French co-operative Les Vignobles de Foncalieu is witnessing a move to their own branded wines, above own label.

Kumala targets busy consumers in off-trade campaign

Kumala is launching a consumer campaign targeting busy people by offering a chance to win a year's worth of help around the house.

Retailers' own labels overtaking branded wines

It's a "scary" time for wine brands as supermarkets' own versions are leaving them out in the cold, say experts.

Meet the buyers: Tesco

Gallo's 'summer red' wins Sainsbury's Product Launch 2011

Gallo Family Vineyards Summer Red has been named Sainsbury's Product Launch of the Year 2011, at its BWS supplier conference.

Sainsbury's loses another BWS buyer

Another Sainsbury's wine buyer is leaving the BWS team - making it the third person to move on since December.

Wine Rack launches online trading

The launch of online trading for Wine Rack has taken off "quicker than expected", according to its chairman Laki Christoforou.

LIVE Budget 2012: Trade reaction

The Chancellor pulled no punches in delivering his Budget today - the alcohol duty escalator will continue. But what has the trade got to say about it? Read our live updates.

David Longford: the undiscovered world of Cognac, cocktails and women

Imagine, a woman - let's say between the ages of 22 and 63 - walks into a cocktail bar, somewhere in the world. She's had a long, hard day bashing away at the glass ceiling at the law firm/pension provider/bank where she works, and she just wants to sit at the bar and forget it all for a while, before heading home to her version of domestic bliss.