Wine

Wine hoarded ahead of Brexit

11-Jan-2019 By Nicholas Robinson

Wine wholesalers are bulk-stocking products ahead of Brexit amid concerns of a potential deal without tariffs on EU wines.

Opinion

Could Brexit mark British wine’s coming of age?

08-Jan-2019 By Vicky Bullen

Vicky Bullen, CEO of brand design agency Coley Porter Bell, wonders whether Brexit could finally mark the mass acceptance of British wine.

Brits spent record £2.2bn on sparkling wine and Champagne in 2018

02-Jan-2019 By Stuart Stone

In the past 12 months, Brits bought almost £2.2bn worth of sparkling wine and Champagne – more than in any previous year.

Will canned wine replace bottles?

17-Dec-2018 By Robert Mann

Canned wine looks set to become one of the biggest alcohol trends of 2019 as Millennials opt for smaller measures to avoid binge drinking.

Wine company shut down after spending clients' money on personal expenditure

11-Dec-2018 By Robert Mann

A wine investment company that misled customers to invest in fine wines has been shut down after frittering away investors’ money on personal expenditure.

Number of students enrolled on wine courses at 30-year all-time high

05-Dec-2018 By Robert Mann

The UK’s centre of excellence in wine education has announced that students enrolled on wine courses for the academic year is at its highest since it began 30 years ago.

DRINKS LIST 2019

Jack Rabbit Pinot Grigio is the best-selling wine in pubs

19-Nov-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Jack Rabbit Pinot Grigio is the most popular wine sold in pubs, data published in The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 has revealed.

The Drinks List: Top Brands to Stock 2019

18-Nov-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

With so much conflicting research in the market and varying opinions from analysts, The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 reveals exactly what is going on with sales at the bar.

Ronaldo splashes £27,000 on two bottles of red wine during 15-minute bar stint

15-Nov-2018 By Robert Mann

Cristiano Ronaldo spent an eye-watering £27,000 on two bottles of exclusive red wine – in just 15 minutes.

£4m investment for UK's first ever vineyard hotel

13-Nov-2018 By Robert Mann

Rumour on the grapevine has it that the UK’s first vineyard hotel will be ripe and ready next spring.

Natural wine on the increase as Millennials become more health-conscious

01-Nov-2018 By Robert Mann

Natural wine is enjoying a surge in popularity thanks to consumer interest in health and wellbeing, according to one expert behind a dedicated online shop.

Wine duty will be almost half the cost of a bottle of wine

31-Oct-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

The inflationary rise in wine tax announced at the Autumn Budget (29 October) means £2.23 of a £5 bottle of wine will be the duty pricing alone, according to research from wine supplier Bibendum.

Ex-Apprentice star toasts success with Cult Wines

30-Oct-2018 By Robert Mann

Sales are fizzing at UK fine wine investment company Cult Wines, which reported a record 54% increase in global revenue to £52m in the year ending 31 August.

More under-25s cutting booze, research claims

10-Oct-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Almost a third of younger consumers are avoiding alcohol, indicating a rising trend, a new study has claimed.

The price of a bottle of fizz could rise by 9p

08-Oct-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

If plans to increase wine duty in line with inflation (by 3.4%) go ahead in November’s Budget, prices of sparkling could soar by 9p and still variants by 7p, according to a leading industry body.

Young, low-alcohol English wine on the market

04-Oct-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

A low ABV British wine that has been fermented and aged for just 10 days will be served in select London venues.

MA500

Top tips from award-winning operator on making wine work

17-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Operators need to seriously up their wine offer and not add on huge mark-ups, according to Great British Pub of the Year licensee Heath Ball from the Red Lion & Sun in Highgate, north London.

Trade welcomes ‘drink less alcohol’ campaign

11-Sep-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub trade associations have welcomed a new campaign from Public Health England (PHE) and Drinkaware to help drinkers cut down on their alcohol.

Leading English winemaker expands with 388 new acres on North Downs

06-Sep-2018 By James Beeson

English winemaker Chapel Down Group has exchanged on an agreement to lease 388 acres of prime viticultural land adjoining its existing vineyards on the North Downs.

Not drinking alcohol in middle age 'increases dementia risk'

02-Aug-2018 By James Beeson

Not drinking in middle age can increase the risk of dementia as much as drinking too much, according to a new report published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ).

Booze sales could be damaged with duty freeze cut

04-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Scrapping the alcohol duty freeze put in place last year by Government is “counter-productive”, and will increase pressure on cash-strapped consumers, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association has warned (WSTA).

What is natural wine and should pubs be stocking it?

22-Jun-2018 By James Beeson

The 21st century drinker is increasingly concerned about provenance and ethics in relation to the goods they consume, and wine is no exception in this regard.

Made wine tax “criminal” says urban mead producer

18-Jun-2018 By James Beeson

The rates of taxation for products classified as made wines are “criminal”, according to the founder of London’s first urban meadery.

Government making a mint from your booze sales

15-Jun-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The Treasury is continuing to make a mint from UK booze sales, despite a freeze on alcohol duty in November, showing the sector can remain fruitful without another hike.

JDW to ditch Champagne in the run-up to Brexit

13-Jun-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) will offer more drinks from the UK and non-EU producers and brewers across its 880-strong estate from Monday 9 July in the run-up to the country’s departure from the EU.

