Chile ramps up focus on innovation at London tasting

First time visitors to this year’s Wines of Chile annual tasting in London could be forgiven for thinking that this is a country in a permanent state of evolution, often operating at the fringes of established viticulture to drive a rolling agenda of innovation.

Guy Woodward: Wine is about people more than grapes

Rarely have I tried to recall an email as quickly as I did after notifying a female contact that it would be great if she could find time to meet up, as I’d heard how busty she was these days.

Harpers Design Awards 2023 open for entries

Submissions are now being invited for the 2023 edition of Harpers Design Awards, which is the leading competition of its kind in the UK market.

Spain now has confidence to ‘walk naked in the street’

Champions of Spain’s diversity articulate a wine scene that has for some time been generating excitement, revealing an increasingly compelling collective offer, with individuality, accessibility and sense of place to the fore. The country has been dubbed by some as the ‘New World of the Old’, in recognition of its ongoing innovation.

Innovation Report: The glass debate

Is glass creating a bottleneck in the drive to greater sustainability and can we change consumer perception of it as a strong indicator of quality? Andrew Catchpole reports back from Harpers’ recent Sustainability of Glass webinar.

Chile goes long on ‘personality’ at annual London tasting

If the annual Wines from Chile tasting yesterday (31 March) is a fair yardstick of where the country is at, then this is an industry now more Citroën DS than Volvo estate, with sometimes quirky but increasingly successful and captivating innovation to the fore.

Long Read: Is novel foods legislation stifling innovation in the beverage sector?

When the UK left the EU, some – including Richard Horwell, owner of specialist food and drink marketing and branding company Brand Relations – hoped novel foods regulations would be overhauled in order to facilitate drinks innovation. Sadly, he says, we are still some way behind.

Quintessential Brands unveils 'industry-first' Spirit Centre

International spirits business Quintessential Brands has launched a first-of-its-kind Spirit Centre, designed to “take customer collaboration to new heights to drive better, insight-driven innovation within spirits”.

Chile's old vine renaissance

Evolution in motion

The growing no/low-alcohol cocktail category has seen some serious innovation as bars and consumers seek more substance in their drinks. Clinton Cawood reports on the latest trends

'Experience-first' reopening: How hospitality came back with a bang

Since July’s fuller reopening of the on-trade, UK venues are determined to come back with a bang in order to coax punters away from well-stocked home bars. Jo Gilbert takes flight into the new world of ‘experience first’ hospitality

Domaine Lafage unveils sparkling rosé fermented with beer yeast

Roussillon producer Domaine Lafage has launched a sparkling rosé in the UK, marking the first such wine to emerge from the French region, according to the producer.

Innovation Report: Building strength in numbers

Our Collaboration as a Force for Change webinar looked at how the rapid channel innovation of the past year has broken down barriers for trade. Jo Gilbert reports from the session.

Technology key focus for investment and innovation

Technology is set to be a key focus for investment and innovation as hospitality opens up again, according to the latest CGA’s Business Leaders’ Survey. 

Tech & Innovation: Lightbulb moments from the US

As famous for its wines as it is for entrepreneurial spirit and world-beating technology, it’s no surprise that innovation continues to come thick and fast from across the pond. From everyman investment platforms to robotic wine management systems and AI wine matching services, Jo Gilbert rounds up what’s new out of the US.

Innovation showcase

James Lawrence rounds up the biggest launches from a tumultuous, yet ever-creative, year

Talking team QB

Insight and innovation are threaded through Quintessential Brands’ DNA. Andrew Catchpole catches up with James Lousada and Neil Anderson to find out more

Kingsland offshoot to focus on ‘amazing opportunities’ for innovation

The levels of innovation witnessed so far in the spirits world are only a beginning, according to Becky Davies, who is heading up the new Kingsland Drinks’ spirits subsidiary that was unveiled earlier this week.

AI proving ‘most exciting catalyser’ of wine innovation

The advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) software is by far the most exciting catalyser of innovation in the wine industry, according to speakers at an Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) webinar held yesterday (17 June).

In spitting distance of Covid-19

At the onset of the ongoing global pandemic, traditional on-trade channels saw sales fall to zero overnight. But what about the wider drinks trade and the interactions within it? Jo Gilbert asks if it's time to reassess tried – and maybe tired – formulas?