Retailers set for half a billion Xmas ad spend

The UK's major retail groups are to spend at least 530 on advertising over the Christmas period.

London councils set to ban plastic bags

Local authorities are expected to move today to ban the use of plastic shopping bags in the UK capital.

New president for Academy Food and Wine

Roy Ackerman CBE as been named as the new president of The Academy of Food and Wine and will take over the role from Lord Thurso who has agred to stay on as patron of the organisation.

Yalumba wins green award

Barossa winery Yalumba was awarded the International Green Apple Award for Environmental Best Practice (Australia and New Zealand) from the House of Commons.

Fortune sells off wine business to Constellation

Fortune Brands, which owns Beam Global Spirits and Wine, has sold off its wine business to Constellation Brands for a reported US$885 million (428.3m).

St Pancras champagne bar opens tomorrow

Europe's longest champagne bar opens for business tomorrow (November 14th) at St Pancras International station.

Constellation consolidates winemaking and packaging

European medical chiefs to set up an anti-alcohol charter

Senior medical chiefs from the UK and across Europe are to meet tomorrow to agree and produce a charter that it hopes will form a springboard to "reduce the harm caused by alcohol to Europe".

Drinks industry challenges alcohol lobby group

The five main drinks industry trade associations have written to the Alcohol Health Alliance, a 21-strong health lobby group, calling on them to back up their allegations with hard facts.

Fine wine helps Majestic sales growth

Majestic Wine has sailed through a difficult trading period with its overall sales up 2.4% for the first half of the year.

Musar strike UK deal

Lebanese producer Chateau Musar will de-list its entire Cuve range from the UK market and launch a new label with Constellation-owned Matthew Clark.

WSTA says new Alcohol Health Alliance is "mis-directed"

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, has said the new Alcohol Health Alliance, officially launched today, calling for tougher measures to curb the level of drinking in the UK is "mis-directed".

Terroir is not a myth, says new research

If you needed prove that the concept of terroir exists then wine academic, Angela Bauer, believes she has proved the theory beyond doubt at a presentation given to the Riesling Fellowship at the German Embassy in London last night (November 7).

Oddbins slides further into debt

Oddbins' fell even deeper into the red last year with pre-tax losses rising from 3m to 8.7 million.

Ctes du Rhne launches London advertising campaign

FRANCE: Ctes du Rhne Wines is investing 250,000 to promote its wines in London.

Ricard to step down

Patrick Ricard, who heads up drinks giant Pernod Ricard has announced he will step down from his executive duties in November 2008 and has called for Pierre Pringuet to replace him.

Ian Macleod launches six Isles Island advertising campaign

Ian Macleod Distillers spends a five figure sum to advertise its Six Isles Island blended malt Scotch whisky.

Australian wine exports boosted by UK surge

A surge in exports to the United Kingdom has underpinned a new 12-month record for Australian wine exports.

Champagne group sales up 15%

Group Laurent-Perrier has announced its first half sales have risen 15% compared with the same period last year.

Bordeaux 2007 vintage: day 34

The Bordelais have entered the winery, and it's now fingers crossed for the malolactic fermentation