Analysis: how global exchange rates have helped boost China's growth in wine

Worldwide currency exchange rates continue to help shape the winners and losers in the global wine world and have played a key role in helping China become such a significant player.

Biercraft to offer specialist craft beers to independent on and off-trades

Biercraft is a new drinks distributor that hopes to offer independent wine merchants and premium restaurants the same level of service they are used to receiving from specialist wine suppliers, but for the emerging craft beer sector.

Consumer reasearch session: Champagne

The 21 attendees were asked to taste seven different Champagnes and then to fill in a questionnaire, which explored their attitudes and knowledge on fizz in more detail.

Le Vin La Table expands into the corporate market

Hale-based wine and cookery school Le Vin La Table, is expanding into the corporate market to offer Le Vin La Boardroom Table.

How do our Champagne Occasions partners educate the consumer?

Interview with: David Harker, owner, Newcastle wine school

I think the most surprising finding coming out of the workshop was how many respondents weren't fazed by the price of some of the Champagne - even up to £70 a bottle, which was a lot more than most of them said they would originally be prepared to pay...

West Coast Tri-state tasting to come to the UK in 2014

"Go West!", an event that will bring California, Oregon and Washington states together for the most comprehensive joint generic tasting for the region, is scheduled to take place on March 17, 2014 at the QEII Conference  Centre in Westminster, London.

Retailers use social media to make more consumer friendly wines

Retailers are increasingly turning to social media to help create new wines they hope will prove popular with consumers.

Virgin Wines sale: UK market still key, says Direct Wines chief

Direct Wines boss Simon McMurtrie says the UK is still of major importance for the firm's business following the sale of Virgin Wines.

Virgin Wines aims for faster growth away from Direct Wines

The new owners of Virgin Wines are planning for faster growth outside of the Direct Wines stable with a focus on face-to-face events and customer interaction.

Heston Blumenthal to open restaurant in Heathrow's revamped Terminal 2

Celebrity chef, Heston Blumenthal, will be opening a new restaurant in Terminal 2: The Queen's Terminal at Heathrow Airport, which is set to open on June 4, 2014, with dishes showcasing traditional British fare.

Distell appoints new GM for duty-free Europe

Markus Habermann has been appointed general manager for Distell's European duty-free business

Burgundy 2012 en primeur kicks off with some allocations already "exhausted"

The severly reduced Burgundy harvest for 2012 is resulting in producers holding en primeur tastings this month with "Allocation Exhausted" labels over some bottles.

Michelin star chef Michel Roux is face of Everyday Bordeaux consumer campaign

Michelin star chef Michel Roux of Le Gavroche fame has teamed up with the 2013 Everyday Bordeaux collection of wines, to promote those wines considered by a panel of judges from the Association of Wine Educators to offer some of the best value Bordeaux currently available in the UK.

Hangingditch in Manchester to hold sixth annual wine fair

Independent wine merchant, Hangingditch, is set to host its sixth annual wine fair in Manchester this Friday, November 19, from 6:30pm-9:30pm at the Manchester Cathedral, with live music, food and over 175 wines and spirits to taste.

Specialist Champagne restaurant set to open in City of London

A new restaurant which claims to have one of the largest selections of Champagne and sparkling wine by the glass in London is set to open in the City at the end of November.

Nightclub owners opening new venture called Mason House

Marc Merran, Eamonn Mulholland and Jean Philippe Kley, the team behind other nightclub ventures in London including Beat, Mo*Vida, Chinawhite, Aura and Fifity, are set to open a new venture, Mason House, on Argyll Street at the end of Novemeber, built in the vaults of the London Palladium.

Sign of the Don brings quality drinks range and easy going dining to the City

The founders of London's Bleeding Heart and The Don restaurants, has launched a new bar and bistro The Sign of the Don, which features a heavily-weighted drink-focused menu.

Jerry Lockspeiser on why we should not turn our backs on sweet wine drinkers

It is said that what America does today the UK follows a few years later. So it's no surprise that wine styles which have become popular over the pond are beginning to show up here. But sweeter reds? Whatever is the world coming to?

Treasury Wine Estates faces lawsuit

The hangover continues for Treasury Wine Estates (TWE) following its AUD $160 million write down earlier in the year; TWE now faces a lawsuit by Melbourne City Investments and second potential class action lawsuit funded by IMF Ltd and Maurice Blackburn lawyers who, to date, have only publicised their potential intent to undertake a shareholder class-action case against TWE but who have not, at this stage, commenced any legal proceedings.