Mad for Malbec

Argentina is Malbec; New Zealand is Sauvignon Blanc. The intimate link between a country and dominant single variety is a strategy fraught with danger – apparently. Change the record, please.

Lebanon gaining ground

Swiss wine Part 1: The unknown country

“In Switzerland, they had brotherly love, five hundred years of democracy and peace – and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”

Swiss wine Part 2: Indigenous variety heaven

Wineries from all six of Switzerland’s wine regions were present at the Swiss Wine tasting last month: Valais and Vaud, where most wineries are based, and which account respectively for 33% and 25% of production, Geneva, Ticino, the surprisingly extensive German-speaking area and the Three Lakes Region.

The Apprentice: How will the new government levy affect the trade and will it help staff churn?

As of this month, the government’s apprenticeship levy is going to revolutionise the way large businesses offer staff training. 

Through the telescope: A look at future tech likely to affect the wine trade

When Uber recently announced it was looking into the possibility of making daily air travel as cheap as a normal taxi fare, the world - and especially the media - gasped with anticipation.

The battle for the retail shelves

The latest Nielsen retail reports make for interesting reading. Supermarket own-brand wines showed growth of 12.6% in the 12 weeks leading up to January 28, 2017, an escalation from 5.5% year-on-year growth, while brands lost 3% share.

Millennials: sorting the facts from the fiction

A Wine Intelligence presentation at Prowein sought to debunk much of the common notion that Millennials are a fundamentally different consumer group with a clearly cohesive mindset, with implications for those creating targeted new brands

Brand Ambassadors: Spreading the gospel

Glenfiddich's UK brand ambassador, Mark Thomson, is introducing the brand's new IPA beer-infused expression at a trade event in central London. "When I tell people I'm a brand ambassador they usually say: 'Yes, but what's your real job?'"

Blurring lines between on-trade beer, wine and spirits

Matthew Clark's new Emporium tasting concept delivered on its promise of providing a circus-themed extravaganza at London's Tobacco Dock on Tuesday. 

Wine labels of the future

Wine labels of the future will increasingly have a link to a website or QR bar code which could be scanned with phones to reveal the ingredients, calories and nutritional value of wine, but far less likely is any further legal obligation to fully disclose ingredients.

The drinks world takes action over alcohol misuse

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) announced this week it is calling for entries for this year's Scotch Whisky Action Fund - an initiative set up in 2013 to help tackle alcohol misuse by offering grants for related projects across Scotland. 

ProWein Calling: A preview

ProWein has grown into the must-attend premier wine and spirits business show in Europe. The 2017 event, in Düsseldorf, is being launched with the slogan To Another Great Year and boasts more exhibitors than ever.

Lidl reports rapid growth for wine category

With a global turnover of over £70billion, and trading operations in 28 countries, the Lidl empire is continuing to grow in the UK, with 35 new stores opening in 2016, and a further 50 planned for this year.

Why increasing duty is counterproductive to raising a new generation of educated drinkers

There seems to be little expectation in the trade that duty rises on wines and spirits will be frozen in this coming Budget, let alone cut by the 2% that the Scotch Whisky Association and WSTA have been calling for (on spirits, and wines and spirits, respectively). 

Think Gin 2017: Mapping out gin's future

When something gets too big or grows too fast, it's only a matter of time before the wolves gather, waiting for it to fall - or trying to knock it - off its pedestal. This is true of gin, where the spirit's unprecedented rise has made it a target for gleeful mutterings that it's finally past its peak.  

Shop Rioja

he month of October is quickly becoming synonymous with Shop Rioja - Wines from Rioja's month-long promotion which brings the full diversity and dynamism of Spain's foremost wine region to the UK's independent retailers.

Jumping Juniper

Yes, I published a book about gin last year (I promise that's it for the shameless promotion), but I have no reservations about confessing that I didn't see this current trend for gin lasting so long. Whether it was an over-saturation of the market, familiarity-bred

The changing face of Portugal

Portugal is on the crest of a wave. Heard that before? Sceptics will find succour in recent statistics pointing to a downturn in UK exports.

Taking Chile's Temperature

"Chile needs to simplify the message, but our diversity makes it difficult - Argentina has Malbec, meat and Mendoza to talk about, and that's it."