First rum festival to launch in Manchester

Manchester is to host its first city-wide rum festival, run by event curator and drinks consultant, Dave Marsland, also known as the Drinks Enthusiast.

ADT 2017 promises focus on premiumisation and innovation

Premiumisation is the key trend being flagged at the annual Australia Day Tasting, later this month, with innovations such as diversifying grape varietals and sparkling reds also likely to prove talking points.

Koshu London wine tasting enters eighth year

Koshu of Japan has announced the date of its eighth annual London wine tasting.

Around the World in 80 Drinks: Review of The Thinking Drinkers

Watching Ben McFarland and Tom Sandham at last nights Around the World in 80 Drinks at the Museum of Comedy in Holborn, you might be forgiven for thinking that the Fogg & Passepartout duo were embarking on nothing more than an hour long global booze fest; a kind of drinks pantomime that takes place from Italy to India and Korea to Venezuela.

New Zealand's top red export to take centre stage at annual tasting

New Zealand's most famous red grape will be at the forefront of this year's New Zealand annual trade tasting in January.

Sommeliers to head Down Under for 2017's The World's 50 Best Restaurants

The World's 50 Best Restaurants, the event which celebrates the best of global gastronomy, is being held in Australia. 

The Benevolent launches Thanks for Giving online auction

A round of golf with Oz Clarke and the chance to hire the WSET's Ian Harris as a butler for the night are just some of the 75 lots available at The Benevolent's inaugural online silent auction.

Independent tasting SITT to be taken over by Harpers publisher

Harpers' publisher, Agile Media Ltd, is pleased to announced that is taking over the running and full responsibility of SITT - the leading tasting for Independents from the on- and off-trade.

Sam Harrop MW to step down as IWC chair after 11 years on judging panel

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) has announced a shuffle of its judging panel ahead of its November tastings.

The week that was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have put together a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

No Malbec and rule-breaking makes a song and dance at Wines of Argentina tasting

Work to build £9m UK sake brewery gets underway

Building is now underway at what is believed to be the UK's first sake brewery having appointed a local contractor to carry out construction work.

The Epicurean launches in London this weekend

The team behind the London Wine Fair is gearing up to launch its first consumer event.

Spanish wine industry celebrates inaugural IWC Spanish Merchant Awards

The cream of the Spanish wine industry turned out in force on Monday for the International Wine Challenge's (IWC) inaugural Spanish Wine Merchant awards, with over 200 guests attending the awards dinner in the surrounds of one of Madrid's most famous buildings, Casino de Madrid.

Jura wines to partner with Comté for 2016 tasting

This year's Jura wine trade and press tasting will feature the region's other principal export - Comté cheese - for the first time.

Incubating innovation and changing with the times

Innovation is not something that happens in a vacuum. It is as much a result of having people who are comfortable challenging convention as it is a having companies that foster an environment which allow for ideas - no matter how crazy - to be captured and tested.

LCW: Prepare to be dazzled

As London Cocktail Week takes the city by storm, we took a look at what spirit brands are doing to capitalise on this year's hottest trends in the on-trade.

First female takes title at Diageo World Class Bartender competition

France's Jennifer Le Nechet has become the first female bartender to be crowned the world's best bartender at the World Class Bartender of the Year Global Final 2016.

WSTA Part 1: How technology and innovation may shape the future

Innovation and technology, as we all know, has drastically changed business, primarily changing the ways we connect with our consumers and understand their needs. The pressure has never been higher on business leaders to innovate continuously and to do so quickly.

10th annual Cognac auction raises record amount for charity

The 10th edition of charity auction of high-end cognacs raised a record amount for Fondation Apprentis d'Auteuil, an organisation which has helped underprivileged young people and vulnerable families for 150 years.