Global sales of Rioja wine grow by 5m bottles in 2014

Global sales of Rioja wine grew by 5 million bottles in 2014, hitting a new record of 281 million litres of wine, driven by a thirst for barrel-aged Rioja wines and whites.

Felix Solis UK toasts sales rise of 28% in first year as standalone firm

The UK arm of Spanish wine company Felix Solis is toasting a cracking first year as a standalone company as its sales have soared 28% in the last 12 months.

Rioja wines plan to boost premium sales as value soars 10% in UK

Rioja wines soared 10% by value in the UK in 2014, and the region now plans to boost its premium position with campaigns targeting the on-trade and independent sector.

Spain's wine exports jumped by 380m litres but revenues plummeted

Spain exported almost 380 million litres more wine in the first 11 months of 2014, but its revenues were down €93 million, as prices took a nose dive by 31 cents per litre.

Rioja's José Madrazo Real de Asúa has died

One of Rioja's pioneers, José Madrazo Real de Asúa, of the Spanish winery CVNE, has died.

Alliance Wine buys Rhone to Rioja importer

Alliance Wine has bought specialist wine importer Rhone to Rioja, adding seven new Spanish agencies to its portfolio.

Major wine retailers boast mixed fortunes over Christmas

Majestic Wine saw sales creep up 1.1% over a "difficult Christmas" while Waitrose celebrated a bumper 15.4% increase in BWS sales over the same period last year.

Justin Keay gets over his prejudices to delight in wines from Mallorca

Codorniu continues search for UK chief

Spanish wine company Codorniu Raventos is still on the look-out for a UK managing director, after senior Diageo wine executive John Hearn failed to take up the post.

Cava brand says 'we are not Champagne, we are Codorniu' in new ad campaign

Cava producer Codorníu has launched a global ad campaign which emphasises the brand's suitability for all occasions and its differences to Champagne - "we're not big on formalities, we prefer hugs and kisses" - in time for Christmas.

Spanish wines fastest growing in UK bars and restaurants

Spanish wines are the fastest growing in the UK on-trade - listings are up 25% in the last year - at the expense of French wines, whose listings have fallen by 11%.

Geoffrey Dean on how wine tourism has taken off in Catalonia

If New World countries were the forerunners in promoting wine tourism, it has taken some Old World heavyweights much longer to embrace the concept. Spain was slow off the mark, notably Catalonia, but from a standing start 10 years ago, the Catalans have finally woken up to the value of wine tourists. And the punters are coming in big numbers - an estimated 750,000 a year, with Torres' Penedes headquarters alone attracting 120,000 visitors.

González Byass invests €2.5m in sustainability

Spanish sherrymaker and wine firm González Byass is investing €2.5 million in a new sustainability programme over the next three years.

Top wine brands choose Vente Privee as new route to market

Top name wine producers are using flash sales site Vente Privée to attract new consumers to their brands in the UK.

Xavier Gramona: why he is committed to Cava and putting quality first

Established in 1921 at the heart of Cava's homeland in Sant Sadurni D'Anoia, Gramona has long held the status of the region's finest sparkling winemaker. Driven by the belief that top class Cava - both in price and quality - can compete with world class Champagne, Gramona practices extended lees ageing for its wines, in contrast to the industry norms. The house also now closely observes the Champagneois culture of late disgorgement, having released a Bollinger-esq R.D 14 year old Cava at €125 a bottle this year.

Bulk wine market sluggish as 2014 harvest ends, says Ciatti

As the 2014 harvest draws to a close, the bulk wine market remains sluggish, with plentiful stocks available in most markets, says the latest report from Ciatti. 

Ports, sherries and fortifieds get ready for Christmas

The tapas craze helped boost sherry sales temporarily but the category is now in decline, and Port is still struggling to shake its fusty and festive image. Gemma McKenna and Erin Smith look at how fortified wines can carve a niche

Codorníu Raventós appoints senior Percy Fox exec to head UK business

John Hearn, global commercial director for Diageo's wine arm Percy Fox, is to become the new managing director of Codorníu Raventós in the UK.

Pablo Alvarez, Vega Sicilia, on the global opportunity for Ribera del Duero wines

Vega Sicilia was established in 1859, although its modern history began with the property's purchase by the Alvarez family in 1982, who acquired the estate as joint shareholders. Patriarch David Alvarez subsequently appointed his son Pablo as managing director of the property. Since the mid-1980s, Pablo Alvarez has ensured that Vega Sicilia remains Ribera Del Duero's most renowned and prestigious wine, for sale in over 25 markets. With Alvarez's careful direction, the property has managed to overcome both the Spanish economic crisis and endure a family feud over the future of the estate, in addition to investing in the regions of Rioja and Toro. James Lawrence reports:

Ribera del Duero should shun powerful wines for more classic style says Pingus founder

The biggest threat to the future of wines from the Ribera Del Duero is consumers turning their back on the signature ripe and powerful style of the region, according to Pingus founder Peter Sisseck.