Start-up Wineist sends sample wine packs direct to consumers

Slovenian start-up firm Wineist has landed upon a unique concept - to send out monthly wine tasting kits, complete with samples to consumers the world over.

Diana Hunter, Conviviality CEO, on the new BB's Warehouse concept

Diana Hunter is chief executive of Conviviality Retail, owner of the Bargain Booze network. Last week the firm announced the launch of a new concept - BB's Warehouse - a destination discount off-licence warehouse. Gemma McKenna finds out more.

Your chance to vote in Harpers France Wine Awards and take part in France Summit

Harpers is once again looking to reward the very best retailers, restaurants, distributors and individuals that are leading the way in selling and promoting French wine in the UK in our second Harpers France Awards.

Tesco invites consumers to come up with wine descriptions

Tesco is inviting its consumers to join in a wine tasting to help come up with more customer friendly and impartial wine descriptors.

Waitrose warns of lower profits but still shows growth

Waitrose is following its supermarket brethren Tesco and Morrisons with a lower profit warning, but the upmarket chain still is expecting profits to rise by 4.5%, albeit down on last year's stellar increase.

Put your football knowledge to the test in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League

So do you think your football? Your Christmas Tree formation over your 4-4-2? Know what "running between the lines" actually means? Well why not put those skills to the test and take part in the new Benevolent Fantasy Football League - oh and raise some money for the drinks charity along the way.

House of Lords calls for drinks industry's advice on next EU Alcohol Strategy

The drinks industry has been invited by the House of Lords to send in its suggestions for what the next European Union Alcohol Strategy should look like.

Consumers will drink cheap wine until the trade convinces them to do otherwise, warns Jerry Lockspeiser

The UK wine trade should stop lamenting the fact the average consumer is looking to buy cheaper wine and work harder to convince them to do otherwise, according to leading wine consultant Jerry Lockspeiser.

WSTA conference to focus on engaging consumers

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's annual conference will focus on the role branding, innovation and digital communications play in engaging with consumers in today's wine and spirits world.

Wine brands say promotion forecasting site Bring A Bottle could 'misdirect consumers'

Top wine brands have accused new drinks promotions forecasting website Bring A Bottle of having the "potential to misdirect consumers".

Craft cider boom sees Brits spend extra £10m on pricy ciders

Sales of the priciest ciders on the market have grown by £10 million in the past year, as British drinkers seek out more expensive artisanal versions of the drink.

Aldi on verge of overtaking Waitrose as sales jump a further 32%

Price comparison site Bring A Bottle pinpoints cheapest times to buy major drinks brands

Customers should be buying and stockpiling lager in June and July, and Champagne at Christmas, according to new data from Bring A Bottle which pinpoints exactly when the biggest promotions start across a range of top-selling brands.

A 'yes' vote from Scotland could cripple drinks firms with duty headaches

If Scotland splits from the rest of the UK drinks firms could face potentially crippling changes to duty which would add a significant cost and administrative burden - even causing some to go out of business.

Naked Wines kicks off same-day delivery trial in San Francisco

New "Tesco tax" to raise money for small businesses could be counter productive warns ACS

Moves by local councils to introduce a so-called "Tesco tax" on major supermarkets to raise money to be re-invested in high street areas could set a dangerous precedent warns the Association of Convenience Stores.

Oddbins to start franchise operation with 26 independent wine retailers

High street chain Oddbins is planning to kick off its franchised model by converting around 26 independent wine merchants to the company fascia.

Amathus opens third London wine and spirits store

Amathus, well-known as a drinks supplier, importer and specialist retailer, has opened its third London store, this time in Knightsbridge.

Conviviality Retail opens discount drinks store BB's Warehouse

Conviviality Retail, owner of Bargain Booze and Wine Rack, is launching BB's Warehouse, a new drinks store focused on multibuy and bulk discounting. 

Oxford Wine Company signs deal to be exclusive UK importer of Downton Abbey wines

Ted Sandbach of the Oxford Wine Company has become the exclusive UK importer for a special Downton Abbey range of wines, created by French producer, Les Grands Chais de France.