International Alliance for Responsible Drinking exceeds safeguarding target

The International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD), a collective of some of the world’s biggest alcohol producers, has surpassed its 2024 goal of embedding rigorous digital safeguards across thousands of brands worldwide.

Golden Vines Report offers a bullish forecast for 2025

The Golden Vines 2024 Report, formerly known as The Gérard Basset Global Fine Wine Report, has been published by the charity set up by friends and colleagues of the late sommelier.

WineGB launches definitive guide to award-winning British wines

WineGB has collaborated with the Vineyard & Winery Show to create the Golden 50 Wines List – a database of award-winning British wines that have received gold medals across 10 national and international competitions in 2024.

Scottish businesses to pay 'up to 70% more in rates' versus across the border

New analysis released by UKHospitality Scotland has revealed that hospitality businesses will be significantly worse off than their English counterparts, unless the Scottish government takes decisive action to introduce business rates relief in its forthcoming Budget.

Harpers 30 Under 30 finalist invests in bricks and mortar

Entrepreneur, cheese enthusiast and media personality Jessica Summer has opened her first shop and bar in the London Borough of Harrow.

Gusbourne unveils hybrid distribution partnership with Enotria&Coe

Leading sparkling wine producer Gusbourne has joined forces with Enotria&Coe to expand the brand's presence in the UK on-trade.

Post-Budget fallout looms over UK insolvency reprieve

Loire Valley producers reeling from 'unprecedented climatic conditions' in 2024

Vintage 2024 in the Loire Valley has been described as "one of the most trying years in recent decades” for growers in north-western France.

Hospitality endures sluggish October growth despite licensed premises rise

The UK’s leading hospitality groups achieved overall year-on-year sales growth of just 0.6% in October 2024, despite an increase in new openings recorded last month.

Wales abandons UK-wide DRS in favour of glass inclusion

Wales will press ahead with its own Deposit Return Scheme (DRS) as the devolved government announced its intention to back out of a UK-wide framework which is looking to exclude glass.

Rhône Valley producers optimistic despite 'Homeric vintage' in 2024

As the dust settles on another roller coaster vintage, winemakers across the Rhône Valley are nonetheless confident that their wines will showcase “fruit, tension and balance” - as much for white wines as for reds and rosés.

Wine Paris to welcome record number of exhibitors in 2025

Wine Paris, hitherto known as Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris, is poised to receive over 4,600 exhibitors from 50 different countries in 2025, continuing its meteoric growth since the first edition opened in 2019.

Cru Bourgeois de Medoc looks to 2030 classification following major overhaul

A new era for the Cru Bourgeois de Medoc was on show at last week’s central London tasting where the trade and press were invited to taste wines from 2022 – the last of five vintages classified in the current 2020 classification and the first vintage to be blind tasted and included in the analysis for the upcoming 2030 classification. 

Nick Gillett: Aiming high with no & low

The “no & low” category, as it’s become lovingly known, is one that many spirits boffins struggled to get their heads around at first. When you look at the statistics, the success of no & low is startling. For the last two years in the UK, growth in the category has massively outperformed the overall total beverage alcohol volumes and in 2023 sales of low alcohol products doubled (IWSR data). And there are other markets around the world where it’s even bigger, where moderation and sobriety are more common and embedded in the culture. But let’s be straight – it’s still a small category when compared to rum, vodka, or even tequila – but the overall trajectory is on the up and expected to continue well into the next five years and beyond.

Hospitality in resurgence after 'easing financial pressure' buoys consumer confidence

A new survey by Lumina Intelligence has revealed promising signs of a modest recovery in the UK on-trade, with both consumer spend and frequency of visits rising in October 2024.

UK government increases number of alcohol licenses despite post-budget concerns

The UK’s ailing hospitality sector is showing modest signs of recovery, with the number of licensed premises increasing for a second successive quarter and 661 net new openings in the third quarter of 2024.

Visionary winemaker Yiannis Boutaris dies

Yiannis Boutaris, founder of the Kir-Yianni family of wine estates in Greece, has died aged 82.

New Zealand Winegrowers affirms commitment to Sommelier Scholarships

Following a temporary, pandemic-induced hiatus, New Zealand is once again poised to welcome the winners of New Zealand Winegrowers’ Sommelier Scholarships.

Viña Montes unveils new sparkling cuvée from Patagonian wildlife reserve

South American icon Viña Montes will launch a new traditional method sparkling in 2025, using fruit grown on the Chiloé group of islands that lie off the west coast of Patagonia.

EU Launches ‘More Than Only Food and Drink’ campaign

The European Union has unveiled a new PR initiative designed to promote the virtues of continental food and drink to UK industry professionals – highlighting food safety, quality, authenticity and sustainability credentials.