Scrap duty escalator to help save 4,000 pubs at risk, says WSTA

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association has seized on today's prediction by the Good Pub Guide that up to 4,000 pubs could close in the next 12 months to call on the government to do its bit and scrap the duty escalator on alcohol and help save more pubs from closure.

UK wine educators look to bring story of Bordeaux back to the UK

Fifteen UK-based tutors have attended a specialised accredited course at L'École du Vin in Bordeaux in a bid to help spread the word in the UK about the region's wines.

Start planning your Beautiful South Tasting

With over 300 tables and 330 producers the first Beautiful South Tasting, to be held on September 11 and 12 in London's Olympia, demands a plan and the full show catalogue is now available online to download so attendees can devise a tactical plan of what producers to put on their 'must-see' list.

Wines of Argentina's Cambalache event shortlisted in industry awards

Wines of Argentina in the UK has been shortlisted for two major event and brand industry awards to recognise its breakthrough Cambalache event it held earlier this year.

Illegal vodka pipeline discovered in Kyrgyzstan

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have shut off an illegal eight inch-wide tube being used to smuggle illicit alcohol between Kazakhstan for a third of mile under the Chu River into Kyrgyzstan, according to local agency reports.

California's early 2013 harvest looking to be a good vintage

While the European 2013 harvest is several weeks behind schedule, California's 2013 harvest, which began the first of August for sparkling wines produced in the region,  is ahead of schedule and looking to be of a good quality and quantity.

Selfridges offers Rhuby Rhubarb Liqueur

Selfridges and Coe Vintners have acquired the exclusive UK distribution rights for Rhuby, a Swedish produced, natural rhubarb liqueur created by Ylva Binder for the UK market.

Nyetimber signs export deal to Denmark

Nyetimber continues to expand overseas with a new contract to supply its English wines to Denmark.

Anheuser-Busch to host well-being and responsibility forum

Anheuser-Busch is hosting an InBev Well-Being & Responsibility Forum on September 17, with topics covering well-being and responsibility, road safety and drink-driving prevention, underage-drinking prevention, and excessive-drinking prevention with 200 participants already confirmed.

WSTA puts the consumer at the heart of its annual conference

How the wine and spirits trade can best tackle the "Consumer Challenge" will be the key theme of this year's Wine & Spirit Trade Assocation conference to be held in London on September 25. engage with

Southern Comfort announces follow-up TV ad

Bacardi Brown-Forman has announced the next stage of its 'Whatever's Comfortable' ad campaign for Southern Comfort in the UK.

Louis Jadot purchases Oregon vineyard

Maison Louis Jadot has announced that it has purchased Resonance Vineyard in Oregon's Willamette Valley for an undisclosed fee.

Valerie Lewis's move to Enotria opens door for Alex Layton

The last month has seen a number of changes amongst senior marketing and communications roles at major wine companies in the UK with Valerie Lewis, formerly of Negociants UK, replacing Ben Smith as head of communications at Enotria following his recent move to take up the same role at Concha y Toro. Alex Layton has subsequently moved from Westbury Communications to take over Lewis' head of marketing and publicity role at Negociants UK.

Searcys to open Gin Joint next month

Searcys is to launch Gin Joint, a brasserie and bar situated in the Barbican Centre, where around 40 gins will be available, including one chilled on tap.

Half of wines sold in Scotland below proposed minimum price

Lucas Bols launches honey liqueur

Lucas Bols has announced the launch of Bols Honey Liqueur to offer bartenders a new twist for cocktails.

William Grant & Sons takes New Zealand Whisky Company to court

Global Scottish whisky giant William Grant & Sons is taking Dunedin DoubleWood, part of the New Zealand Whisky Company, to court, claiming the DoubleWood name confuses consumers with its Balvenie brand's DoubleWood.

Naked Wines secures additional £6.4m for expansion abroad

Norwich-based Naked Wines has announced it has secured a third round of funding of £6.4 million from German WIV Wein International AG, a founding shareholder in the company, bringing the total amount invested by WIV in the online retailer to £15.4 million.

Jack Daniel Distillery to undergo $100m expansion

Brown-Forman is to invest US$100 million in expanding the Jack Daniel Distillery. 

Cobevco brings Rob Higgs's 'Corkscrew' to Beautiful South Tasting

The headline sponsor for the Beautiful South tasting, bottling specialist Cobevco, will be pouring a selection of its customer wines from the specialist Rob Higgs "Corkscrew" at the event in September.