Justin Liddle appointed as Mentzendorff MD

Mentzendorff, the UK import and agency business of Group Bollinger, has today announced Justin Liddle as its new MD, effective immediately.

Alcohol Duty: ‘One tax rise in a year is alarming, two is unacceptable’

Ahead of the Autumn Statement on 22 November, senior figures in the wine industry are voicing their concerns amidst fears of a second alcohol duty rise in the space of four months.

Nick Gillett: Competitive socialising – novelty or here to stay?

Plumpton College Queen’s Anniversary Prize

Plumpton College has been awarded the highest National Honour in education, a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for its work in wine education and wider impact on the English and Welsh wine sector.

Christmas strikes to cost hospitality £800m

ASLEF, the UK’s train drivers’ union, has announced a ‘rolling programme’ of strikes during the festive month.

Oxford Landing brings ‘duty-friendly’ wines to market

Oxford Landing Wines, owned by Australian winery Hill-Smith Family Estates, has launched two low-alcohol wines to the UK market.

Broadland Drinks launches ‘one-stop shop for cutting carbon’

Broadland Drinks, a Harpers Sustainability Charter Signatory, has today (16 November) launched its ‘one-stop shop to cut carbon’ – offering lightweight glass bottles, cans, bag in box (BiB), pouches, kegs and paper bottles to help retailers reduce carbon output.

Loire Valley vintage impacted by ‘complex weather’

Variable weather in the Loire Valley, which frequently fluctuated between soaking wet and scorching hot, has led to varied yields across the appellation.

Zonin1821 partners with the UK Sommelier Association

Zonin1821, one of Italy’s most important wineries, has partnered with the UK Sommelier Association (UKSA), to attract a greater number of young people to the profession.

Seedlip founder launches first product from new Pollen Projects

Ben Branson, the de facto face of the modern low & no movement, has announced the first headline product of a brand-new venture.

New Zealand supplies back in full flow at autumn tasting

New Zealand touched down via the country’s autumn tasting in London yesterday (14 November), where winemakers were celebrating a bumper harvest in 2023 and the knock-on effect, which has provided a boost to the world’s wine supply at a time when the global crush is at an all-time low.

Nc’nean Distillery receives government funding package

Independent Scotch whisky distiller Nc’nean has secured a Virgin Money funding package with the backing of the UK government to help grow the business in North American markets.

Louis Roederer companies brought together under ‘Roederer Collection’

The historic Champagne House, which was founded in 1776, has brought together all its companies under the label ‘Roederer Collection’, to help unify its abundant Maisons under one distinctive banner.

Wet October softens growth for hospitality

Britain’s leading hospitality groups saw year-on-year growth slow to 3.2% in October amid widespread poor weather, the new CGA RSM Hospitality Business Tracker reveals.

Consumers seek affordable drink-only occasions Lumina finds

The latest Lumina research has revealed that consumers are opting for affordable drink-only occasions, with pubs and bars seeing the most notable share growth year-on-year, up 1.3% in Q3.

Deadline for digital nutritional wine labels in the EU approaches

Digital nutritional wine labels, accessible via QR Codes, will become mandatory in the EU on 8 December, meaning that UK businesses exporting or reexporting to this market have just under one month to ensure compliance.

ABS appoint new national account manager

Awin Barratt Siegel Wine Agencies (ABS), a leading UK-based wine importer, has announced the appointment of Gary Janes as its new national account manager – effective Monday 20 November.

Russell Bradley joins VCL Vintners

VCL Vintners, a leading whisky cask broker, has appointed Russell Bradley as its new head of brand development.

Diageo profit warning knocks European drinks markets

Diageo has issued an unexpected trading statement to warn that this year’s revenue and profit will be significantly lower than the group previously expected – a blow which has had a serious knock-on effect for the European drinks sector.

Fears grow for second alcohol duty rise in less than a year

Wine and spirit businesses are calling on the chancellor to freeze alcohol duty until the end of parliament, when Jeremy Hunt delivers his Autumn Statement on 22 November.