Welcome to the future

The July 11 issue of this magazine contained two disassociated snippets of information regarding Australian wine, which have long occupied my own thoughts (in my soon-to-be-published book, The Great Wine Swindle, I speculate on the implications in greater depth).

Hats off to the English!

Considering the summer we have just had, it is hard to get your head around the concept of the British climate beginning to ape that of Champagne 25 years ago.

Credit crunch... what credit crunch?

Can a bottle of whisky really be worth £2,500? I have to say I was staggered by the news that Bowmore Distillery is releasing a limited edition bottle that will retail for that much.

Observations from a novice: Week 2: Why?

So, as a communications professional having just finished a stint as a humanitarian worker in West Africa and returning to the UK to have a brief liaison as a banker, what got me and my Lebanese businessman husband into wine, I vaguely hear you ask?

The Government and industry must work together to tackle alcohol misuse

In the recent discussion paper 'Changing Scotland's Relationship With Alcohol', the Scottish government proposed a number of initiatives to tackle alcohol misuse including introducing the minimum retail pricing of alcohol, raising the minimum purchase age to 21 in off-sales, and action to end below-cost selling of alcoholic drinks in licensed premises.

Suppliers flex their muscles

Two of the drinks world's superpowers flexed their corporate strength this week to remind everyone in the sector of the breadth, range and importance they hold over branded drinks in this country.

Observations from a novice: Week 1: Introduction

I think we've all had enough of the terms 'credit crunch', 'downturn' and 'recession'. Little did many of us realise that the Olympics would be not only an iconic sporting event, but a blessed relief from the gloom and doom predicted (rightly or wrongly) on the breakfast news economics review.

Rosé lessons for wine trade

The tidal wave of gloomy economic news, fuelled by the Chancellor himself in the spirit of openand honest government, surely cannot diminish the optimism of rosé wine producers.

Is the price right?

£6.99 is enough to buy a bottle of decent plonk. Anything more expensive is about personal taste, and anything less is probably dodgy (unless you know what you're doing). This is according to the findings of a group of leading wine connoisseurs from around the world anyway.

Co-op loads work on buyer

The recent sale of my ex-employers, Somerfield, to the Co-op, brought to my mind thoughts of the additional work and pressure that the buyers from both organisations are now under. Leaving aside the major concerns of job losses and redundancies, the workload for the already overworked buyer intensifies further.

The hospitality industry needs an image overhaul

Hospitality is a great industry to work in - it's people-based, fast-moving and offers employees the chance to progress quickly.

We must all add value

Those returning to these shores after an August break will find not too much has changed. Barak Obama is back on the front pages, football has replaced the Olympics has the main sporting debate of the nation and the weather is as dark and gloomy as when you left.

August loses its fizz

What's the link between low sales of champagne and a luxury cooking appliance? The answer is that the former is being used to push sales of the latter.

Caught up in Olympic fever?

I've seen many surveys and polls bandying about over the past few days post-Olympics. Are us Brits excited to be hosting 2012? Will we all take up swimming or cycling after team GB's massive success in these sports? (Apparently yes - according to Tesco, its sales of swimsuits and goggles have increased by 135% and sales of bicycles have risen by 130%).

We don't recommend you appreciate alcohol in this way...

I've just been doing my lunchtime scud around the national newspapers, having a look at what's going on in the world, and I came across a piece in the Guardian that, quite honestly, put me right off my sandwich.

Potato for a pint, anyone?

It's not so much a case of the credit crunch as it is the credit munch down at the Pigs pub in Norfolk, where drinkers can exchange their home grown produce in return for free pints. And it sounds as if the idea is proving to be a win win situation - cash strapped locals are swapping their potatoes for pints, and the pub is gaining an excreasingly 'exotic' menu for its resaurant.

Nature knows best

I've never been a follower of fashion. When I decided to produce my own wine from the vineyards I acquired in the Loire Valley, I wanted it to be as natural a process as possible. Through my connections in Australia, I was keen to experience the planning, thought and realisation of a new winery.

A big hello from your new editor

Hello,

It's all change here, what with the launch of the brand new TalkingDrinks.com website in place of the old Harpers one. And now, not only do you have a completely revamped website with a whole bunch of new features to play with, you also have a new editor to look after it for you too!

Public tired of celebrities

You can't open a magazine or newspaper at the minute without a picture of some celebrity popping up in an exotic location supping on an expensive cocktail or knocking back the Champagne.

Could the credit crunch prove a boon for bag-in-box?

Consumers are becoming more interested in clever packaging.

Wine packaged into bag-in-box (BIB) containers has been one of the fastest-growing segments of the wine market.