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.

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.

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.

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.

Q&A: Buckingham Schenk's new MD Craig Durham outlines his plans

Newly-appointed managing director of wine supplier Buckingham Schenk Craig Durham takes up the role on February 1. He is the current sales director at the firm and replaces Jon Pepper MW, who is moving to Enotria. Here he shares his plans, current successes, how to expand on brand ranges, and why he'd love to see Swiss wines in the UK.

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Skin Côntact's Ben Smith shares his music likes and loves

The countdown is on until the biggest (well OK only) live gig of the year takes place when the wine trade's very own band, Skin Côntact, take to the stage at Vinopolis on March 9 to help raise money for Comic Relief.

Champagne celebrates return to growth as sales hit €4.5 billion

Champagne shipments grew 1% by volume in 2014, with sales expected to exceed 307 million bottles and hit €4.5 billion.

Groceries Code Adjudicator hamstrung in efforts to fine supermarkets

The Groceries Code Adjudicator has admitted she is hamstrung in her efforts to reprimand retailers as the government has not yet finalised her powers to hand out fines.

English sparkling wine Coates & Seely moves from Liberty to Gonzalez Byass

English sparkling wine producer Coates & Seely has switched its UK distribution from Liberty Wines to Gonzalez Byass.

On-trade supplier Matthew Clark toasts bumper December as sales top £100m

On-trade drinks supplier Matthew Clark says December was its most successful month ever as sales broke the £100 million mark, as customers plumped for top-end wines and Champagnes.

Top-up shop and vloggers tipped as major trends for 2015, says Euromonitor

Euromonitor forecasts the rise of convenience shopping and the growing power of vloggers or "native influencers" as two consumer trends expected to grow in 2015 that could impact the drinks trade.

Copestick Murray to distribute advertising mogul Sir John Hegarty's wines

Copestick Murray was inspired by Bartle Bogle Hegarty co-founder Sir John Hegarty's 'no holds barred' keynote speech at the WSTA conference last year to sign a distribution deal for his wines in the UK and Ireland.

Labour's alcohol policies to boost Britain's health attacked by trade bodies

Labour party plans to introduce a ban on alcohol sponsorship of sporting events, combined with a series of measures to boost Britain's health have been attacked by the drinks industry's major trade associations.

Nielsen confirms sparkling wine and major spirits categories as big Christmas winners

Nielsen has confirmed that sparkling wine and the main spirits categories were the big winners during Christmas 2014.

WSTA's Miles Beale urges all in UK drinks industry to help secure 2% cut in alcohol duty

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, spells out today on Harpers.co.uk why it is so important everyone in the UK drinks industry plays their part in trying to secure a 2% drop in alcohol duty in the Budget in March.

Wine and spirits industry will not be helped by falling oil prices says Moody's

The global drop in oil prices will only have a "modest" impact on consumer spending and the retail industry in the European Union, according to a new report from Moody's the credit rating agency.  revised its pricing assumptions in a newly published report that looked at the global impact the reduction in the cost  of oil could have and found there would have a 'modest' impact to consumer spending and retail within the EU.