Live-Ex: Market confidence in Burgundy remains low

Data from Live-Ex, the fine wine trading platform, shows that over the past two years, the Burgundy 150, (which collates the performance of the top 150 Burgundian wines on the platform), was down 30.2%. This is the largest drop of any sub-index within the Live-Ex's Fine Wine 1000.

New HMRC digital service for managing duty payments goes live

The new digital service from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) ‘Manage your Alcohol Duty’, which went live on 1 March, is purported to allow for easier reporting and online payment services regarding alcohol duty.

Friday Read: SITT and Boutinot tastings show innovation is alive and kicking

At this year’s SITT London, there was a great sense of importers continuing to push the envelope, showing that despite the headwinds thrown at it, the trade can adapt, and confidently. The same impression was derived from Boutinot’s independents portfolio tasting, where collaboration showed itself to be as important as ever.

Spanish wine sees slight growth in export value for 2024

Spanish wine producers increased their overall value of exports by €41 million in 2024, though the total volume of exported wines fell by 1,010,000hls. The UK remains the largest export market for Spanish wine.

Rioja at 100: Plans for festival revealed in milestone year

Rioja UK has announced the dates for new Rioja 100 festival as part of their campaign to celebrate the centenary of the region's Denomination of Origin status. The festival will take place on the 19 and 20 July at Hackney Bridge, London.

Casa Real gains new commercial director in Marie-Charlotte Fraysse

Casa Real-owner, Viña Santa Rita, has announced the appointment of Marie-Charlotte Fraysse to the position of commercial director for its flagship premium wine.

TWP Wines expands range with vintages from new region

Amidst a slate of new wines, Italian wine producer, TWP Wines, has added two labels from the famed white wine region, Friuli-Venezia Giulia.

Napa Valley remains steadfast in its global outlook

Connor Best of Napa Valley Vintners, speaking at the recent Premiere Napa Valley tasting in London, explained that the premium wine region's outlook will stay resolutely outward-looking despite the potential impact of global trade wars.

Laphroaig-owner Suntory begins UK commercial operations

The Japanese drinks giant, Suntory Global Spirits, has officially launched its first standalone commercial business in the UK. The move means the company is now directly in charge of the sales, marketing and distribution of its portfolio of spirits brands in the UK.

US Whiskey producers anticipate new government guidelines

The recent decision by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to set specific identity regulations for ‘American single malt whiskey’ will come into effect on Monday 19 January.

Guy Woodward: Beware the wine cliché

Happy new year! Allow me to begin 2025 with a question. And I want your instinctive, unvarnished response. Tell me… what were your feelings about the warm, personal greeting with which I opened this column?

Alliance Wine takes on 50 producers following H2Vin acquisition

Alliance Wine has been pushing ahead with its expansion plans following the purchase of London specialist importer H2Vin, with the ‘smooth integration’ of the two businesses already resulting in the addition of over fifty new producers to the portfolio.

South Africa hopeful of recovery after ‘challenging’ 2024 harvest

After a difficult 2024 season, which was characterised by floods, frost and strong winds, South African wine producers are optimistic about the 2025 harvest.

Five minutes with Talya Roberson, Marasby

Jo Gilbert gets clued up on Roberson’s latest venture – the first of its kind platform, which promises to offer consumers the chance to buy English wine, direct from producers, at vineyard prices. 

Friday read: Hampshire wines making their mark

Ahead of next week’s Vineyards of Hampshire trade tasting, Justin Keay dives into how the wider English wine industry has changed, with regions outside Kent and Sussex growing all the while.

Soapbox: Is alcohol in Scotland an endangered species?

Luvians manager Archie McDiarmid fears for the future of the alcohol industry in Scotland if government proposals go ahead

Bibendum takes the ‘art of (selling) wine’ in a new direction

Bibendum has just closed the cap on its first tasting concept of 2023, with a roster of likeminded events lined up for the year ahead as the company diversifies its annual tasting format.

Liberty welcomes record number of visitors to familiar turf

Liberty Wines is celebrating a bumper tasting at its usual Oval hunting ground on Tuesday (17 February), where a record number of visitors made the pilgrimage to its annual portfolio event.

Q&A: Fabrice Mauge, CEO, VinoVirtual

What is VinoVirtual and how does it differ from ‘run-of-the-mill’ trade shows?

Tim Atkin MW returns to Ribera del Duero for second 'Special' report