Stylishly Miopasso

Stefano Girelli's "The Wine People" has launched two new southern Italian wines in its Miopasso range (rrp £8.99).

VK revamp for 2012

Global Brands has redesigned its VK range to a slimline look as the company gears up for further marketing exposure in 2012.

It's Funkin festive

Capitalising on the on-trade festive cocktail market is Funkin with its Christmas Cocktail Starter Pack, (rtp £99.99).

Harpers Design Awards 2012

Design is a key element for brand development and awareness. If you have recently re-designed or launched your drinks brand or you are a design agency representing a great product, enter the Harpers Wine & Spirit Design Awards and gain the recognition you deserve.

What a corker - Riorret The Abbey

De Bortoli's Riorret The Abbey (rrp £22.99), "terrior" backwards represents De Bortoli Wine's desire to make wines that reflect a sense of place.

Alain Grignon launches Angely Minervois

Diminutive Daas

Small but beautiful is Daas (rrp £2.49), the new diminutive range of premium, organic & handmade artisan craft beers.

Yohann Jousselin, The Vineyard at Stockcross

The sommelier's view

Ronan Sayburn MS, Hotel du Vin

The director's view

Gerard Basset MW MS OBE, Hotel Terra Vina

The hotel owner's view

Fred Sirieix, Galvin at Windows

The general manager's view

Doug Wregg, Les Caves de Pyrene

The on-trade supplier's view

Monty Waldin

The biodynamic winemaker's view

It's a No. 3 for me

Winner of the 'Best Overall Product' at the Harpers Design Awards 2011, No. 3 London Dry Gin, (rrp £33.65) owned by Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits and distributed by Maxxium UK has found itself on the shelves at Waitrose with immediate effect.

Hats off to Mandarine Napoleon

Since De Kuyper acquired Mandarine Napoleon, the Dutch marketing team have been plotting a strategy to reassert the prestige and heritage of its premium mandarin orange liqueur.

Paul Schaafsma, European Sales and Marketing Director of Australian Vintage

McGuigan is the fastest growing global wine brand in the UK top 20 despite a 9% increase in its shelf price. McGuigan has experiencing 62% sales growth in the past 12 months with its sales now topping £65M. How?

Robin Copestick, co-founder of Copestick Murray

Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. So said Churchill, and I think he was right.

Nick Mantella, Managing Director, Grupo Codorniu UK

For many the UK may appear a daunting prospect with other markets looking more attractive.  However, challenging as it appears today, it always has been competitive; there has never been an "easy" time!  We are, and always have been, a small fiercely competitive "island" market with everyone out to get a slice of the action and make a margin.  Competitors are all in the same boat, same economic circumstances, duty, taxation, exchange rates and customer potential.

Justin Howard-Sneyd, Global wine buyer, Direct Wines

What are we all doing buzzing around like blue-arsed flies, madly trying to do more and more with less and less? Are we going down the wrong road?

Jeremy Beadles, Chief Executive, Wine & Spirit Trade Association

Set against a backdrop of tax increases and squeezed household budgets the obvious major challenge facing the wine and spirits sector is how to flourish in today's tough economic environment.