Events guide 2020: What not to miss

James Lawrence looks ahead to some of the essential trade dates across another busy year

BIVB becomes WSET patron

Educator to the wine industry, The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has new backing in the form of Burgundy’s official wine board.

Hallgarten hosts ‘minerality’ summit and tasting

Importer Hallgarten hosted a multi-media event in London yesterday to explore the subject of 'minerality' in wine. The wide-ranging discussion took place between Hallgarten's head of buying Steve Daniel and journalist Dr Jamie Goode.

Jones closing The Harrow to focus on wine

After 21 years at Michelin-starred wine oasis The Harrow at Little Bedwyn, proprietors Roger and Sue Jones have announced they will take final orders on 28 March 2020.

Everything we know about the DRS so far – and what you should too

A major new scheme aimed specifically at boosting recycling rates and combating littering for bottled drinks is due to arrive in Scotland in 2021 and the rest of the UK soon after. So what do we know so far?

Duty increase backfires

The last hike in wine duty delivered an own goal, denting government revenues. Andrew Catchpole asks if a limit has been reached

Greek winery expands in London on-trade

Greek winery T-Oinos is celebrating new listings at a range of top restaurants in London.

Vinexpo and Comexposium join forces

Leading global wine event organisations Vinexpo and Comexposium are to join forces in a new body.

Bibendum reports rise in WSET pass rates following investment

Bibendum has reported a rise in WSET pass rates following a “refreshed investment and approach” to the training.

Ramón Bilbao exceeds sustainability target

Ramón Bilbao has announced it has exceeded targets on its sustainability drive in both its winery and vineyards.

Maximum of 1% of Australia’s total vineyard area damaged by fires to date

Wine Australia has said that, while the “toll on individuals cannot be underestimated and should not be downplayed”, a review of fire maps suggests a maximum of around 1,500ha of vineyards fall within the regions affected by the current bushfires to date.

London restaurateurs call for wine duty cut

Henschke drops Enotria for Liberty Wines

Iconic family-owned Australian wine producer Henschke has appointed Liberty Wines as its UK agent.

Wine’s darker materials: glass vs the alternatives

A rising clamour over packaging and sustainability is leading many parts of the industry to go back to the drawing board on glass and look at alternative materials. Does plastic deserve its bad reputation?

The "Pope of Beaujolais" dies

Legendary Beaujolais wine merchant Georges Duboeuf has died.

Click to head sales at Ste Michelle

Wine entrepreneur Peter Click has joined Washington State winery Ste Michelle Wine Estates as vice president of international sales.

Artisanal Oz and Georgia among diverse new agencies for Berkmann

Berkmann Wine Cellars has ushered in the new year with the addition of five new agencies to its portfolio.

Indie gateway: the wholesaling survey

Independent merchants play an increasingly important role in local and regional wholesale, as our exclusive survey results reveal (link below). 

Jerry Lockspeiser: The essential Christmas gift for every wine entrepreneur

About twenty years ago I tried to sell a sparkling wine from Italy that was almost unknown in the UK market. We were a significant supplier to the major retailers and worked closely with them on new product development ideas, from lesser known grape varieties, regions and countries, to new styles and packaging for better-known wines. My Italian sparkling wine was from a medium sized organic producer whose wines we had won listings for, but the buyers felt that it was not well known enough in our market and wouldn’t sell. It was, of course, Prosecco.

Hillebrand acquires US warehouse and transportation business

Hillebrand has acquired US warehouse and transportation business Royal Logistics and Royal Service Transport (Royal) for an undisclosed sum.