Sparkling wine premium could be scrapped in alcohol duty overhaul

Reports from the national press suggest that the premium on sparkling wine duty could be scrapped by chancellor Rishi Sunak in the upcoming Autumn Budget in a move which could bring sparkling wine duty in line with still.

Q&A: Laurent Fresnet Cellar Master, Mumm

In partnership with Champagne Mumm

New double bill sparkling launch for Graham Beck

South Africa’s leading sparkling wine brand in the UK market Graham Beck has launched a new ‘double bill’ named Yin & Yang, as part of its artisan collection.

Prestige fizz holds its own

Covid may have zapped the fizz out of celebratory occasions, but top Champagne sales are bouncing back. David Kermode reports

Yapp Brothers adds English sparkling wine brand to its portfolio

Busi Jacobsohn, a sparkling wine producer based in east Sussex, has become the newest agency in the Yapp Bros portfolio.

English wine pushing for success

The pandemic has been a catalyst for sales of English and Welsh wine at home and abroad, accelerating a sector that was already on its way to great things. How to keep up momentum is the question, writes Jo Gilbert. 

Champagne sets an available yield of 10,000kg of grapes per ha

The Comité Champagne’s executive board has decreed an available yield of 10,000kg of grapes per hectare (ha) for this year’s harvest.

Martini on track to become certified sustainable

Martini has announced that all its Asti grape suppliers are on track to becoming certified sustainable in 2021.

Chapel Down raises 90% of funding goal

Chapel Down has raised more than 90%, or £6.3m, of its funding goal in just over three weeks, with more than 3,600 investors joining it so far. 

English Wine Week anticipation ramps up with Hattingley limited run

Hattingley Valley has announced the release of two new small batch wines in celebration of English Wine Week (EWW) – just one of many celebrations and promotional activities which are due to begin this Saturday.

Les Riceys Champagne growers launch UK campaign

A group of récoltant-manipulant producers from Les Riceys in Champagne have come together to market and promote their appellation and wines in the UK. 

Former I Heart bods launch own wine business

Two former senior members of Freixenet Copestick’s I Heart team have joined forces to launch their own mainstream wine brand.

Prosecco partners with Eataly

Consorzio of Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has partnered with Italian gourmet superstore Eataly.

Five minutes with Kit Ellen, Exton Park

Kit Ellen, MD at Hampshire’s Exton Park, distributed in the UK by Bancroft Wines, talks to Jo Gilbert about the winery’s intriguing shift in focus to ‘reserve blends’, a new standard-bearer for the wines based on its 10-year library of reserves.

James Davis MW joins Henkell Freixenet

James Davis MW will be joining the Henkell Freixenet team in a newly created role from the first week of July.

The life aquatic for English wine

Cavas de Guarda Superior to be 100% organic by 2025

The Consejo Regulador de la Denominación de Origen Protegida Cava (DO Cava) has announced that the production of Cavas de Guarda Superior will be 100% organic by 2025. 

Q&A: Charlie Holland, Gusbourne

From the ‘baptism of fire’ of his first, unexpected vintage in Australia, to heading up one of England’s top wine estates, Charlie Holland, head winemaker and CEO at Gusbourne, fills Andrew Catchpole in on the story so far.

Bollinger acquires Ponzi Vineyards

The Bollinger family, owners of Champagne Bollinger and four other French estates, has announced it is acquiring Oregon’s Ponzi Vineyards.

Ruinart dedicates historic vineyard to biodiversity project

LVMH brand Champagne Ruinart is furthering its commitment to nurturing biodiversity in the Champagne region by switching over its 40ha historic Taissy vineyard to a biodiversity pilot project in tandem with Reforest’Action.