This year’s seventh edition of the UK seminar and blind tasting competition, the Ruinart Sommelier Challenge, will take place on 20 May at 67 Pall Mall in central London. The Challenge has two objectives; to explore technical aspects of winemaking and choose the winning sommelier who will attend the all-expenses paid trip to Champagne later this year.
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Major drinks distributor C&C Group has promoted Jamie Avenell to the role of wine trading director, taking over from Harriet Kininmonth, who has now joined The Wine Society.
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The Harvest Tour, the industry three-day cycling tour in aid of The Drinks Trust will return in September following its successful 2023 launch.
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Family-owned distiller William Grant & Sons has launched a brand-new premium Scotch whisky brand to market.
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Berry Bros. & Rudd reduced its “where's my order?” queries by 40% in December 2023 courtesy of DispatchTrack, its new routing and order tracking solution.
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Wine Advocate, the bimonthly wine publication founded by Robert Parker in 1978 has appointed a non-American editor-in-chief for the first time in its history.
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Pro-moderation campaign group Club Soda believes there is an opportunity for growth in low-alcohol drinks, though it is currently being masked by alcohol-free sales and a lack of clarity on what exactly constitutes a low-abv serve.
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The government has announced it will support British businesses to settle energy disputes.
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30 Under 30 is once again returning to the London Wine Fair (LWF), where we will be announcing this year’s final list live at 12.45pm on Monday 20 May.
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The UK government recently announced that it would create 20,000 new apprenticeships by reforming the complex, paperwork-fuelled, resource-thirsty apprenticeship levy system for SMEs. A move that should benefit hospitality businesses up and down the country by bringing in new blood at the beginning of their careers. Phrases like ‘cut red tape’ and ‘regulatory burdens slashed’ appear throughout the government’s official, grand announcement – but forgive me if I retain my cynicism for now. This is coming from a government that has done nothing but increase the burden on business. And I’ll come back to that shortly.
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Waterford Distillery, producer of single malt whiskies, has appointed Craftwork as its new UK distributor. Craftwork will now expedite product roll-out for the full Waterford Whisky range and its sister brand Renegade Rum.
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Industrial action across the rail network from Friday 5 April to Monday 8 April is estimated to cost the hospitality sector £387m, according to UKhospitality.
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Wine retailer Majestic has bought Vagabond Wines after the business went into administration last month.
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Maison Perrier-Jouët welcomed a group of European journalists to its new tasting room to introduce the vins clairs of the most recent harvest, revealing the vibrance and resilience of its flagship grape Chardonnay.
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Prices for agave are currently in a tailspin as sales of premium products slow in key markets like the US and years of zealous plantings finally catch up – and outstrip – demand.
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Broadland Drinks has mounted a passionate defence of wine made from grape concentrate as it reveals new research which shows such products can undercut a traditionally made wine’s carbon footprint by up to a quarter.
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The Co-op has launched online wine tastings for its members, offering customers exclusive access to the producers behind its own-label ranges.
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Be Inclusive Hospitality has launched a winemaking programme with Plumpton College for hospitality professionals who identify as Black, Asian or ethnic minority.
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Young Cornish distillery Padstow Distilling has appointed Thorman Hunt as its sole UK distributor, in a move which will see its range distributed nationwide.
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English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber has agreed a deal in principle to buy The Lakes Distillery in a £46.1m deal.
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