WSET launches new sake course

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has announced the launch of a new Level 2 Award in Sake from April 2024.

WSET partners with Women in Beer programme

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has become the new education partner for the Women in Beer Mentorship Programme.

UK tax freeze brings short-term relief for wine sector

The UK government has announced a freeze on alcohol duty in the Spring Budget which was declared on Wednesday 6 March.

WSET launches beer courses

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has announced its first beer courses which are set to begin February 2024.

British wine celebrates record 2023 harvest

WineGB has declared a record harvest for the British wine industry which is set to produce an estimated 20-22m bottles.

UK introduces new wine labelling laws for 2024

The UK government is set to implement new requirements for the selling and labelling of wine nationwide from 1 January 2024.

2023 world wine production expected to be smallest in 60 years

The International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) has found that in 2023, world wine production is expected to be the smallest in the last 60 years.

Israeli Wine Producers Association pleads for trade help

To raise awareness and in support of Israeli wineries, the Israeli Wine Producers Association (IWPA), a trade organisation promoting Israeli wineries through wine education and events, has plead for investment.

Dram opens in Soho

The team behind Milroy’s of Soho and Silverleaf have opened a new whisky bar, Dram, on London’s Denmark Street.

Badet Clément announces new name and winemaker

Laurent and Catherine Delaunay, founders and owners of Badet Clément, have unveiled a new name for their international family wine group, Delaunay Vins & Domaines.

Maison Villevert raises funds for Wine to Water

Maison Villevert’s La Quintinye Vermouth Royal and Nouaison Gin, have launched a global fundraising initiative across 20 countries to raise money for non-profit organisation, Wine To Water.

Austria defines legal basis for vineyard classification system

Austria has established the legal basis for the official classification of single vineyards, which will see plots defined as Erste Lage (premier cru) and Große Lage (grand cru).

UK government introduces new tax system on alcoholic beverages

New government regulations have been introduced in the UK from August 1 which will see alcoholic beverages now taxed on strength.

Trivento named leading Argentinian wine brand by value by IWSR

The IWSR has recognised Trivento winery as the world’s top-selling Argentine wine brand.

Ramón Bilbao crowns inaugural Spanish Wine Master UK

Wine and Communications professional Kirsty Woodgate has been named the 2023 Spanish Wine Master UK after the grand final of the competition from the Spanish Wine Academy by Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao.

Agile Media acquires rights to Sommelier Wine Awards

Agile Media, owner of Drinks International, has agreed an exclusive deal with Imbibe Live to bring back The Sommelier Wine Awards for 2024.

Maison Bruno Paillard appoints Wanderlust Wine as UK distributor

Maison Bruno Paillard, the house specialising in Extra Brut Champagnes since its inception in 1981, has appointed Wanderlust Wine to distribute its portfolio in the UK.

Spiral Cellars launches new wine storage system

Spiral Cellars, the UK purveyor of luxury wine storage, is launching a new wine storage system with its UnSpiral Cellar. 

Hambledon vineyard releases Première Cuvée Rosé

This year, eight years after launching its Première Cuvée, Hambledon are releasing the first ever rosé version of this wine, its Première Cuvée Rosé. 

Ramón Bilbao introduces Spanish Wine Master competition

Rioja’s Ramón Bilbao is introducing a professional competition to find its ‘Spanish Wine Master’, as the brand continues on its mission to educate the trade about Spanish wine.

Morris Whisky launches in the UK

Morris Whisky has launched in the UK market this Spring with its Signature and Muscat Barrel whiskies, founded in Australia in 2016.

Antinori named World’s Most Admired Wine Brand 2023

Antinori has been named The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand 2023 and it is the first Italian winery in history to top the list.

Black Chalk secures US distribution for the first time

Five years on from its launch, Hampshire-based wine estate Black Chalk, has announced that from April it will be distributed in the US market for the first time, via Sera Wine Imports.

Alcohol duty increase a “historic blow to the Scotch whisky industry”

When UK chancellor of the exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivered his 2023 budget in the House of Commons, how you received it might’ve depended on your preferred tipple.

Southern Glazer’s acquires WEBB Banks

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has announced its plans to acquire Miami-based WEBB Banks, a distributor of brands including Tito's Handmade Vodka, in the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as the travel retail and cruise sector. 

Majestic toasts its latest Diversity in Wine scholars

UK specialist wine retailer, Majestic, has raised a glass to the latest cohort of graduates from its Diversity in Wine Scholarship.

California bill increases consumer access to spirits RTDs

California, US has introduced a bill to allow spirits-based ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages to be sold under the same licence as beer and wine.

Be Spirits at Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris 2023

The upcoming Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris exhibition, due to take place from 13 to 15 February 2023 at Paris Expo Porte de Versailles, is dedicating a hall to the spirits and craft beverage arena, Be Spirits.

