New Taste - a vodka, a rum and a Rioja

What happens when vodka companies run out of ideas for flavours - will they jump on the bandwagon like crisps and start producing the likes of fish and chip or hoisin duck flavours? We'll have to wait and see if that quirky initiative ever sees the light of day. In the meantime, Diageo GB is rolling out a new variant for its popular flavoured vodka range - Smirnoff Blueberry (rrp £14.79) in a bid to fuel further growth of the category. So far, so good - according to Diageo its Bristol trial saw "outstanding" results. Smirnoff Blueberry is promoted to be served with lemonade, making it easy for consumers to create a long, mixed spirit drink at home.

Richard Siddle, blog: Viva Espana

It must be pretty special to be in any way Spanish this week. You only had to see the television coverage or pictures from the amazing homecoming the Spanish football team received from the hundreds of thousands of people in Madrid to see what their World Cup victory means to the people of Spain.

Take three new products

It must have been a sad, sad day for Royal Navy sailors when the last rum ration was issued to them on July 31, 1970.

Carol Emmas reviews Laithwaites

At WineFuture in Rioja in 2009, when Justin Howard-Sneyd was buying manager at Waitrose, he said there were two ways ahead for UK supermarket wine divisions upmarket or down.

Sommelier Diary - Christopher Delalonde

New Zealand wine industry welcomes smaller 2010 vintage

The 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled 266,000 tonnes - 19,000 tonnes smaller than in 2009.

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific numbers almost double

The rise in the numbers of visitors to Vinexpo Asia-Pacific 2010, has taken the show to another dimension and points to the vitality of the Asian markets, said Vinexpo.

LIWF- a few producers and their products

Try as you might to get around as many people as possible at the LIWF, making even a small dent is over ambitious.

Last chance to win Gonzalez Byass trip to Spanish wineries

This is your last chance to win a trip to visit González Byass's Spanish wineries in a competition being run in association with Harpers Wine & Spirit.

Last chance to win Gonzalez Byass trip to Spanish wineries

This is your last chance to win a trip to visit González Byass's Spanish wineries in a competition being run in association with Harpers Wine & Spirit.

New Zealand wine industry awarded Government support

The New Zealand Government has announced a promotional package of support for the country's wine industry, to help overcome its current challenges.

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific sees visitors up by 40%

Vinexpo Asia-Pacific closed today after what it claims was its most successful ever show with a 40% increase in visitors on its last show in 2008.

Win a trip to Spain with González Byass

González Byass is offering a trip for six independent merchants to visit the Spanish wineries in its portfolio.

Draycott to head Gonzalez Byass sales

Former First Quench buyer Melissa Draycott has been named sales director of Gonzalez Byass UK.

My Taste - big v small

Carol Emmas takes part in a blind tasting that pits the big brand Champagnes against the small growers.

First Taste - Wairarapa

A snapshot of wines from New Zealand's Wairarapa region.

Restaurant Taste - The Obsidian, Manchester

A look at how Manchester's Obsidian restaurant manages to cover every base.

Restaurant Taste - Carol Emmas reviews the Obsidian

New Taste- A selection of what's new in the trade

New Zealand overtakes Germany in UK wine sales

New Zealand is claiming to have overtaken sales of German wine in the UK when looking at country of origin percentage shares.