Australian wines not 'broken' in off-trade, but on-trade is a challenge, says Accolade

Accolade Wines has defended Australia's wine industry which has been struggling in the UK over the past couple of years, saying the off-trade is back in growth, although the on-trade remains a challenge.

The Duchess of Cornwall toasts Australian wine

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall marked yesterday's Australia Day with a glass of Australian wine at official celebrations hosted by Tourism Australia.

Accolade Wines recruits Daniel l'Anson as first UK fine wine director to drive premium wines

Accolade Wines hopes to establish a footprint and market for its extensive range of premium wines by appointing its first fine wine director in the UK.

Jeremy Rockett new MD for Marblehead

Former longstanding Gonzalez Byass marketing chief Jeremy Rockett has been appointed the new managing director of Marblehead - the brand development arm of Quintessential Brands.

Harpers Awards 2015 promises to roll out red carpet for best in UK wine and spirits

Awards season is well and truly amongst us with seemingly not a day going by without a red carpet being rolled out for the great, good and glamorous. Harpers is giving you the chance to shine in your own industry with this year's entry process for the Harpers Awards well and truly under way.

Bag-in-box only wine retailer to ramp up international expansion

High end bag-in-box wine retailer BiBoViNo, which currently operates 10 stores, is planning to open up to 100 stores internationally.

UK wine trade to unite to pay respects to Château Musar's Serge Hochar

A memorial service is to be held to remember the life and influence of legendary Lebanese winemaker, Serge Hochar, of Château Musar, who died whilst on a family holiday in Mexico over the new year.

Portman Group backs report on how Labour Party should work with business

A report by the Fabian Society, which proposes a charter for how the Labour party engages with business, is being released today with backing from the Portman Group.

USA to be 'star of the global economy for 2015' says Euromonitor

Euromonitor's global economic outlook for 2015 forecasts the US economy will see the largest growth in real GDP and a strengthening currency, and should be the best performing advanced economy this year.

Scotch whisky losing ground to other spirits, says Rabobank

Scotch whisky is losing market share to more innovative spirits categories, Rabobank has warned.

Cambridge Wine's Hal Wilson leads the way and gets local MP to back Drop the Duty campaign

Leading independent wine merchant, Hal Wilson of Cambridge Wine Merchants, has shown the way forward by persuading his local MP to stand up for a drop in wine and spirits duty in March's Budget by writing to Chancellor, George Osborne calling for a change.

DHL Tradeteam appoints new boss James Gill

Drinks logistics provider DHL Tradeteam has appointed James Gill as its new managing director, after predecessor Gavin Murdoch was promoted to head up the firm's Japanese business.

Diageo signs distribution agreements with Marblehead and Catalyst Brands

Diageo has signed two separate agreements with spirits brand distributor Marblehead and brand agency, Catalyst Brands, to distribute five of its smaller brands throughout Great Britain.

Maxxium UK's MD announces departure for newly created role at Edrington

Maxxium UK's managing director Huw Pennell announced today he will be leaving his post to join Edrington, one of Maxxium UK's major shareholders, for a newly created role of European regional managing director on April 1, 2015.

Gaucho restaurant celebrates 21 years

Justin Knock MW predicts trusted wine brands will make a comeback in 2015

Justin Knock MW, one of the partners behind the recent acquisition of wine merchant Philglas & Swiggot, and a consulting winemaker for Encirc Wines, sees wine brands making a comeback with consumers, Italy facing potential supply problems and questions whether New Zealand can keep its momentum going as hot topics to watch in 2015.

Top indies and trade experts lined up for March for Independents conference

Leading sales, buying, finance, management, legal and employment specialists have been lined up to speak at Harpers dedicated conference for independent wine merchants in London on March 3.

Chief of the Week: Skin Côntact's Richard Hemming

Drum roll please for our Chief of the Week who is the man behind the wine industry's very own rock band, Skin Côntact, that has been brought together to not only bring some much needed entertainment for the drinks trade but to help raise money for Comic Relief.

Fever-Tree boosted by second half results up by nearly 50%

Fever-Tree, the premium mixer company, announced yesterday a strong financial performance in the second half of 2014, with sales expected to rise 43% and revenue to grow 49% to £34.7 million.

Top British importers and merchants unite to call for better prices from Bordeaux

Some of the biggest wine importers, distributors, brokers and retailers in the country, including Majestic, Berry Bros & Rudd and Farr Vintners, have written to Bordeaux producers to demand changes in pricing of wines being offered to the UK.