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.

Former ITN and CNN correspondents in Wine Enthusiast's top 5

David Smith, the former ITN news correspondent turned winemaker, has received a massive vote of confidence for his Argentinian wine, SonVida, that only had its first vintage in 2007, by being named number four in the prestigious Wine Enthusiast Top100 wines of the year.

The Thinking Drinkers look to celebrate "legends of liquor" in new Soho show

The world of drinks has been blessed with some maverick and memorable figures over the years all of which will be celebrated as part of a new show by the Thinking Drinkers, otherwise known as drinks writers Tom Sandham and Ben McFarland.

Buckingham Schenk to ramp up on-trade focus with Argentinian wine brand

Buckingham Schenk is planning to ramp up its foothold on the on-trade with new Argentinian wine brand Phebus, sister brand of its star off-trade performer Vinalba.

Rémy Cointreau sales decline slows, shows signs of stabilising

Rémy Cointreau's sales are still declining based on its third quarter financial results, but falls are slowing signalling that the company may finally be stabilising following a Cognac crash that hit China.

Wine merchant Vagabond secures third site

Independent London wine merchant Vagabond has secured its third site - in Old Spitalfields Market - and is planning to ramp up fundraising to open two to three new stores per year.

New Zealand to hold first international conference celebrating Sauvignon Blanc in 2016

New Zealand is launching an international conference celebrating its flagship grape variety - Sauvignon Blanc - which will take place in Marlborough in February 2016.