Trade leaders meet Darling and Mandelson

The chairmen of the five leading drinks trade bodies held meetings with Chancellor Alistair Darling and Business Secretary Lord Mandelson on Monday, urging them to abandon the planned duty increase in April.

Adamson to switch to Craggy Range's European sales role

Warren Adamson, who heads up New Zealand Winegrowers in the UK and Europe, is to become European sales director for  New Zealand's Craggy Range Vineyards, replacing Michael Henley.

New Director for Wine Australia

The Australian Wine & Brandy Corporation (Wine Australia) have announced the appointment of Lisa McGovern to the new role of Regional Director of UK, Ireland and Europe, to be based at Australia House in London and effective from the April 6.

Scotch tours worth £25m

Tourists spent 12.2% more visiting Scotch whisky distilleries in 2008 than they did the year before.

Tourists spent 12.2% more visiting Scotch whisky distilleries in 2008 than they did the year before.

Distillery tours boosted the Scottish economy by £25 million, according to Scotland Whisky, the whisky tourism organisation.

Minimum drinks prices - in England and Wales

Plans for minimum drinks prices in England and Wales could mean spirits priced at least £14 a bottle and some wines upwards of £5.40.

Paragon Vintners to close

Paragon Vintners is to cease trading after its parent company, Angostura Suisse, has decided to exit the UK wine distribution business.

Consumers slash wine spending

Over one third of UK consumers have slashed spending on wine or have opted for bargain bottles, according to the latest research from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

SABMiller in China expansion

Brewing giants SABMiller has acquired one of China's largest breweries in a $42 million joint venture that will expand its influence in one of the world's most lucrative markets.

Minimum price plans could flout Euro law

Radical plans by the Scottish government to introduce a minimum price for alcohol could almost certainly fall foul of European law, it has been claimed by legal experts.

Alcohol helps to boost Waitrose sales

Alcohol sales were one of the few highlights of Waitrose's trading year in 2008.

Morrison races ahead

Morrison march up the retailing ladder continues with like-for-like sales up 7.9%, well ahead of its rivals, and total sales up 12% to £14.5 billion for the year to the end of February.

Morrison races ahead

Morrison march up the retailing ladder continues with like-for-like sales up 7.9%, well ahead of its rivals, and total sales up 12% to £14.5 billion for the year to the end of February.

Scottish alcohol plans shelved

Plans to introduce a minimum price for alcohol and raise the alcohol buying age to 21 by the Scottish Executive have been shelved for at least a year.

Strong dollar hits Brown-Forman profit

Jack Daniel's and Southern Comfort producer Brown-Forman saw net sales fall by 11% in the three months to Jan 31, largely through the impact of the strong US dollar reducing the value of export sales.

New rum distillery to open in Barbados

Barbados sees the opening of its first new rum distillery in years. St Nicholas Abbey opens on Cherry Tree Hill in the north of the island at the end of March, the final part in a massive renovation project undertaken by local architect and rum aficionado Larry Warren, who bought the property in 2006.

Wines in the Press, March 7-9

What the national wine critics had to say this weekend, March 7-8

Harvest Blog from Mario Pablo Silva, Vina Casa Silva, Chile

Our third harvest report from Mario Pablo Silva, managing director of Viña Casa Silva March, Colchagua Valley, Chile

Harvest Blog from Mario Pablo Silva, Vina Casa Silva, Chile

Our third harvest report from Mario Pablo Silva, managing director of Viña Casa Silva March, Colchagua Valley, Chile

WSTA pushes supplier auctions

The Wine & Spirit Association is urging its members in the UK to consider reverse e-auctions as a way of saving money on supplies.

Codorniu deal for Altia

Finnish drinks giant Altia has own the exclusive sales and marketing rights for Codorniu wines in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and the Baltic travel retail markets.