It's wet on our Somerset vines

English vineyards escape flood damage

The wettest weather in over 100 years has had little effect on English vineyards.

Getting ready for SITT : Spring clean your wine list

Ahead of this month's SITT tastings, Erin Smith talks to key suppliers about how they hope to help independents give their range a boost

?The Smith report: The rise of the Great British pound

Erin Smith assesses the currency map as the pound continues to gain ground

Mike Paul on the lessons and warnings English sparkling wine can take from the success of Prosecco

At the recent International Sparkling Wine Symposium held at Denbies I was facilitating a session on the way forward for English fizz and made a throwaway comment that for all its success producers should be wary of seeing Prosecco as a role model. I noted that, while it has certainly captured the imagination of a large swathe of the wine market, I doubted that many consumers could name individual brands or are aware of the difference between DOC and DOCG Prosecco. This implies that they will tend to be drawn to the cheapest Prosecco that they find acceptable. It would be fair to say that my comment was not universally popular with  Prosecco producers in the room.

UK remains sixth biggest wine drinking country in world despite falling sales says Vinexpo

The UK remains the sixth biggest wine consuming country in the world despite another year of falling wine sales, according to the latest figures released by Vinexpo, but there are signs drinking levels could be on the up again from 2015.

Call Time on Duty: Beer sales up due to impact of duty cuts

Beer sales in the off trade rose 3.9% by volume in the fourth quarter of 2013, marking increases for two consecutive quarters for the first time in 10 years, following the cut in beer duty last year.

Languedoc-based winery aims to create a world class sparkling wine in Kent

A Languedoc-based winery has taken up the challenge of trying to create a world class sparkling wine in a new vineyard in Kent.

Manchester project puts the Cider into Moss Side

?Interview: Dan Townsend on building fine wine brands at Treasury Wine Estates

The pressure on wine brands to succeed in the UK is nowhere more intense than at Treasury Wine Estates. Richard Siddle asks its UK head, Dan Townsend, how it can succeed with both mainstream and fine-wine brands

Gusbourne Estate raises £2m funding to help expand vineyards and winery

Gusbourne Estate, the Kent-based English sparkling wine producer, has acquired a £2m loan from Barclays bank to help develop the winery and overall business.

Third bi-annual Sparkling wine symposium wraps up

The third bi-annual International Sparkling Wine Symposium (ISWS), which was held last week on December 3^rd and 4^th, had 150 attendees from 15 different countries at the Denbies Wine Estates in Surrey.

New drinkers are bringing growth to sparkling wines says Wine Intelligence

Sparkling wine continues to show strong growth in its major markets, Richard Halstead of Wine Intelligence told the 3rd International Sparkling Wine Symposium, with a new generation of drinkers and distinct changes in drinking habits the key drivers.

World map of wine to be turned on its head warns Dr Richard Smart

"The wine business is the canary in the cage for world agriculture because it so sensitive to change," Dr Richard Smart told delegates to the 3rd International Sparkling Wine Symposium, being held at Denbies Wine Estate, Dorking, Surrey.

Luddenden Valley Wines fights for excise duty reduction

Luddenden Valley Wines has launched a campaign for excise duty on wine-production levels at small-scale UK producers to be brought in line with cider and beer distillers in a bid to help UK wine producers become more competitive.

English wines showcase new releases at East Anglian trade tasting

New Hall founder Piers Greenwood capped off a winning year with the release of his Sparkling English Rosé magnum at the East Anglian Vineyard Association's recent trade tasting.

Scottish multi-buy promotions ban has not hit alcohol sales says new study

Banning multi-buy promotions for alcohol has failed to hit alcohol sales in Scotland, according to a new academic study.

Jancis Robinson passes the torch as WSET honorary president

Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW is to follow Jancis Robinson OBE, MW, who served for the last three years, as the new honorary president of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust's (WSET) effective from January 20, 2014.

London Cru opens for tours and supper clubs

Central London's first urban winery is officially open for tours starting this Saturday, 9 November, where it will host tours for the public along with other opportunities throughout the month, like  becoming a winemaker for a day or dining in the barrel room with a series of  supper clubs the winery will be hosting.

BrewDog to max out 'Equity for Punks' scheme

BrewDog, the largest independent Scottish brewery, announced on 7^th November it would be offering an additional 2,600shares valued at £250,000 due to demand from 'fanvestors'; maximizing the number of shares it is able to sell in its 'Equity for Punks' crowdfunding scheme