Independent wine retailers report major sales uplift over Jubilee

Independent wine retailers have reported a major sales uplift over the Jubilee weekend, with some merchants seeing a 70% boost.

WSET iPhone app notches up 3,000 downloads

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust Wine Game iPhone app, which launched on May 22 and tests players by placing wines in their respective countries, has passed the 3,000 download mark.

Wines in the press, May 31- June 4

The Financial Times

Accolade Wines acquires Geyser Peak

Accolade Wines has acquired Californian brand Geyser Peak, as well as stablemates Atlas Peak and XYZin, from Ascentia Wine Estates, with the aim of spearheading growth in the US.

Sterling weakens against euro

Sterling weakened against the majority of currencies last week and in particular against the euro as the Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) came out worse than expected.

Bowmore's 'most delicate'

Bowmore has released a Small Batch Reserve (rrp £32.99) an expression, which is deemed to be its "most delicate" and "best balanced" to date.

British and International Distillers Association set up for craft distillers

Piccini launches Memoro Vino Bianco

The family owned vineyard Piccini has launched a white partner for its Piccini Memoro Rosso Vino d'Italia, which was launched last year.

Consumers reluctant to try lower-alcohol wines

The lower-alcohol wine category will reach a natural cap due to consumer reluctance to try lighter style products, new research has indicated.

Asda adds 60 IPL wines to range

Asda has added over 60 International Produce Limited (IPL) wines to its range.

Sterling ends week poorly against dollar and yen

Sterling had a fairly poor week weakening against the US dollar to a four month low and dropping against the Japanese yen to a 14 week low.

Kingsland Wines completes £1m project

Following an investment in excess of £1m, Kingsland Wines and Spirits has completed the installation of 42 new stainless steel tanks to help increase capacity at its bottling plant.

Benevolent Society AGM date announced

The 125th Annual General Meeting of the Wine & Spirit Trades' Benevolent Society has been announced.

Ramsgate Brewery breaches Portman Code

A Ramsgate Brewery beer, Dark Conspiracy has breached alcohol responsibility rules for featuring East End gangsters, the Kray twins on its pump clips.

London on-trade resilient for Mentzendorff

The prestige London on-trade is proving a particularly resilient part of the market for Mentzendorff.

Consumers reluctant to try low-alcohol wines

The lower-alcohol wine category will reach a natural cap due to consumer reluctance to try lighter style products, new research has indicated. 

Mentzendorff benefits from London on-trade resilience

The prestige London on-trade is proving a particularly resilient part of the market for Mentzendorff.

Wines from Rioja focuses on premiumisation for 2012 campaign

Educating consumers towards premiumisation is the focus of this year's Wines from Rioja marketing campaign.

Wine trade concerned over alcohol statistics

Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware has warned that having a few glasses of wine can be classed as binge drinking.

Laura Heywood blog: taking green to the extreme

When someone tells you they're playing music to their vines to encourage growth you'd be forgiven for thinking that they've gone a bit doolally. Could this be one step too far in the pursuit of vinous perfection?