Pernod Ricard shakes up Havana Club rum's look and recipe

Sales up 5% at Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres

Spanish wine giant Bodegas Torres, which also produces wines in Chile and California, has seen its sales grow 5% to €240 million in 2014.

Wine sales rocket 20% to €44m at Vente-Privee

Wine sales rocketed in 2014 at flash sales site Vente-Privée, which is celebrating a 20% increase in wine turnover to €44 million, as it ramps up its UK focus with the appointment of a new managing director. 

UK wine industry backs calls for alcohol duty cut

The UK's growing wine industry has called for the Chancellor to cut the high rate of alcohol duty rate by 2% in the upcoming Budget.

Vinoteca's Kings Cross site to open in March

Vinoteca's fifth site, this time at the One Pancras Square development in Kings Cross, is getting ready to open its doors as head chef Kieren Steinborn joins the team.

Yealands relaunches Hawke's Bay Crossroads with Enotria

Yealands Wine Group is moving is its Hawke's Bay Crossroads wines to Enotria from Mentzendorff to streamline UK distribution.

French wine exports to the UK fall 10% by value in 2014

France's wine exports to the UK have fallen 10% by value in 2014, although British consumers still take in 12.2% of their neighbour's wines, making it the second biggest export market for France.

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.

Armit Wines boosts Tuscan portfolio with Fattoria Le Pupille

Armit Wines, UK distributor for a host of Italy's icon wines, has added southern Tuscany's Fattoria Le Pupille to its portfolio.

World expert John Gauntner introduces us to sake

John Gauntner is renowned as being one of the English-speaking world's foremost experts on sake. Here he explains how he got into sake, and what's happening in the industry now.

Pernod Ricard celebrates strong UK half-year performance

Pernod Ricard's UK chief says the market is now in "full recovery" as its brands, in particular those at the top end of the scale, outperform the market.

Irish whiskey Tullamore DEW launches busking campaign

William Grant owned Irish whiskey Tullamore DEW is looking to build awareness of the brand through a campaign involving street buskers.

M&S signs deal to bottle New World wines at Kingsland

Marks & Spencer will use a UK firm for the first time for its New World bulk wine bottling, after striking a deal with Manchester's Kingsland.

London's premium on-trade wine market growing 18% per year

The market for top wines is growing at a rate of 18.4% by value in London restaurants, against a backdrop of declining wine sales in the on-trade overall, down 9.3% by value for the year to July 2014.

Cold weather fails to dampen eating out sales in January

Restaurants and managed pubs saw like-for-like sales grow 1.4% in January, despite the snow and cold weather.

James Connolly on how independents can differentiate and diversify

James Connolly, consultant at Broderson & Co, says that when merchants are faced with tough trading conditions, they should be open to discussions on consolidation. Differentiating, diversifying, innovating and communicating can also help reinvigorate a business. 

Flint Wines takes on Tim Mondavi's Napa estate Continuum

Flint Wines has expanded its US wine selection by becoming the exclusive UK agent for Tim Mondavi's Napa estate, Continuum.

England and New Zealand's sparkling wines clash ahead of Cricket World Cup

The doyens of the English and New Zealand sparkling wine industry are ratcheting up the competition ahead of the Cricket World Cup with a blind taste off.

Senior industry figures toast positive reception from Treasury over proposed 2% duty cut

Senior representatives from the drinks industry met with Treasury officials yesterday to present evidence in support of the proposed 2% duty cut on alcohol, describing the discussions as "constructive".

California's 2014 grape crush shows 'healthy decline' but won't stop bulk prices sliding

California's grape crush for 2014 hit 3.91 million tonnes, showing a "healthy decline" of 340,000 tonnes on the previous year, however the "ample inventories" of 2012 and 2013 means finding buyers for wine will be a challenge.