Mike Veseth, the Wine Economist, on the global issues facing the wine industry

Mike Veseth is a specialist in globalisation who blogs as The Wine Economist. He is also professor emeritus of International Political Economy at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma near Seattle. After reviewing his books Wine Wars and Extreme Wine for Harpers.co.uk  Jerry Lockspeiser talks to him about what he sees as the key global business issues facing the wine industry.

My Choice: Mike Beavan of Coe Vintners on drinking Riesling with Aerosmith

 Mike Beavan, sales director at Coe Vintners, steps up to the plate to give his run down of faovurite wines and spirits and where he likes to drink them.

Mike Ratcliffe: Leadership changes will shake up South African wine industry

A lack of visionary and legitimate leadership has long been a thorn in the side of the South African wine industry.

James Steen takes trip down memory lane at St Bart's Brewery in Smithfield

There are several ways to reach Smithfield, home of the newly opened St Bart's Brewery. You can take the bus or a cab, or if you happen to be a side of beef or a carcass of lamb then a refrigerated van from the slaughterhouse to this ancient London meat market is the preferred option.

Cape Legends Ross Sleet harks back through the years of South African wine

Big interview: Pierre Levron on why Costco takes wines and spirits so seriously

Costco likes to pile it high, so if you secure a listing there you can expect to see sales take off overnight. Pierre Levron explains to Andrew Don why the wholesaler takes beers, wines and spirits so seriously

For future growth Carlsberg must succeed in wine as well as beer, says James Lousada

As Carlsberg's specialist wine and spirits division, now called Crown Cellars, celebrates over 20 years, the brewer's UK chief executive, James Lousada, explains to Richard Siddle why wines and spirits are now so important to the group

Halewood International is always on the look out for the next "Crabbie's" says Richard Clark

Richard Clark, director of innovation at Halewood International, says the company is always on the lookout for the next Crabbie's, as it looks to drive innovation across all the drinks categories in its portfolio.

Richard Siddle: only by looking at wine through consumers' eyes can we communicate with them

Why is it the best ideas are often the most glaringly obvious thing to do - it is just that no-one has thought to do so before.

Tim Atkin: why the Chinese wine market is so hard to predict

First time visitors to Beijing are often struck by the pollution that seems to blanket the city on a daily basis, reducing visibility and filling lungs with undesirable gunk. It's a symbol of China's rush towards industrialisation, as well as the lack of environmental checks and controls. But it's tempting to see it as a metaphor, too, not least for the wine industry. Trying to understand what is going on in China can feel like staring into a Stygian fug at times.

Guy Woodward: it's the people we remember not their wine

In wine as in life, one of the most common mistakes people make is to assume other people know what they're talking about. Enthusiasts, in particular, are wont to believe that everyone else is as interested in a subject as they are. In most cases, I'm afraid to say, they're not.

George Workman of Frizzenti on the huge opportunties for wine on-tap

We talk to George Workman, managing director of Frizzenti, the company behind the on-tap serve for Italian sparkling wine about how he sees the Prosecco and sparkling wine market growing and developing in the future.

Diana Hunter, Conviviality CEO, on the new BB's Warehouse concept

Diana Hunter is chief executive of Conviviality Retail, owner of the Bargain Booze network. Last week the firm announced the launch of a new concept - BB's Warehouse - a destination discount off-licence warehouse. Gemma McKenna finds out more.

Evuna looks to build on success of second Manchester Spanish wine bar concept

It's taken over a decade for Manchester's tapas and Spanish wine institution Evuna to get round to opening its second site, but now it has its sights set on opening more.

Jean-Claude Mas on how he has helped build a global French wine brand

Christine Parkinson on driving sake with customers and sommeliers at Hakkasan

Helen Arnold talks sake with Christine Parkinson, chief wine buyer at the 12-strong Hakkasan restaurant chain, the first company to put some of its sommeliers through a new WSET sake course.

Jerry Lockspeiser on why consumers are right to buy cheaper wines

A decade ago I was at a business review meeting with  Mark Murphy, Tesco's then head of beers wines and spirits, discussing how to persuade consumers to 'trade up', or as they would put it, buy higher priced wines.

Douglas Blyde takes a look at Foxton's - the estate agents - first move into dining at Pavilion

Pavilion, the restaurant, is the latest addition to the TARDIS-like, six floor luxury serviced office complex of that name, created by the founder of Foxton's estate agents, Jon Hunt and daughter Emma.

Rie Yoshitake on promoting sake around the world with the IWC

Anna Greenhous talks to Rie Yoshitake, UK representative of the Sake Samurai Association, about how the IWC sake category came about, its impact and success in promoting sake across the world.

David Atkinson on how technology is vital in how big drinks brands communicate with consumers

Drinks brands have been among the most enthusiastic adopters of technology for marketing purposes. It's easy to see why. The social nature of drinking makes digital a natural bedfellow for drinks brands with novel and entertaining content to have a direct conversation with their drinkers such as the Fosters' Comedian in Your Pocket app, which forges a direct link with drinkers.