Wines of South Africa releases its 2022 export report

The Wines of South Africa 2022 export report has revealed that export value has only seen a 2.4% decline following the pandemic with Rand Per Litre (RPL) income showing marginal growth as producers navigate rising costs, shipping challenges and shortages in the supply of packaging goods.

Barcelona Wine Week 2023 led by 80 experts

Barcelona Wine Week 2023, the trade fair for Spanish wine, will be bringing together nearly 80 Masters of Wine, sommeliers, producers and experts from the world of wine in a program of activities with more than 50 presentations and tastings.

Southern Glazer’s e-commerce platform surpasses US$3bn

Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits has announced that its e-commerce platform, Proof, has passed the $3 billion revenue mark in 2022.

Plastic push for wine

It’s got a bad rep for many reasons, but one winery owner thinks plastic is the way forward for more sustainable bottling.

WSET appoints Kirsten Grant Meikle to Board of Trustees

WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) has announced that Kirsten Grant Meikle will join its Board of Trustees, replacing Allen Gibbons as the Worshipful Company of Distillers’ representative.

Ferrari Trento sees a successful year

Ferrari Trento, the Italian sparkling wine brand, has had a successful year in the world of fine wine, motorsport and wine tourism. 

Beaujolais Nouveau Day 2022

Historically to mark the start of a new wine season, today is Beaujolais Nouveau Day, on which more than one million cases of Beaujolais wine start their journey from the Beaujolais region of France across the country.

The Madame Bollinger Foundation announces 2022 medal winner

Justin Martindale MW has been announced as this year’s winner of the Madame Bollinger Medal, which is awarded for excellence in tasting and outstanding achievement in the Institute of Masters of Wine practical exams.

Penfolds launches new editions to Cellar Reserve portfolio

Penfolds is launching a new accessible AUD$50 range within the travel retail exclusive Cellar Reserve portfolio, aimed at recruiting wine drinkers into the premium wine category. 

Purcari Winery acquires stake in Bulgaria's Angel's Estate Winery

Purcari Wineries PLC has announced the signing of the Share Purchase Agreement for a 76% stake in Bulgarian joint stock company Angel’s Estate Winery.

WSET to hold first virtual Open House

WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is to hold its first ‘virtual open house’ event on October 19 - 20 2022 as part of an ongoing drive to raise awareness of its qualifications within the global drinks trade. 

Ste Michelle Wine Estates acquires A to Z Wineworks

Washington State’s Ste Michelle Wine Estates has announced the acquisition of Oregon winery A to Z Wineworks, the first strategic acquisition for the winery under the ownership of private equity firm Sycamore Partners.

Selim Bocti: the new age of fine wine

VintageCellar is a member-only fine wine investment app that launched in the UK in July. Drinks International caught up with chief executive and founder Selim Bocti to talk about his mission to bring fine wine investment into the 21st century.

Corollary Wines purchases site to develop Oregon’s first estate dedicated to sparkling wine

Willamette Valley wine producer, Corollary Wines, has purchased 57 acres in Eola-Amity Hills with the aim to develop the state’s first property dedicated exclusively to sparkling wines.

French wine’s rebound threatened by drought

Wine production in France has been forecasted to rebound this year following the frost-hit 2021 harvest but the ministry of Agriculture and Food has warned that worsening drought could curb volumes.

Portuguese wine producers “on the verge of bankruptcy”

Portugal’s association of wine traders, Anceve, has called on the government for economic support as it warns rising costs have left many small- and medium-sized producers “on the verge of bankruptcy”.

Penfolds launches two inaugural French wines

For the first time in its history, Penfolds annual Collection release in August will comprise three country of origin portfolios, Australian, Californian and the inaugural French release.

Stauning launches limited-edition rye aged in sweet wine casks

Danish whisky brand Stauning has announced the launch of a limited-edition rye whisky matured in Marsala, Gewürztraminer and Romandalo wine casks.

Spier Wine Farm joins Freixenet Copestick’s portfolio

Spier Wine Farm, one of South Africa’s oldest wineries, has joined the Freixenet Copestick portfolio from this month.

Wine: Argentinian Visionaries

Famously the hero country for Malbec, Argentina has so much more to give when it comes to wine, thanks to the pioneers who are capitalising on the climatic possibilities. Sorrel Moseley-Williams takes a journey through some of the latest trends in this vast and varied land.

Thibault Massina: Le Syndicat's new star

The wine industry doesn’t often mix naturally with the bartending community, but for Thibault Massina, an early education in Bordeaux lay the foundations for an organic pairing behind the bar.

Yellow Tail tops global wine brand power list

The Wine Intelligence Global Wine Brand Power Index 2022 has reported that Yellow Tail is again the world’s most powerful wine brand with Casillero del Diablo meaning an unchanged top two.