WSTA announce Britain's wine trade has doubled

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association will announce on Tuesday that Britain’s wine trade has more than doubled in the last decade.

Denbies Wine Estate to exhibit at London Wine Fair 2016

Denbies Wine Estate will be exhibiting at the London Wine Fair 2016 for the first time. 

Nyetimber to launch second Tillington vintage

English sparkling wine brand Nyetimber has announced the launch of its second Tillington Single Vineyard vintage. 

Lifting the bar in South Africa

Only about 8% of wine farms in South Africa make money, according to a leading winemaker from the Rainbow Nation

London Wine Fair 2016 will feature over 400 grape varieties

Organisers from London Wine Fair 2016 have announced there will be over 400 grape varieties showcased at the event.

Kingsland Drinks to showcase new portfolio at London Wines Fair 2016

Kingsland Drinks will showcase a new portfolio at London Wine Fair 2016 this month after completing its strategic integration of two businesses. 

Côtes du Rhône Wines announce rising export figures

Côtes du Rhône Wines exports have increased worldwide due to rising consumer confidence in the quality of the wines, according to the latest figures.

Vinexpo 2016 set to attract 1,300 exhibitors

Vinexpo Hong Kong 2016 is set to attract 1,300 wine and spirit exhibitors from more than 35 countries worldwide to the city’s Convention and Exhibition Centre from 24 to 26 May.

New ranking system for Crémant de Bourgogne

Burgundy producers have approved a new ranking system for sparkling wine Crémant de Bourgogne.

Adelaide, a great wine capital

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, has become the ninth Great Wine Capital.

Casella announces plans to establish Europe base

Casella Family Brands has announced plans to establish a base in England to better manage its Yellow Tail brand in the UK with a long-term aim to  extend into other European markets.

Accolade announces Mud House sponsorship of British & Irish Lions

Accolade Wines has announced that its recently acquired Mud House New Zeland wine brand is the official sponsor of the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour of New Zealand.

The Educator

The Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s Ian Harris is a man on a mission. Disciple Christian Davis catches up with the missionary

Gallo announces UK plans

E&J Gallo, the world’s largest wine producer, has unveiled its plans for supporting its major brands in the UK.

Casillero del Diablo renews Sky Movies

Concha y Toro has announced the renewal of the Casillero del Diablo sponsorship of Sky Movies.

New Zealand wine exports reach record $1.5 billion high

New Zealand wine exports have reached a new record high of $1.54 billion for the 2015 year, up 14% on 2014, according to New Zealand Winegrowers.

Napa wineries drop port

Three winery members of the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) have announced that they are giving up voluntarily the use of port on their fortified dessert wine labels.

BVIB goes for sustainable growth

The Bourgogne Wine Board (BIVB) has approved unanimously its Plan Bourgogne 2020 for managing sustainably the wine region’s production potential.

Kumala sponsors Botham’s charity walk in South Africa

Kumala, the leading South African wine brand is the official wine sponsor of Sir Ian Botham’s eight day charity walk across South Africa, dubbed ‘Beefy Walking the Rainbow Nation’.

Napa Valley wins certification mark– the first of its kind in U.S.

The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) has announced that it has obtained a Certification Mark from the US Patent and Trademark Office for the name ’Napa Valley’.

David Williams: don’t discount the discounters

It was during my first visit to Prowein in 2000 that I first came across the idea of discounters.

South Africa wine: tipping point

The South African wine industry has reached a crucial moment, according to the chairman of Wines  of South Africa. Christian Davis got a tip off and was there

Diageo sells Argentinian wine interests to Grupo Peñaflor

Diageo has agreed the sale of its wine interests in Argentina to Grupo Peñaflor.

Prosecco harvest report

Follador, the major premium prosecco producer, is predicting an incredibly satisfying 2015 harvest.

Baltics’ best sommelier is Latvia’s Raimonds Tomsons

The title of the best sommelier in the Baltic States was won last week by Raimonds Tomsons, the head sommelier Vincents restaurant in Latvia.

