Q&A with PLB's managing director John Osborne as he looks to put his stamp on the business

Erin Smith: why for wine lovers Bulgarians have got Valentine's Day right

In the UK February 14th celebrates the day of love, but in Bulgaria the date has traditionally been reserved for the feast of St. Trifon Zarezan, the patron of vine growing and wine producing.

?Richard Foster on the rise and rise of microbreweries

With the recent launch of BrewDog's 13 bar in West London's Shepherd's Bush offering "the biggest range of beers that we have ever had in a single bar" according to James Watt, co-founder of the Scottish independent brewery, it feels as though the Rubicon has been crossed

It's wet, wet, wet down in Somerset

Jane Awty of Oatley Vineyards in Cannington, near Bridgwater, Somerset tells us how the incessant rain is affecting the vines.

Q&A with Rupert Berkmann of Berkmann Wine Cellars

Rupert Berkmann, managing director of Berkmann Wine Cellars, joined the family company 10 years ago. At the company's 50th anniversary tasting he talks to Anne Krebiehl about the firm and his vision.

Douglas Blyde visits The Whip at the Running Horse

"The Whip" cocktail lounge above Mayfair's oldest pub, The Running Horse (1738) launched last week launched last week.

Q&A with Laurie Davis, wine controller at Matthew Clark

Laurie Davis, wine controller at on-trade supplier Matthew Clark, tells Gemma McKenna how the company is strengthening its wine reputation and growing sales.

Q&A with ?Moët & Chandon's chief winemaker Benoît Gouez

Moët & Chandon launches the 2006 vintage of Moët Grand Vintage and Giles Fallowfield talks to chief winemaker Beno&icirct Gouez about the wine, the vintage and his philosophy on vintage Champagne at Moët.

Q&A: ?Lee Potter Cavanagh, executive bartender for Corrett Restaurants

Formerly group bars manager of HIX restaurants, Cavanagh brings 13 years of experience to the Big Easy, Covent Garden, which opens in March and sits down to talk with Douglas Byde.

?In the on-trade there are only four days of Christmas

Matthew Crompton, senior account manager, CGA Strategy talks about the CGA annual Christmas report for 2013 and how it proved more than ever just how important Christmas is to the on-trade.

Douglas Blyde takes a gastronomic tour through Cognac with Eaux de Vie

An outdoor sculpture depicts what looks like tortured Ribena currants at Domaines Francis Abécassis. Apparently the mass of goggling eyes on stalks and bared teeth does not perturb the neighbours (not that there are a great many to perturb). Perhaps because what goes in the bottle is so governed by doctrine in the world of drinks, the 'art' outside it becomes ever more overstated...

Bibendum's Michael Saunders: "Why wine isn't enough..."

Sourcing and selling wine at Bibendum is the day job; it stands out from the competition by what it can tell its customers about their own businesses. Managing director, Michael Saunders

Jason Wilson on the Riesling syndrome: too sweet or too dry?

"Sweet is politically incorrect now. We say 'fruity' rather than sweet." That's what Johannes Selbach, winemaker at Selbach-Oster, told me when I visited him last spring in the Mosel Valley.

Katherine Canfield: consumers are listening to those who communicate well

Communication - a topic that is discussed time and time again by those of us in the wine trade, from producers to bloggers and retailers to restaurateurs. Technology continually provides innovative devices to facilitate and increase the reach of communication, yet a common sentiment is that whilst other industries use these tools to engage with their consumers in a profitable way, the wine trade is failing to do so effectively.

Q&A: ?Nish Kotecha, Director, Myliko Wines

Manchester-based, family-owned importer, Myliko Wines saw 16% growth in 2013. Nish Kotecha talks to Harpers about Myliko's new South African partner, KWV, bulk-wine and its plans for 2014.

Q&A: Brent Marris, Winemaker, Marisco Vineyards, Waihopai Valley, Malborough, New Zealand

The man behind multi-award-winning brand The Ned talks to Harpers about the factors behind its runaway success

Q&A with James Miles, Liv-ex co-founder and managing director

Miles tells harpers.co.uk about making fine wine trading easier, innovation around supply chain, and why regions outside Bordeaux are becoming more important.

Lindsay Oram tries to unravel the complexities of Austrian winemaking

Lindsay Oram looks at the complexities of the increasingly complex Austrian winemaking system in the latest AWEsome opinion piece from a member of the Association of Wine Educators. 

Q&A with Ross Carter, London Wine Fair director

With the newly-revamped London Wine Fair looming on the horizon, event director Ross Carter tells us what we should expect in 2014.

Anna Greenhous on the latest attempts to make sake accessible to a mainstream audience

Last week there was a screening of "Discovering Sake", a short film shown originally in three minute bite-size chunks on The Discovery Channel.  The presenters Sam Harrop MW and Japanese sake expert Ken Ohashi took the viewers on a voyage of sake discovery. Travelling across Japan, they met brewers and trade professionals who explained, amongst other factors, the impact of water and rice, timing on the production process, sake styles, sake's history and place in Japanese culture.