Fledgling wine brand pranks Innocent Drinks

A fledgling low-calorie wine brand, Skinny Vines, garnered publicity today by playing a prank on soft drinks firm Innocent.

Tasting offers 'widest range of sherries' in UK

Claiming to showcase the largest collection of sherries in the UK, the Great Sherry Tasting will take place on September 17.

Rusden Wines abandons screwcap for cork

A leading Australian winery has returned to cork after five years of "persistent quality control issues" using screwcaps.

English winemakers welcome the sun

English vineyard owners are rejoicing at the arrival of a warmer weather front after earlier fears for their crops.

Drinks industry welcomes falling alcohol consumption in young people

The drinks trade has welcomed NHS statistics showing alcohol consumption in young people has fallen.

Naked Wines opens California winery

Naked Wines has opened a winery in California and is offering winemakers the opportunity to crush their own grapes.

Sterling fairly strong yesterday despite poor start

Sterling was fairly strong yesterday despite a poor start to the day as new mortgage approval rates were much lower than anticipated.

Hampshire sees opening of new gin distillery

Bombay Sapphire Gin has unveiled plans to open a distillery in Hampshire.

Oddbins takes stand against Olympics marketing rules

Oddbins has called on small businesses to find creative ways to circumvent the "legal straitjacket" surrounding the Olympics, and has developed its own off-the-wall marketing push.

Consumers eat out more but spend less

Consumers are eating out more often now than at any time in the past two years, but they're spending less, according to a consumer survey from Horizons.

Rémy Cointreau buys Islay distiller Bruichladdich for £58 million

Rémy Cointreau UK has signed a deal to buy Islay Scotch whisky distiller Bruichladdich for £58 million.

Treasury and Accolade join forces on wine packaging

Two of Australia's biggest wine companies Treasury Wine Estates and Accolade Wines have joined forces on the packing front to "increase efficiencies".

Bibendum poaches Waitrose's Andrew Shaw as head of buying

Bibendum has appointed Waitrose's wine buying manager Andrew Shaw as its new head of buying.

Treasury Wine Estates appoints new chairman

Non-executive director Paul Rayner is set to become Treasury Wine Estate's new chairman from September 1...

Off-trade wine sales plummet

Sales of wine in the off-trade have plummeted by 27 million bottles and spirits the equivalent of six million, according to Harpers' sister publication the Grocer's Biggest Alcohol Brands report.

Mixed day for sterling on Friday

Sterling had a mixed day on Friday reaching fresh highs against the euro of €1.2865/£1 but weakened against the US dollar after the bailout of the Spanish banking sector was confirmed during the Euro group meetings.

Scotch whisky industry legally challenges minimum pricing of alcohol

The Scotch Whisky Association is taking action in Europe and the UK against the Scottish Government's minimum unit pricing legislation, saying it will "artificially distort trade".

Sterling had strong week against euro

Sterlinghad a strong week against the euro reaching fresh highs of €1.2830/£1 as fears surrounding the Eurozone were once again at the forefront of traders' minds.

Halfwine.com sees rapid sales growth

Halfwine, the website specialising in selling 37.5cl bottles, has seen sales growth of 37% in the first quarter of 2012.

Oversupply pressures ease following reduced harvests around the world