Editor

The 625 acres of vines will fill the equivalent of London’s Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens combined and the inaugural UK Wine Awards will be led by Susie Barrie, master of wine, expert Oz Clarke and wine writer Hamish Anderson. Clarke said: “What a year to initiate our new UK wine Awards. The French finally admit they like our wines.  New York decides that English bubbles…

HM Revenue & Customs figures have unveiled that 45 new distilleries opened in the UK in 2016, an increase of 17% which has excited the WSTA boss. Beale said: “The rapid growth of distilleries, an increase of 135% since 2010, is yet another positive sign of the UK spirits industry going from strength to strength. “As the Government negotiates free-trade deals with both Europe and…

The lager beer will be available from May 2017 and brand director Jim Shearer has linked the re-launch of Carling Premium with the English football Premier League. “For us, re-launching Carling Premier now makes perfect sense. Not only does the launch tie in with our partnership with the Premier League, but also at a time where many consumers are looking for something more premium.” Carling…

William Grant & Sons has taken over the 36-acre Tuthilltown distillery which already produces Hudson Whiskey, previously acquired by the family-owned Scottish whisky company in 2010. William Grant & Sons’ chief executive officer, Simon Hunt, said: “In 2010, William Grant & Sons bought the Hudson Whiskey brand as we were not only attracted to the possibilities within the American whiskey category but in particular, the…

Holl expressed his opinion in the editor’s column on the magazine website and he believes that people need to stand against the way breweries ‘view and depict women’. Holl said: “How, in an age of progress, technology and enlightenment are breweries still releasing and producing beers with demeaning names like Once You Go Black or Panty Dropper? “This is still a male-dominated industry, both in…

Invivo Wines helped develop the sauvignon blanc which is currently the highest selling wine in Irish supermarket chain SuperValu and is projected to sell 1.5 million bottles world wide in 2017. Norton is famous for starring in various comedy shows on the BBC as well as hosting The Graham Norton Show and his wine uses grapes from New Zealand that are blended in Cork, Ireland.

Innis & Gunn has recently closed its crowdfunding drive which beat its target by 250% and has allowed the brand to expand with a chain of pubs across Scotland. Sharp said: “If you look at the basket of internationally recognised craft beer brands, those that have succeeded at home and outside their home markets, you’ve got Sierra Nevada, Samuel Adams, Lagunitas Brewing Company and Scotland’s…

As well as exporting eight different brands from the continent, AB InBev will import Corona, Budweiser and Stella Artois. Ricardo Tadeu, head of African operations AB InBev, said:  “There are so many very unique African brands and I think it is time to sell African beers to the greater market. There is huge potential for these brands to be exported.” 65 million people are due…

The revenue collection agency rejected the ¥11.5 billion ($104 million, £84 million) refund claim that Sapporo wants from the National Tax Agency in additional liquor tax it paid for the beverage product. Sapporo launched Goku Zero in 2013 with the intention of paying a lower liquor tax rate claiming the drink was a ‘third category’ beer (happoshu in Japanese). But the brewer suspended shipments abroad…

Sharp’s Brewery, based in Cornwall England, has announced that Doom Bar will sponsor the tour which already has financial backing from Mud House wine and Whyte & Mackay scotch whiskey. James Nicholls, senior brand manager at Sharp’s Brewery, said: “We believe the 2017 British & Irish Lions Tour to New Zealand represents the iconic and inspirational pinnacle of the rugby game so this is a…