McKinley Vintners is UK Agent for Champagne Janisson

McKinley Vintners has become UK Agent for Champagne Janisson et Fils.

Ramón Bilbao buys high Riojan vineyard

Rioja producer Ramón Bilbao has bought what it describes as a “dream parcel” of vines in the region, and the winery’s highest altitude owned vineyard to date.

US now largest export market for New Zealand wine

The US has overtaken Australia to become New Zealand wine’s largest export market by value, according to the 2015 annual report of New Zealand Winegrowers.

Mully steps up at Liberty

Specialist wine supplier,  Liberty Wines has added tio its management team with the appointment of Alan Mully as head of operations.

Brown Bros appoints Fells

John E Fells has announced that Brown Brothers, one of Australia’s leading family owned wine companies has appointed Fells as its exclusive UK distributor from September 1.

Berry Bros makes Dan Jago its new CEO

Berry Bros & Rudd has announced the appointment of Dan Jago, Tesco’s group wine director at Tesco, as its new chief executive.

Social media campaign for Cape Wine 2015

Wines of South Africa has launched a new social media campaign in the run up to its Cape Wine 2015 show.

IWC’s great value supermarket wines

Five out of six IWC great value Champions went to supermarket own-brand wines.

IWC superstar winemakers

The International Wine Challenge announced its wine trade superstars at its awards dinner at the Hilton Hotel, on London’s Park Lane last night (July 16)

IWC champion wines

The 32nd International Wine Challenge announced its champion wines for 2015 last night (July 16) in London.

UNESCO recognises Champagne

The UNESCO World Heritage Committee has decided to include the Champagne slopes, houses and cellars on its world heritage list.

Yealands is taken over

Marlborough Lines has agreed to invest NZ$89 million to purchase an 80% shareholding in New Zealand wine producer, Yealands.

Gisborne to host Chardonnay and sparkling wine symposium

New Zealand Winegrowers has announced that Gisborne will host New Zealand’s first Chardonnay and sparkling wine symposium early next year.

Wosa UK launches new sector-specific tasting

Wines of South Africa UK is launching a new event with a trade tasting targeting independent merchants and on-trade buyers.

Accolade Wines to spend £4m on Hardys

Accolade Wines has announced a £4 million above the line campaign for its leading Australian wine brand Hardys, to coincide with its sponsorship of the English and Australian  cricket teams ahead of the Ashes test matches with Australia.

Sparkling wine, spirits and beer drive UK market growth

The UK alcohol market has returned to growth following years of continuous decline, according to the latest WSTA market report. 

Vinadeis: a new wine group

The leading French cooperative wine group, Val d'Orbieu-UCCOAR, has unveiled a new name, Vinadeis, and announced a strategic partnership with France’s number one French agricultural cooperative group.

Maling to leave Villa Maria

Leading New Zealand winery, Villa Maria, has announced that Alastair Maling is leaving after more than 12 years.

Cono Sur is official wine of the Tour de France

Chilean wine brand Cono Sur is the official wine of the legendary road cycle event and one of the world’s great sporting spectacles, Le Tour de France.

Kumala 10,000 prize giveaway

One million bottles of Kumala wine will carry an instant win competition neck collarettes in its 10,000 prize giveaway.

Take a leaf out of Barwell & Jones’s book

London wine agency Barwell & Jones has invited London Wine Fair visitors to come and fix a leaf to a tree on their stand.

Online shopping for wine in Germany is growing

Online shopping for wine in Germany is closing the gap on shops and supermarkets, but regular wine drinkers still by far prefer the real world to the digital one, according to a new Wine Intelligence report.

Napa copes with Californian drought

The state of California is suffering its fourth year of severe drought. The governor has recently imposed the state's first mandatory water restrictions, affecting nearly 40 million people. Farmers, business owners, and residents will be forced to cut their usage by 25%.

Torres: The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand

Drinks International editor, Christian Davis, is pictured presenting DI’s The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand award plaque to Torres general manager, Miguel Torres Maczassek.

The WSET wins Queen’s Award

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has been awarded The Queen’s Award for Enterprise 2015 in international trade.