Q&A: Damian Clarke of Freixenet's UK says his past work with FMCGs is helping to build stronger brands in wine trade

After a career spanning many leading grocery brands, Freixenet's UK boss Damian Clarke explains how his classic FMCG training is paying dividends in sparkling wine in the UK.

Q&A: Christian Seely of AXA Millésimes talks En Primeur

Since 2000, Christian Seely has successfully led AXA Millésimes alongside such wine estates as Château Suduiraut, Pichon-Longueville and La Tour Pibran. Now, all his attention is focused on the 2014 en primeur.

Economists brace for China's slowing economy

China has reported a 15% fall in exports and a 12% fall in imports for the month of March 2015, which has increased concerns that the Chinese economy is slowing down.

Q&A: David Cox, chief executive, The Benevolent

"Despite being in existence for 129 years, I am acutely aware that there are many people within the drinks trade that do not actually know that there is a trade charity there to support and help them. And even if they did know about The Benevolent, we found that many myths and misconceptions exist about who we help and how we help."

Riecine: Bringing a touch of Englishness to the Tuscan hills

The English have long beaten a path to the rolling hills of Tuscany for their holidays. Twenty-four years ago winemaker Sean O'Callaghan did just that - but he never left and has been making wines at Riecine winery ever since

Analysis: Majestic's acquisition of Naked Wines

Majestic Wines' acquisition of Naked Wines, and the appointment of Rowan Gormley as its new chief executive, will see the launch of a new international multi-channel wine retailing group. 

Harpers Wine & Spirit to join Agile Media

Harpers Wine and Spirit and Harpers.co.uk have, from the beginning of April, joined Off Licence News at Agile Media.

Majestic Wines acquires Naked Wines and names Rowan Gormley chief executive

Majestic Wines has bought Naked Wines for £70 million and named Rowan Gormley chief executive officer of the new combined group.

Increased polarisation of Australian wine market widens gap between winners and losers

The Australian wine market is becoming increasingly polarised as many bulk grape producers and grape wine growers appear to be on the brink of  collapse, while premium wine producers seem to be growing in both value and volume.

Newly redesigned Vinexpo 2015 sells out of exhibitor space

The newly redesigned space at Vinexpo has now been fully book and all 2,400 exhibitor stalls have sold.

Drinks industry is well placed to benefit from new Google and Twitter deal

Drinks retailers, wholesalers and producers who try to hush-up negative comments from customers online are putting their businesses at a major disadvantage, according to a leading social media expert.

French winery fits mini cameras to bees to pioneer new viticiulture breakthrough

Wine technology company VinTank bought by W20 Group

VinTank, the US technology company that helps wine companies manage their social media presence, has been purchased by San-Francisco-based digital communications agency, W2O Group.

Naked Wines research finds consumers preferring higher alcohol wine

Naked Wines, the online wine retailer which crowdfunds independent winemakers through its customer base of over 250,000 'angels', has found that its consumers are favouring higher alcohol wines.

Concha y Toro's new research centre set to benefit wine industry throughout Chile

Concha y Toro hopes its new multi million pound research and innovation centre it has built in the heart of Chile's wine growing country will help the whole Chilean wine industry better understand what is possible from the country's wine producers.

Adnams aims to double turnover on spirits as it ramps up production

Suffolk brewer and distiller Adnams is aiming to grow its spirits business to around £7m in the next three years as it more than doubles production.

E&J Gallo extends Californian properties with acquisition of premium US brand J Vineyards

CyT joins Chile's fledgling DOC organisation

Concha y Toro, one of Chile's largest international brands, had joined Vigno, a society of small winemakers dedicated to promoting Carignan producers in the Maule Valley.

Why English wine's Litmus Wines is on board with Branson's South African hotel venture

English winemaking consultants Litmus Wines recently teamed up with Richard Branson's private hotel collection Virgin Limited Edition to launch a new joint-venture wine business in South Africa's Franschhoek region. Litmus' founder and director John Worontschak, and VLE's managing director, Jon Brown, talked to Harpers.co.uk about the venture and what it will mean for the Surrey-based business. 

Dedicated Wines looks to kick back against range cuts with new Les Incroyables wine range

Dedicated Wines is kicking back against wine range cutbacks in the major multiples by launching a new wine range, Les Incroyables, that it hopes will bring genuine interest to consumers and offer something different at a time of new product stagnation.