Big, bold, but Beautiful?

The Beautiful South Tasting challenged the concept of generic wine tastings. Erin Smith analyses what worked and lessons for the future

Asda: Income Tracker Report

In this comprehensive analysis of the spending power of the average UK consumer, Asda has assessed the situation in all areas of the country and not only looks at how the financial crisis has changed consumers' shopping behaviour now, but looks at how they are going to change in the coming years.

Are you making the most of international trade shows?

Love them or loathe them, international wine trade fairs are an intrinsic part of a buyers' calendar. But what are the best ways of making the most of your time? For those seeking, for example, to gain a greater understanding of Spanish wines, the town of Ciudad Real is not an obvious first port of call. Being 200km north of Madrid, the town has no obvious links to the wine trade. No links, that is, apart from every two years hosting the Fenavin trade tasting.

Port & Sherry Supplier Views

Views from: Jim Grierson, on-trade sales director, Maxxium UK (Harveys); Tony Brown MW, Boutinot (Wiese & Krohn Port); Anthony Habert, UK marketing manager, Sandeman Port; Mark Symonds, marketing controller, Port and Madeira, Fells (Symington Family Estates); Damian Carrington, sales and marketing director, Fields, Morris & Verdin (Lustau, Quinta de la Rosa); Jeremy Rockett, marketing director, González Byass; Jackie Brown, senior brand manager, Maisons, Marques et Domaines (Ramos Pinto); Andrew Hawes, managing director, Mentzendorff (Fladgate, Hidalgo).

Sparkling

Traditionally sparkling wine and Champagne were considered special purchases and were strictly reserved for high days and holidays when there was something to celebrate, such as weddings, Christmas and birthdays. However, sparkling wine is increasingly becoming the drink of choice in a far wider range of social situations, and occasions, be it simply enjoying a meal or drinks with friends or family and is often selected in preference to still wines.

Port & Sherry Buyer & Sommelier Views

Views from: Gyles Walker, wine buyer, Morrisons; Hal Wilson, managing director, Cambridge Wine Merchants; Rémi Cousin, assistant head sommelier, the Fat Duck; Andrea Briccarello, head sommelier, Galvin La Chapelle.

Fortified

Port continues to show resilience in the UK, with sales growing by value in a stagnant wine market. For Mark Symonds of Fells (Symington Ports), the category's price hierarchy is a key positive, with products available from cheap ruby through LBV, aged tawnies and colheitas, single quinta vintage and traditional vintage.

Sparkling Producer & Supplier Views

Views from: Damian Clarke, managing director, Freixenet; Christine Follador, marketing and sales manager, Follador; Massimo Tuzzi, chief international officer, Zonin; Jon Sampson, prestige and portfolio brands director, Bacardi-Martini; Carolyn D'Aguilar, brand manager, Codorníu; Canti; Gavioli Gian Paolo, Cantine Maschio; Gianluca Bisol managing director, Bisol Prosecco.

Sparkling Buyers Views

Views from: Matthew Henning, Hennings Wine Merchants; Ruth Yates, Corks Out.

Wine Business Solutions: What's the future for Australian Wine?

Following the recent Savour conference in Adelaide, Wine Business Solutions gives its assessment on the future challenges and opportunities for the Australian wine industry and asks the question: Was Savour the Saviour?

Social media insights: how to make the best use of video

In the second of her specialist columns looking at how best to implement social media in to your business, Bernadette Costello offers her top tips on how to use video.

How should restaurants choose their wine suppliers?

In the first of a new series, Jade Koch looks at how restaurants should choose their wine suppliers

Country report: Spain

Enter Story Headline

Key global wine trends and winnners and losers in 2013-2014

Erin Smith takes a look at the overall trends influencing the wine industry and looks ahead to who are the likely winners and losers from a changing global economic picture.

Making the right moves

Choosing the right logistics company is a vital decision. Get it right and you can improve efficiency, cut costs and, most importantly, serve your customers better. Get it wrong and products may not be available when they should be, and you could end up working in an atmosphere of mistrust with your contractor.

The biggest and best alcohol brands of 2013

So what were the best-performing wine and spirits brands over the past year? Here Erin Smith presents the movers and shakers in wine and spirits taken from The Grocer's Britain's 100 Biggest Alcohol Brands 2013

It's time to take duty fraud seriously

Trade estimates put the level of losses due to wine duty fraud as high as £300 million a year, but how much is really being done within the industry to tackle a problem that is spiralling out of control? asks Carol Emmas

The JWT Austerity Index

Austerity Index: How consumers are spending their money and coping in these times of austerity

Retention of Title: Part two

In the second of a series of articles, wine law specialist Andrew Park looks further at the problems that can arise when enforcing Retention of Title (ROT) claims for wine supplied, and how suppliers can maximise their chances of success