Night trade poses biggest barrier to reopening on-premise

Packed pubs, standing-only bars and heaving nightclubs pose the biggest challenge to getting the struggling on-trade back on its feet, the IWSR has suggested.

The Drinks Trust launches roster of wellness services

The Drinks Trust has launched a number of new services focusing on improving the mental health of the industry and supporting them through what has been a troubling time for many.

Nyetimber expands across Kent with 205,000 new vines

Nyetimber has gone ahead with plans to rapidly expand its area under vine, with a major planting of 42ha at a new site in Kent.

Pandemic is officially “Bad for beer, better for spirits and wine”

Beer and cider were hard-hit in the 2008/9 economic crisis, suffering from a combination of duty rises, an on-trade slump and increased at-home consumption, all of which tend to favour spirits and wine.

Desperate times for bars and restaurants facing “short-term cashflow catastrophe” as footfall plummets 50%

Pressure is being piled on chancellor Rishi Sunak to introduce emergency measures to stem the knock on effect of coronavirus (Covid-19) as footfall to UK businesses fell by almost 50% over the weekend.

Nyetimber and Plumpton join forces to develop winemakers of the future

Nyetimber is looking to help develop the next generation of wine industry leaders via a new placement scheme in conjunction with Plumpton College’s wine division.

Yellow Tail and Casillero del Diablo continue dominance of global power list

Australia and Chile have once again topped Wine Intelligence’s list of the world’s power brands, with Yellow Tail and Casillero del Diablo holding onto their spots in first and second place for the third year in a row.

Wine Lister joins forces with French media giant

UK-based fine wine agency and analytics platform, Wine Lister, has been acquired by French media outfit, Groupe Figaro.

Essex and East Anglia primed for viticultural expansion say climate change researchers

Climate change researchers have pegged Essex and Norfolk as the next major areas to plant as warmer summers extend the area where grapes can be grown productively in the UK.

‘Buy now’ advice for Burgundy 2018 reds as quality outstrips 2015

Bountiful crops and idyllic weather was the talk of Europe in 2018, following on from the dismal vintage shortfalls of 2017 where producers suffered bouts of frost, hail and a late spell of searing heat.

Trump trade truce puts US tariffs on French wine on hold

The USA’s threat of slapping 100% tariffs on US$2.4 billion worth of French imports including wine and Champagne seems to have been put on hold after the countries’ leaders announced a ceasefire on Twitter.

Mike Coupe to retire as Sainsbury’s CEO

Sainsbury's has announced its CEO Mike Coupe will retire from the supermarket group in May this year.

Smartphones boost consumer interest in wine while ‘knowledge’ slides

The world’s wine drinkers are quickly becoming a population of confident connoisseurs thanks to widespread access to the internet and the ubiquity of smartphones. But are they any more knowledgeable offline?

Spotlight on 2020: Michael Saunders, Bibendum Wine

As we prepare for the new decade, Harpers will be taking the month of December to look back over 2019 and ahead to what the coming year will bring – hopefully full of revived optimism for both politics and the trade.

Naked announces Gormley’s retirement and appoints Devlin as its new CEO

Pernod Ricard partnership to bring Baijiu to the international market

Baijiu, China’s most popular and deeply historic spirit, could be making its way to the UK thanks to a new partnership with French giant Pernod Ricard.

Yealands appoints new CEO

Yealands Wine Group has appointed Tiffani Graydon as it new CEO, taking over from Adrian Garforth MW who took up the role of Yealands global brand ambassador & board advisor in July.

McGuigan Wines eyes Tumbarumba expansion as part of its cool climate “plan”

McGuigan Wines has revealed a blueprint to focus on its cool climate messaging in order to continue to transform Australia’s reputation at the premium end from “in your face wines” to wines of “flavour, intensity, structure and length”.

Esporão adds Vinho Verde to its growing roll call

Leading Portuguese producer Herdade do Esporão is adding Vinho Verde to its growing portfolio of regions with the purchase of historic winery Quinta do Ameal.

Cider is Wine alliance gains momentum with new member

Cider is Wine, the new trade alliance that aims to create a “global cider category” made from 100% apples (or pears for perry) has gained a new member.