Pub drinkers ‘more likely’ to be retired or single

12-Jun-2018 By James Beeson

People who drink beer and cider in the pub once a week or more are more likely to be retired and single than those who drink at home, according to a new study.

New products: English wine gets canny

08-Jun-2018 By James Beeson

Cans are now the de-facto small-pack option of choice for craft brewers, but now winemakers are getting in on the action.

Chapel Down's double gold at International Wine & Spirits Competition

21-May-2018 By James Beeson

English winemaker Chapel Down has won two gold and two silver awards in the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).

Will English fizz feature at the royal wedding?

16-May-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Information about the royal wedding between Prince Harry and Meghan Markle this weekend (19 May) has been readily available, but news of what sparkling wine will be served is still under wraps.

New products: Here come the lagers

01-May-2018 By James Beeson

Three new launches signal the start of the great British summer, as premium and craft lager options continue to prove popular.

Freixenet launches Italian rosé

18-Apr-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Sparkling wine brand Freixenet has unveiled its first-ever Italian sparkling rosé in a bid to join “the blossoming rosé renaissance”.

Garden Fillers: how to maximise summer drinks sales in your pub

18-Apr-2018 By Emma Eversham

What Brits drink in pub gardens has evolved dramatically over the years, with promiscuous punters swapping their favourite tipple as frequently as the summer weather changes. But with hopes of a scorcher this year, operators and suppliers are already...

Crown Cellars launches 2018 wine offering

17-Apr-2018 By James Beeson

Crown Cellars, the specialist wine division of Carlsberg UK, has launched its 2018 wines portfolio.

Wine drinkers 'consuming less but better quality'

17-Apr-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Wine drinkers are moving towards quality and not quantity, according to a new report by Accolade Wines - owners of Hardy’s, Echo Falls and Jack Rabbit.

New products: Bloody ‘Ell is back

16-Apr-2018 By James Beeson

Beavertown’s seasonal blood orange IPA is back in stock. Be quick, it won’t hang around for long, and when it’s gone, it’s gone.

Matthew Clark Bibendum issues reassurances following C&C deal

13-Apr-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Newly formed drinks company Matthew Clark Bibendum has claimed it will be “business as usual” following its acquisition by C&C Group.

Jack Rabbit owner Accolade Wines sold to US private equity firm

05-Apr-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

In the same week Conviviality sold Matthew Clark and Bibendum to C&C Group, Accolade Wines has confirmed its sale to US investors the Carlyle Group for £546m (AU$1bn).

Analysis

What does C&C’s acquisition of Matthew Clark mean for pubs?

05-Apr-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Following its acquisition of Matthew Clark and Bibendum, C&C Group is set to revive the parts of the businesses that stalled during former owner Conviviality’s near month-long financial calamity. The big challenge, however, will be restoring faith...

Matthew Clark and Bibendum acquired by C&C

04-Apr-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Less than 12 hours after officially announcing its interest to buy out Conviviality brands Matthew Clark and Bibendum, C&C Group has confirmed the transaction is now complete.

C&C primed to buy Matthew Clark and Bibendum

04-Apr-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Bulmers cider owner C&C Group is in “advanced” discussions with beleaguered drinks distributor Conviviality to buy Matthew Clark and Bibendum with support from AB InBev.

It’s been a record breaking year for UK wine

03-Apr-2018 By James Beeson

A record number of bottles of English and Welsh wine were released on to the market last year, according to new data from HMRC.

Pubs plan as Conviviality goes into administration

03-Apr-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs are preparing to put contingency plans in place following news that wine supplier Conviviality has filed for administration.

Conviviality files notice to appoint administrators

29-Mar-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Troubled wine supplier to the pub trade Conviviality has filed notice of its intention to appoint administrators as its financial woes remain unsolved.

There’s more to life than ‘party' Prosecco

22-Mar-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Consumers are chugging back 'entry-level' bottles of Prosecco in high volumes when they could instead be spending a little more on quality, according to Bibendum on-trade channel director John Graves.

Conviviality warns of going bust as it seeks to secure £125m

22-Mar-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Leading wine supplier to the pub trade – Conviviality – has warned it could fold if it fails to secure £125m to repay a £30m tax bill and millions to creditors.

Health watchdog pushes harder for mandatory alcohol labelling

13-Mar-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

A health watchdog that recently published potentially crippling alcohol labelling recommendations has poo-pooed the trade’s latest nutritional information proposal.

Shifting world wine trends

16-Feb-2018 By Nigel Huddleston

The winds of change are blowing through the world of wines as factors ranging from currency fluctuations to weather-impacted harvest levels cause both suppliers and consumers to look beyond stereotypical options to new markets and styles.

Three Cheers Pub Co to offer women free drinks on International Women’s Day

16-Feb-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

London-based operator Three Cheers Pub Co is giving away one free drink to every woman in honour of International Women’s Day.

Sparkling wine sales set to soar

14-Feb-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of fizz are expected to continue to rise after a record-breaking year, according to figures from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Pack up and leave: could changes to alcohol labelling shut the pub?

12-Feb-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Recent calls for alcohol labelling to follow a similar route to cigarettes has caused concern among operators and brand owners alike, but are things as bad as they appear?