Harpers Design Awards 2012

Design is a key element for brand development and awareness. If you have recently re-designed or launched your drinks brand or you are a design agency representing a great product, enter the Harpers Wine & Spirit Design Awards and gain the recognition you deserve.

Currency update: G20 meetings get underway

Sterling regained some of the ground it lost against the US dollar on Tuesday as the surge in demand for safe haven assets waned, however the pound failed to capitalise on its move towards €1.17/£1.

New cocktails for waistline watchers

The newly refurbished Rockwell Bar in London's Trafalgar Hotel is introducing a range of cocktails targeted at health conscious, calories counting drinkers.

Sud de France to round off year with organic and biodynamic tasting

Sud de France is to round off its wine tasting year with an organic and biodynamic wine tasting.

Oddbins' customers choose premium prices for wine

Oddbins' customers priced wines within 50p of the chain's preferred cost as part of its launch initiative inviting customers to blind taste and value three wines.

Greek PM call for referendum sends currency markets into chaos

Sterling slid against the US dollar as calls from Greek PM George Papandreou for a referendum on the EU bailout sent markets into chaos.

Jeremy Beadles to leave WSTA

Jeremy Beadles, chief executive at The Wine and Spirit Trade Association, is leaving the trade body after a six year stint.

Brancott Estate opens Marlborough heritage centre

The Pernod Ricard owned brand Brancott Estate, has opened a heritage centre in Marlborough.

Trade bodies slam Scottish minimum pricing plans

Minimum price plans will punish responsible drinkers, won't address alcohol misuse, is probably illegal and will damage one of Scotland's key industries, say trade bodies as the Scottish government publishes its Alcohol Bill.

Camel Valley wins Bollicine del Mondo trophy for second year

English winery, Camel Valley has been awarded the International Sparkling Rosé Trophy at Bollicine del Mondo for the second year in a row, for its Camel Valley Pinot Rosé 2009.

Coca Cola to run festive Designated Driver campaign

Coca Cola is running its Designated Driver campaign in 8,000 bars this December, which sees drivers get one Coke free when they buy one.

Sterling surges against euro hitting €1.1594/£1

Sterling surged against the euro by close to 2%, hitting a high of €1.1594/£1, after yields on Italian bonds rose as the country struggles to implement tough spending cuts.

Sterling makes gains against dollar

Sterling gained against the US dollar on Friday afternoon in the wake of increased risk appetite following on from last week's EU summit.

Sogrape acquires Stevens Garnier

The wine producer Sogrape has increased its shareholding to a full buy-out of the UK wine agency, Stevens Garnier.

Grey Goose announces new partners for charity ball

Grey Goose Vodka is celebrating its sixth year of supporting the Elton John AIDS Foundation with the announcement of new partners, that includes the world renowned restaurant, elBulli.

Hardys pushes food compatibility

Accolade Wines is putting investment behind its Australian wine brand Hardys with sponsorship and sampling activity at MasterChef Live and the BBC Good Food Shows this autumn.

Glenmorangie launches Nectar D'Òr 15 Years Old

Glenmorangie has extended the extra maturation period of its Nectar D'Òr by three years, to offer the Glenmorangie Nectar D'Òr 15 Years Old.

Wines in the press, October 27-31

The Guardian

Sterling rallies as European leaders strike euro debt crisis deal

Sterling hit a seven week high against the US dollar but dropped by around 1.5% against the euro as European leaders struck a deal on the euro zone debt crisis.

Cloudy Bay targets "culture loving urbanites"